Chapter 21
Callum
Perdu (adj) remaining out of sight; concealed
“What do you mean you don’t see her?” I growled into the phone as I marched towards my car. How in the fuck did they lose her? They aren’t even supposed to take their eyes off of her in the first place.
“Boss, she went into the ladies’ room and didn’t come back out, so we went to check. She was just gone,” one of the younger guys who worked for us said nervously into the phone.
I grit my teeth and hung up without responding, then immediately called Orin.
Shit. No answer.
I tried calling Ronan. No answer.
What. The. Fuck.
I slammed the car door and slung it into drive, peeling out of the parking lot. I called Eoin next, and thank fuck he answered.
“Have you heard from Ronan or Orin?” I asked hastily.
“No, not for a few hours, why?”
My blood went cold, and I could feel the anger and panic build in my chest. I didn’t realize he was calling my name or how long I had zoned out.
“What?” I shouted harshly.
“What’s going on?” Eoin asked, concern lacing his voice.
“I can’t get a hold of either of them, and they were watching Maeve at some frat party on campus. They took a few of the younger guys with them to blend into the crowd, and no one has seen her in half an hour.”
A beat of silence, then Eoin said coldly, “Give me a few minutes, and I will call you right back.”
He hung up before I could object. “FUCK!” I screamed as I raced across town, disregarding the speed limit and likely breaking several other laws.
I was zoned out, only coming to my senses as I neared the back bumper of a car in front of me.
I swerved, missing it by inches, then I sped up and passed in the other lane, the motor roaring as my foot bore down on the gas pedal.
My phone rang through the car speakers and I the answer button on the steering wheel without looking at the caller id.
“Do you know where she is?” I barked out, and the voice on the other end of the phone brought me momentary relief.
“Not yet, boss, but we think we know where she might have gone. We have three locations to cover, but with only Orin and me going, it’ll be at least twenty more minutes to cover all three,” Ronan said hurriedly.
“What locations?”
“I’m going to The Junction, and Orin is headed to the estate to see if she went home—”
“I’ll head to the lake,” I said, cutting him off and hanging up. I suddenly had this strong feeling that she’d be there. It was one of her favorite places, situated just on the outskirts of town and the perfect spot for stargazing.
I pressed the pedal down further, seeing nothing but a blur until I came to a slight turn-off in the middle of a bend in the road that anyone would miss unless they knew where to look. I pulled about a quarter mile in, so no one could see my car.
I ran the next mile down the gravel drive, slowing enough to catch my breath and walk up to the edge of the lake.
There she was.
Sitting on the edge of the pier.
Alone.
The breath left my body in a shuddering wave as relief flooded my system.
I texted Orin, letting him know where she was.
I pulled the lawn chair out of the weather-safe box I had hidden in the tall grass.
This wasn’t the first time I sat here, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. I knew she couldn’t see me from here.
The distance was too great and the darkness too consuming.
She sat with her hands braced on either side of her body, elbows locked, leaning over to peer into the water where her toes just barely reached, causing tiny ripples to form as they danced along the surface.
Meanwhile, I sat in this uncomfortable chair with my elbows on my knees, hands clasped together, thumbs together pressing on my lips as I watched her.
The things I would give to be able to wrap my arms around her right now.
After an hour of sitting in the same spot unmoving, I saw headlights out of the corner of my vision.
Orin was here, but Maeve never turned to look, as though she knew it was him. He walked up behind her and said something as he reached out his hand for her, pulling her onto her feet. He already had her shoes in his hand as he turned for the SUV, still running at the end of the pier.
And just like that, she was out of sight again. I sat still, peering through the darkness to the east, toward an old Victorian home situated just through a thick growth of trees. I’d been eyeing it for a while now. If I could buy it, this spot would officially be mine. Ours.
Fuck. I sighed and shook my head, thinking that it was time to let that dream go. After all, Maeve and I were… nothing. Strangers. And I was just some shadowed watchman, hovering in the distance, wishing I could be by her side.
Maeve and I move to the center of the showroom, directly in front of the door where Nessa will enter. Orin already had Al step out and turn off the cameras just in case things get… messy. I sit on a white couch that looks more comfortable than it actually is, and Maeve sits on the arm next to me.
“If you want her removed at any point, just say the word, and she’s gone,” I assure her as she stares down the tall oak doors. Her face is hard, and her eyes have an edge to them.
It’s fucking hot. I briefly consider telling them to hold off and taking Maeve right here on the chaise lounge. I swallow hard and adjust myself.
Not the time or place.
Maeve’s on edge. The tension is palpable, as if the air is slowly getting thicker the closer Nessa gets. Her spine is straight, her muscles are tight
Suddenly, I hear the sound of heels clicking on tile, and I smile to myself, leaning back into the couch. This is Maeve's moment. I’d already had mine.
