The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 305

Petty could feel the hands on her back quivering, just slightly. If someone else had seen this, they might have thought Malcom was crazy about her. But she guessed the truth was a lot simpler. He probably had never held anyone like this before, and it made him uncomfortable.

The hug lasted only a second before Malcom let go and sat back in his seat, both hands gripping the steering wheel.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the moment.

It was Hans calling. “Where have you disappeared to this late? Don’t tell me you lied about your flight being the day after tomorrow and already snuck off?”

Petty replied honestly, “I’m just downstairs. I’ll come up in a minute.”

She ended the call and looked over at Malcom, who was still staring straight ahead, hands tight on the wheel. “Take care of yourself, okay? Be careful on your missions. Don’t get hurt. Your health is what matters most. You get that, right?”

She couldn’t help worrying about him. Both of them didn’t have family, but at least she was surrounded by friends who cared. Malcom just had Aaron, that kid who looked up to him like a hero. Other than that, he barely had anyone.

Now that she was about to leave the country, he’d have absolutely no one left.

The thought made her linger, adding a few more words of worry.

“I’m going now. You should head home too. It’s really freezing tonight.”

Malcom glanced over her shoulder at the apartment building entrance. Hans was coming out of the elevator, moving slowly and pressing a hand against his stomach with every tiny step.

Just as Petty opened the car door, she spotted Hans too and groaned. “Why did you come down here? Seriously, I should have forced you to stay in the hospital!”

She slid her hat on and jumped out of the car, turning back with a smile and waving at Malcom. She shooed him off, teasing for him to go home already, then pushed the door shut and hurried into the building.

“Keep walking like that and you’ll spill your insides!” she scolded Hans, unable to decide whether to laugh or be furious. His face was chalk white. She hurried to steady his arm.

Hans shot a glance back at the car that still hadn’t left. “Who was that?”

“That was Malcom. I told him I’m leaving for Coralia the day after tomorrow. He was worried he’d get sent on a mission and might not be able to see me before I go. So he stopped by to check in.”

Inside the detention center, Galen was pacing, practically wearing a groove in the floor. When he saw Franco come back, he shot over to him. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

Franco peeled off his black gloves and tore off the fake scar that stretched from his hand to his wrist.

Galen frowned, confused. “Did you sneak off for a cosplay or something?”

He only half-meant it. Franco wasn’t the type to do stuff like that, but right now, it hardly mattered.

Trailing behind Franco, Galen watched him head to the sink. Franco stripped away the scar, washed his hands, and popped out colored contacts, and to Galen it felt like he was watching some magic trick.

He couldn’t hold back anymore. “You know you’re under official investigation, right? You risked everything sneaking out like that! If anyone recognized you, your whole reputation would be ruined!”

Franco paused, his fingers hovering in the air, dark eyes suddenly piercing now that the contacts were gone. “As long as there’s someone out there who believes in me, that’s all I need.”