Chapter 33
Killian
I’m pacing back and forth in front of the main stage on The Lucky Sinner where the girls are practicing the new pole tricks they’ve been learning.
Sully walks in, nods to Pat, who’s been frowning at me from the barstool. I shoot Pat a glare and he just shrugs. He must’ve called Sully, who’s now standing in front of me, arms crossed over his bulky chest. “You’re gonna wear a hole in the fuckin’ floor, brother. What’s goin’ on?”
I grit my teeth then decide to tell him.
After all, this isn’t doing any good. “Sam’s late.
She told the girls she’d be here at one.
” I glance at my watch. “Two hours late.” Something grips my chest, and I decide it’s anger.
“If she thinks she’s gettin’ out of her obligation, she’s got another thing comin’. ”
Sully cocks his head, his brows rising. “You’re worried.”
It’s a statement, not a question. I let my head fall back and curse at the ceiling.
He steps forward, squeezes my shoulder. “What aren’t you tellin’ me?”
I scrub a hand roughly down my face. Do I share her secret? It’s not mine to share, but she may be in real trouble here, so fuck it. “She’s runnin’ from someone. Someone she calls the devil.” Someone worse than us.
Surprise widens his eyes. “And you think this devil found her?”
My fists are curled into tight balls. “I don’t know. Maybe. It’s possible, yeah.”
His eyes stay locked on mine, conveying his support without words. “Only one way to find out.” He tosses me the keys to his Harley. “I’ll hold down the fort. Go find the lass.”
As I climb on Sully’s Road King, I form a game plan. First stop, her apartment.
I knock, but there’s no answer. The hard way then. I pick the lock and let myself in.
It’s dark, the blinds are closed. I do a quick walk through.
The sink and shower are dry, and there’s a glass on the kitchen counter with a shriveled lemon slice.
It has the feel of a place that hasn’t been occupied by a soul for a few days.
I open the trash can lid. There on top is a burner phone.
I pull it out and check for the SIM card. Gone.
Did she run? Maybe her devil hasn’t found her yet, but he was on her tail.
My chest tightens at the thought. At the thought of her disappearing. Of never seeing her again.
I pull out my phone and call Caelian.
“Killian,” he answers on the third ring. “What can I do for you?”
“Dr. Sam is MIA. Can you help me find her, mate?” I hear the panic tightening my vocal cords.
He blows out a breath. “Hang on.” There’s some rustling and then a door shutting. “When was the last time you saw her?”
“Early Sunday morning, around six at the warehouse. I’m at her apartment now, and it looks like she hasn’t been here for a few days. Her car’s missin’, too.”
“The warehouse.” There’s a considerable pause before his voice lowers. “You sure she wants to be found?”
I rub the back of my neck, guilt heating my skin. I know what he’s asking. The news of my unnecessary brutality spread like wildfire. He thinks I scared the lass away. “No. But I at least need to know she’s safe.”
After a few seconds of silence, he says, “All right. Let me see what I can find out.”
Relief loosens my lungs. “I owe ya, mate.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He disconnects and I find myself drifting into her bedroom.
Her comforter is thrown back, the indent of her head still in her pillow.
I sit and lift her pillow to my nose. Her scent is faint, but it’s there.
It brings back the locker room, my need to protect her from the panic attack I could see coming, the way she fit perfectly in my arms, my shock when she fell to her knees and took my cock in her mouth.
Her soft hair against my thighs. Her beautiful eyes as she looked up at me, and the connection I felt to her that was deeper than I’m ready to admit.
Self-doubt creeps in. What makes me think I can help Sam when I failed so miserably at protecting Amber and our baby? One thing I know for sure. I will either protect Sam or die trying. Because now that I’ve had a taste of how sweet life is with her in it, living without her is not an option.
I stand. I have to stay focused on finding her. I sweep the room once more. There’s no photos anywhere. No family. No friends.
Wherever she is right now, she’s alone.