20 Years Old
Lightning flashed, and a peal of thunder boomed, causing multiple girls to scream.
I hated her being out in weather like this.
She should be at home, like she usually is.
Safe in her apartment, reading. I would know where she was.
I would know she was safe. Cell service was garbage out here, let alone when the weather was this violent.
Why did she put herself through this? But I knew.
It was Nessa. Nessa and her endless bullshit.
She knew what Maeve had been through, yet she still brought her to things like this.
There were too many people, too many variables, and an insufficient number of exits.
Luckily, I had plenty of men at my disposal who looked like they were fifth-year college students.
They stayed along the perimeter of each room.
Some engaged in casual conversation, while others brought their “girls” and pretended to enjoy themselves while they watched vigilantly.
Each man knew what was expected of him and what the stakes were.
I was scanning the room when a small hand grabbed my bicep. I turned to see none other than the devil herself.
Fucking Nessa.
I saw red.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I bit out with as much venom as I could muster.
“Oh, Cal, darling, don’t be like that,” she simpered, her voice high and sickly sweet. “I just wanted to talk to you. Let’s go somewhere quiet so we can chat.”
I looked around the room, spotting one of our guys, and turned to follow the she-devil. My spine was straight as I stalked toward her, my hands fisted at my sides as I tried to keep some sliver of self-control.
She paused in a doorway, looking back at me suggestively, and I pushed her further in, slamming the door behind me. I leaned against the door, crossing my feet casually as I pulled a single bullet from my pocket and began to play with it.
“Who is that little number for?” She asked, her voice suddenly wary as she eyed the bullet I was rolling in my palm.
“Oh, this is for someone special, Ness,” I said, inspecting the letters that had been carved into the side.
N E S S A.
All polished and ready to load.
One bullet.
One tiny trigger pull and I’d be rid of her.
“Oh? Do I know who?” she asked as she edged closer, touching me yet again. I could feel the darkness rolling out of me in droves. The fact that she could still walk up to me told me her arrogance outweighed her intelligence.
“What do you want, Nessa?” my tone devoid of any amusement.
“Why don’t we have a little fun? You know, like we should have been doing in the first place,” she ran her finger across my chest and began to trail downward.
I snatched her hand away and spun us around, slamming her against the door.
I took a step back, trying to regain control of my anger. The fucking audacity.
“Oh, I like it rough. Maeve is leaving anyway, so she won’t even know,” she said as she tilted her head up toward me, giving me what I assume she believed was a seductive look.
A wave of calm rolled over me, knowing Maeve was leaving.
Nessa had pushed the right button, though.
Her eyes flashed raw fear as she watched my demon take over.
I knew this reaction all too well. I took a step forward.
“Oh, Nessa, Nessa, Nessa. You don’t want me to be rough with you. You wouldn’t be able to walk the next day,” I purred, running the back of my finger along her face. Terror was still there, but a hint of lust filled her eyes.
Idiotic bitch. I fought the urge to roll my own.
“Try me,” she purred back. She melted before me, and I fought the nausea after touching her.
“If you say so,” my voice deeper, a rumbling malice coating every word.
My hands cupped her face tightly, causing that flicker of fear to flash across her face.
Good. My hands began trailing lower, and I wrapped them around her throat.
Her eyes widened, and she clawed at my hands as I slowly tightened my grip.
“You see, Ness,” I growled, “I warned you many times about staying away from me.”
She was struggling, trying to pull my fingers away as they continued to tighten.
“I won’t kill you. Well, not today anyway.
I’ll make something abundantly clear, though,” I whispered, getting close to her face, letting her see my eyes.
“You will never touch me again. Never try to drug me again. Never speak to me again. And so help me, if I find out you’ve put Maeve in a compromising position again, I will all but kill you.
You’ll beg for me to put you out of your fucking misery. ”
Nessa’s hands were reaching for anything within arm's length. Barely audible gasps for air and choked cries for help were all I heard. She tried banging on the door to get someone’s attention, but the music in this godforsaken house party was too loud for anyone to think clearly, let alone hear a knock on the door.
“Do I make myself clear, Nessa?” I flexed my hands to grab her attention. I pulled her face closer to mine and repeated, “Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?” She nodded as best she could.
I loosened my grip just a little, then leaned in closer. “Oh, one more thing, Ness,” I whispered in her ear. “I know you played a part in Maeve's kidnapping, and I will find out the truth.”
I pulled back and saw the confirmation I was looking for. Panic. Pure, undiluted panic filled her eyes again.
I was so done. I spat in her face and cut off the blood flow, watching as she slipped into unconsciousness. I let her body fall to the floor and felt the thump as she made contact with the tile. Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket, I pulled it out to check the text.
It was Ronan letting me know that Maeve was safe at home.
I slid the phone into my pocket and stepped over Nessa’s limp form, closing the door behind me and heading out into the night.