73. Cassandra Walker
My trip to the bathroom took longer than I’d anticipated. There’d been a line, and I was even more grateful for Theo’s comfortable shoes as I’d waited my turn.
After drying my hands, I made my way back out into the lobby, rushing slightly in case Theo already had an Uber waiting for us.
Though as I made my way back to where I’d left Theo, I frowned as I realized she wasn’t where I’d left her.
Instead, I found a furious Nolan and… What the fuck?
“The Antoinette is first and foremost a hotel, Mr. Cross. I am not here for your pitiful event.”
Reverend Sterling was snapping at Nolan, whose face was nearly white with rage. The reverend gestured to a young girl at his side, and my blood went cold as I took in how lifeless she seemed. “I am here with a member of my flock. We have a prayer session booked with a specialist.”
Nolan completely ignored the reverend and turned his attention to the lifeless girl at his side. His voice came out much softer as he addressed the young girl, but she barely looked up at him.
“Are you here of your own free will?” Nolan asked, reaching a gentle hand out to her.
She flinched away from him and glanced up at the reverend, as if asking his permission to speak. My gut curled with nausea as the man gave her a firm nod.
“Tell him, Sasha. Tell him you’re here to receive the word of God.”
The girl nodded, then turned wide, sad eyes up to Nolan.
“Y-yes. I am here of my own free will,” she whispered, and Nolan looked like he was about to lose his shit.
“What’s going on here?” I snarled as I approached.
The reverend turned angry eyes on me. His expression hardened, and he roughly grabbed the young girl by the arm and began tugging her away.
“I will not continue to be harassed. If either of you approaches me in public again, I will be forced to take legal action.”
I scoffed.
Good luck finding representation again, ass wipe.
‘Something is wrong. Where is our street fighter?’ my monster suddenly growled, and I blinked.
‘Outside, maybe? She said she was calling a car.’
‘Confirm that. Immediately,’ my monster snarled, and a small flicker of panic sparked in my gut.
“We have to do something. How old do you think that girl was?” Nolan was staring at the reverend as he steered the young woman through the bright, busy lobby.
I was having a hard time focusing on the girl when I didn’t know where Theo was.
“Have you seen Theo?” I asked, and Nolan glanced back at me. A weird muscle pulsed in his jaw, and I knew whatever he was going to say next was going to send me into a tailspin.
“Yeah. I came out here, and the reverend was talking to her, and she was… She was upset. She was crying.”
My blood went cold, and my beast let out a growl so deep it made my bones vibrate.
“Where is she now?!” I barked, and Nolan jerked his head to the front doors.
“She said she was going to go grab you an Uber. I’m sure she’s out there waiting for you.”
But I wasn’t so sure.
Theo had a bad habit of running away when things got bad.
Nolan had said she’d been crying.
Something was fucking wrong. Something was so fucking wrong, and I needed to find Theo immediately.
Deep in my bones, I knew if I didn’t find her quickly, I might lose her forever.
“I have to go,” I barked abruptly.
“Cass, wait! What about the reverend–”
But I was already running, hoping Nolan would be able to figure out a way to help that girl out on his own.
Theo. I needed eyes on Theo.
But when I burst out onto the street, she was nowhere to be found.