Gem sat next to Lia. “They are not those two idiots who were sitting behind us.”

Lia pulled her hands from her eyes and took a slow breath. “I don’t have anything to do. I don’t have anything to think about. They excused me from school, but I can’t not think about Abby if I’m thinking about nothing. Does that make sense?”

“Sort of,” Devon said. “You had a lot of nots in there.”

“I did!” Lia sniffed and laughed, the sound ripping out of her throat until she wasn’t sure why she was laughing at all but it was all she could do to keep from crying. Lia covered her mouth with her hands.

“I need something to do,” she said. “I need something to fill up this space in my head or else Abby will fill it up. Talk to me about something. The game. Is anyone out?”

Devon sighed. “They were considering banning the game.”

“The school isn’t in charge of it,” Lia said. “How could they cancel it?”

“Anyone found playing would get in-school suspension.” Devon wiped Lia’s cheeks with his hand and flicked a damp eyelash aside. “My mom said the PTA brought it up.”

“I bet half of them were those busybodies speculating on what happened before your parents got you out of that park,” Gem said. “The news even interviewed them.”

Lia rubbed her nose. “I saw them when I was leaving.”

“Why were you following Abby?” Devon asked. “We made a deal.”

“I wanted to see what path she would take so we could set up there when the deal was done,” Lia said. “I didn’t want to come back and have nothing.”

Gem laid their cheek against the top of Lia’s head. “You want to keep playing Assassins?”

“What else do I have if I don’t?” Lia asked. “Why was I even there if not?”

“I think you have a lot, but I don’t think you’ll listen to me when I say that,” Gem said. “I’ll keep playing, but no more early-morning solo runs, okay?”

Lia nodded. “I don’t think I can go back in there.”

“I’ll tell your parents,” Devon said, squeezing her hand before heading back into the church.

“Yeah, I don’t blame you,” Gem said once he was gone. “It was really stuffy. Not enough dogs.”

“There should’ve been a lot more,” Lia said. “Like fifteen, minimum, and then people could’ve adopted them. Abby would’ve liked that.”

“She would have,” Gem said. “I know you want to keep playing the game, but please don’t do anything else that could get you killed. You’re my best friend, and I love you.”

Lia relaxed against Gem.

“I love you, too,” she said. “No more dangerous things. I promise.”

Hello, Lia Prince.

Our condolences, but if we know you as well as we think we do, this message will be much appreciated. Your new target is Leo Liu.

Happy hunting,

The Council