“Go in the morning and get a new one,” Klaus said. “That one is an old model anyway. It’s time for an upgrade.”
Anson grumbled and stuffed his phone back into his pocket.
My phone buzzed again, and I pulled it out to see Ryder’s name on the screen.
“Hello?” I answered.
“The horsemen,” he shouted.
I put it on speakerphone. “What?”
“The fucking horsemen. That’s what her message meant. A few years ago, when she started touring, I went into her dressing room. She was sad as she put on her makeup. I asked her what was wrong. I told her to make a wish on a star, and I’d be the star. Her fucking wish was to go home to the horsemen so she could have closure! The horsemen fucking have her! It’s why she’s OK. It’s why you haven’t heard anything. They fucking have her! Find them, and you’ll find her!”
My breath caught in my chest.
Anson and Klaus exchanged looks.
“I’m on my way there,” Ryder said. “I just fucking landed in Chicago. I’ve been trying to reach you guys for hours.”
“My phone is broken,” Anson said, his voice shaking.
“We’ll meet you,” Klaus said as I stared, dumbfounded, at my hands.
The guys had her? They did this? What the fuck? E played it off so well.
The betrayal was fucking real.
“Evan, man,” Ryder called out. “I-I’m sorry?—”
“Don’t be,” I murmured, my fury slowly building.
The guys had done a lot of fucked up shit in our lives, but this? Fucking this?
Inexcusable.
And they were going to fucking pay for all the shit they’d done.
I tightened my hand on my bat.
It looked like I’d have to re-introduce myself.
“Evan, is this plan OK?”Anson asked as we drove through the city after picking up Ryder.
“It’s fine,” I said, looking out the window.
“Got it,” Klaus said. “They’re near my place. River North.”
I ground my teeth. She’d only been blocks away from us this entire time.
The guys went over a plan. To visit. To talk. To put out feelers.
My plan was different. I was going to tear their fucking souls from their assholes.
“You can stay here,” Anson said. “In case?—”
“I’m not staying behind like a fucking child,” I snapped. “She’s my wife. I’m bringing her home.”
It was early enough in the night that maybe people would still hear their screams. I didn’t give a fuck.
