44. Cupid
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CUPID
Rough hands shake me awake.
“Cupid! Cupid, wake the fuck up!”
Alarmed by the sudden wake-up call, my eyes spring open. I blink rapidly to adjust to the morning light, shaking my head to make myself more alert.
Cookie and Crypt stand over my bed, appearing anxious. If it were only one of them, I’d be slightly annoyed to be awoken in such an aggressive manner. However, the worried looks on their faces, especially Crypt, who normally shows no emotion, are enough to shock me out of bed.
They should be with my woman, but she’s nowhere in sight.
“What’s going on? Where’s Vanessa?” I ask, ripping open one of the dresser drawers and yanking on a pair of jeans.
“That’s why we’re getting you up,” Cookie says, his voice tense. “She’s gone.”
“GONE?!” I whirl around on my men. “What the fuck do you mean she’s gone?”
“She didn’t come out of the apartment when we were supposed to leave for her classes. I entered, looking for her, but she wasn’t anywhere,” Cookie says quickly. “I was coming in here to get you up when Crypt came running into the apartment to tell me someone spotted Vanessa sprinting up the block.”
“Who saw her?” I ask Crypt, my body shaking with adrenaline.
“Kenny—the drug dealer,” Crypt says. “He’s downstairs in your office with Oaks right now.”
Shoving my feet into my boots and yanking a t-shirt over my head, I grab my gun from the nightstand before the three of us run downstairs to my office.
I burst through the door, finding Kenny sitting in the chair across from my desk and Oaks standing over him with his arms crossed over his barrel chest.
I stride across the room, demanding answers. “What’s happened?”
“Tell Prez what you just told me,” Oaks says, ushering Kenny to speak.
The local dealer looks at me anxiously, as if he senses the situation is serious. “I saw her, your woman. She nearly ran me over when she came barreling around the corner this morning.”
My fists tighten at my sides, furious she ran now, after I thought we had come to a mutual understanding to be together. “How do you know it was her?”
“She was wearing your property patch,” Kenny says quickly, possibly noticing my temper flaring and worried it’s directed at him.
A wave of relief washes over me for a moment. My Butterfly wouldn’t bother wearing her cut if she was leaving me.
Something else made her run. What would make her evade me and my men?
My mind immediately jumps to Boden. He’s still at large along with Riley.
Although I doubt she’d run from her ex. Vanessa’s unaware he had sold her to the Black Market Railroad, something I withheld from telling her to avoid hurting her further.
No, if Boden contacted her, Vanessa would confront him. She’s not intimidated by her ex and has no problem taking him on. In fact, if she knew Boden sent Kirill after her, she would hunt him down herself.
None of this makes sense. I rub my temples, trying to wrap my head around what’s happening.
“Where was she running?” Oaks asks the dealer.
“She ran right into the funeral home. I watched her go inside.”
Crypt’s face pales. “Romy,” he whispers.
My ears perk. If something happened to the gentle mortician and Vanessa realized it, she would definitely go to Romy. It’s in her nature to help those in need.
“Alright. We know where she is. Round up the crew,” I order my brothers.
“Wait,” Kenny says, grabbing my forearm when I turn to leave. “There’s more.”
“Spit it out,” I say tersely, eager to find my woman.
“There was someone watching your property the other night from the abandoned brewery.”
The air in my lungs stalls, suspecting I already know the answer. “Who?”
“A man and a woman. Young like your ole lady. A few of the unhoused tried to approach them, but the man showed them the piece he was carrying under his shirt. Everyone avoided them. I tried to get close to listen in on what they were saying. But every time I watched them, he would catch me. I was coming to you this morning to let you know someone was poking around when I ran into your woman. I’m not sure if it’s related or not. ”
My brothers stiffen beside me, knowing damn well who Kenny is referring to.
My vision turns red. How dare that piece of shit come around my property?!
There’s not a doubt in my mind Boden’s behind whatever made Vanessa escape.
“He’s dead,” I growl. Doesn’t matter if Vanessa is holding her own—I’m going to kill him.
I’m moving towards the door, my words coming out sharp. “Tell everyone to carry—we don’t know what we’re walking into and I don’t want us getting ambushed.”
“Good work, Kenny,” I hear Oaks say behind me before he’s at my back, following me into war.
Crypt walks beside me, loading his gun as we hustle down to the ground level. I know he has my back, but I’m well aware Romy is in the forefront of his mind.
“When we get to the funeral home, you go find Romy. Keep her safe,” I tell my brother.
My enforcer looks at me with a tortured expression. “Can I kill him?”
“No. He’s mine to finish, but you can help,” I say, walking into the restaurant.
Oaks puts his finger and thumb between his lips, whistling loud enough to bring order to the room.
“Strap up!” he shouts. “Psyche and Romy may be in trouble. Surround the funeral home perimeter and don’t let anyone leave.”
The crew jumps into motion, following me out front where the hogs are parked along the curb.
I’m revving my bike before my ass is seated, peeling up the road with my brothers riding beside me.
Hang on, Butterfly. I’m coming for you.