50. King Lawrence
King Lawrence
“What the hell do you mean she’s missing again?”
My roar echoed through my dining hall, sending staff and aides racing for the doors. Dominique’s shoulders drew in, but he stayed put as I stared him down.
“Your Majesty, nothing has been made public yet. According to the message I received from our source, it’s quietly circulating through the department now. It might be nothing. We don’t know. It’s a big mystery. Ms. Taylor was in Miami with Ms. LaRoe, and apparently both women are… missing.”
I cursed under my breath, jerking my phone from my pocket.
“I’ve had enough of this. If you can’t get me real answers, I’ll try to find them myself. Leave me.”
My fingers gripped tighter to my phone as Dominique rushed from the room. I let out a deep sigh, hitting the number I dreaded the most. Two rings went by before a thick accent sounded through the cell.
“Your Highness.”
A look of disgust swept over my face. He knew I hated that old title. But I wasn’t going to let him bait me today.
“I’ve heard Penelope Taylor is missing again. Is it true?”
A pause sounded before rich laughter came through.
“Did I not help you get information a few months back about Ms. Taylor? If I recall, you weren’t satisfied with the results and said you weren’t going to ask for my help again. But here you are. You must be desperate to call. Really, really desperate.”
“Katia Marchase was a joke. She didn’t help me at all.” I cursed under my breath. “You’re a Council member. You know things others don’t. And… Penelope Taylor is becoming… important to me. I want to know everything. What the hell is happening?”
Seconds passed.
“Important. Is that right?”
I made a sound, hating speaking the words out loud to him. “…She has potential. What do you know?”
“Well.” Footsteps slowed, coming to a stop. “It does appear Agent Marchase has lost Ms. Taylor. At least, that’s what they’re saying.”
“Lost her? To whom?”
“One can’t be sure. Perhaps to her masked captor again.”
A deep sound left me. “I told that bitch to bring Penelope here. I knew this was going to end badly. How can I find Penelope? How do I get her?”
Tapping echoed through. “I’m afraid that’s beyond my reach. We’re just going to have to see how things play out. Maybe I’m wrong and she wasn’t lost. Maybe she was found. Or freed. Give it a few weeks. Let’s see what happens.”
The need to yell was there, but I managed to keep it in. “I don’t want to wait. I’ve been waiting. Can you help me or not?”
“Find her? No.”
I hung up, grabbing my plate from the table to send crashing into the wall. I kept my strides fast as I threw open the door. Dominique jumped, following behind me as I headed down the abandoned hall. Guards stood in the distance, but there wasn’t an aide or servant to be seen.
“Contact the papers. Be blunt about my growing feelings for Penelope. Let the world know of my disapproval for this continuing escapade. Let them speculate at how far I’m willing to go. And find me someone. Anyone. No connections this time.” I glanced back to him. “This one isn’t leaving… alive.”