CHAPTER 55
WREN
∞
I feel cold. My hand moves aimlessly across the bed and my eyes spring open. Chess isn’t in bed with me. I sit up and strain my ears, trying to catch any hint of her within the apartment. I don’t hear her. I slip out of bed and grab my phone. It’s only eight in the morning. I head out into the main area, expecting to see her holding a cup of coffee, but she’s not here.
I pull my phone back out and hesitate to message Alex. She’s probably back in her apartment. My steps are quick and determined. I didn’t expect her to just leave me while I slept. I knock on her door and no answer. I knock again and I’m met with silence. I grip the knob hard and feel the lock snap under the force of it. Nyx is eating her breakfast and barely grants me a glance.
“Chess?”
I call out, but no response comes. She’s clearly been here. The fresh food in Nyx’s bowl is all the evidence I need.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, sighing at the text message from Chess.
Hey, sorry I ended up leaving. I was just planning to feed Nyx and come back to bed, but Adrian called me in, so I have to go to the compound. I…took some money for a cab from your wallet. I hope that’s okay.
I smirk at the text message, but an edge of anxiety creeps into my thoughts.
You can take all the money you want, Chess, but I wish you would have woken me before you left. Message me when you’re done, and I’ll come get you.
Her reply is quick, and my chest tightens as a stupid giddy grin pulls at my lips.
Okay, I will! I had a great time last night…miss you.
She misses me. We haven’t been apart long, but the words make me realize, I miss her too. I give Nyx a quick pet and head back to my apartment. I set the coffee maker to run and I’m just sitting down to have a cup when Alex waltzes in, unannounced.
“You’re here early,”
I say as I blow on my mug.
He glances around, looking for something. “Where’s Frankie? Did she not stay the night?”
“She did, but she got up early this morning. She got called in at the compound.”
His face pales and dread grips at my chest. “What’s wrong?”
“Adrian told me they had a lead on who attacked Jullian and his pack. I just…is it not strange that they called Frankie in?”
No. There’s no way…
“Did he tell you who?”
“No, just that they were bringing them in for questioning.”
“Why would he get her involved in this. He knows what Jullian did to her and there’s no reason for him to bring her in on this. Who the fuck could they suspect?”
I can feel the anger rising in me at the thought of Chess having to deal with this. There shouldn’t be any suspects. I know Jullian probably had a lot of enemies accumulated over the years, but no one is dumb enough to go against him…except me.
“I have a bad feeling, Wren.”
The frown line between his brows creases further and I feel it too. That edge of anxiety I felt earlier, is curling and writhing in my stomach, trying to beat its way out.
I push back from the table and stride to my room, quickly slipping on some dark wash jeans and a t-shirt. “We’re going to the compound.”
Alex doesn’t even question it. The air is electric as our collective sense of unease settles in. I grab my keys and we both take off out the door.