Page 51 of Haven

Cinder gave me a sharp look before Melisa spoke. “Calloway will be in contact with you when she finds the information needed. She couldn’t locate Rory’s file, so they will be investigating it.”

I glanced at the TV screen seeing Detective Calloway. When did they start the Zoom meeting?

“They can’t find it?” I knew ten years passed since Cinder had her file sealed, but it should still be there.

Liz Calloway sighed, running her hand down her face. “We kept it open for a while when Homeland and the FBI did their investigation. But when they couldn’t find the people associated with Jude Booker, we closed her case.”

“Do you know the FBI agents that were involved?”

“That’s the thing. The three leading agents on her case died in a car fire.”

Cinder and I glanced at each other. “Are we sure it was related to a wreck or an accident?” Cinder asked.

“I have to get in contact with them. This happened five years ago.”

“Look into that and keep us updated,” I told her. “I don’t believe in coincidences, and something tells me this might be associated with Rory’s case.” I gnawed on my lip, unease curdling in my gut. I didn’t like where this was going, and one look with Cinder told me she was thinking the exact same thing.

Forty-One

Rory

Imade another loop around the track before I slowed and perched up on my bike, arching my back slightly and revving the engine. After my lows there was always a high, and boy was I feeling it today. This was the Rory I loved feeling like, even if this version of me sometimes made risky choices. At least now I didn’t have to find random people to sleep with.

After I finally came out of my low, I apologized to Cinder and I FaceTimed Hades. I told her I was sorry for detaching and pushing her away. Hades would be the first woman I truly communicated with and expressed my feelings with other than certain Vipers, my sister, and my therapist. My feelings for Hades were intense, and I didn’t want anything to ruin what we were working on, even my brain.

There were men at the racetrack staring at my ass, not that I could blame them. I was in my leather pants with my thong showing, and a halter top that made my boobs look great. I was hot, and didn’t have a problem showing off my body like this. When people could inspect my scars, it was a different story.

I stopped, dismounting my bike and pulling my helmet off, shaking out my pink locks. A chill raced down my spine as I looked around the track. To say I wasn’t paranoid would be a lie. I liked to pretend that I was a badass who never got scared or intimidated, but I was scared. And in that moment, I felt eyes on me that didn’t belong to the guys checking me out.

Maybe this was a tactic. Jude liked tormenting me psychologically as well as physically. I wanted to remember who the other man was and what he did to me. If our brains could repress certain things, did that mean he did more than Jude? Did he…I shook the thought from my mind. I didn’t want to remember. I knew I would need to remember it one day, but right now, I would live in ignorant bliss.

“Damn girl, you ride like a pro,” the redhead said as his other two friends circled around me. I didn’t feel like kicking anyone's ass today.

“Thanks. It’s a craft.”

“Yeah, it is. What else do you ride?”

I arched my brow. “My girlfriend’s face.”

“You want a boyfriend so you can ride his dick like you ride your bike?”

“Nope.” I'd ask Vesper for forgiveness later, but I was about to use her. “My other girlfriend has a strap bigger than what you three have, so I’m good.” They looked at each other, and apparently, my blatant refusal wasn’t enough for them.

The one with a shaggy, rocker wannabe haircut stepped forward, but before he could do anything, my phone rang. Thank God.

I answered, and before Vesper could speak, I sang into the line, “Hey, sexy. How far away are you?” Vesper wasn’t on her way, but she might break all traffic rules to get to me if I needed her. I didn’t, but I looked at the three guys as Vesper asked me what was wrong. “Eh, nothing. I just have three guys asking me to ride their dicks. Do you want to come and shoot them or can I stab them? I don’t think they know my sister is Cinder Bourgeois.”

One of them sucked in a breath. So he was from around here, then. “You have a nice day. We’re sorry.” He grabbed his friends and pulled them away from me. Their sudden eagerness to vanish almost made me laugh as I watched them all but run off the track.

“Crisis averted. What did you need?” I asked Vesper.

“I was just checking on you. What are your plans tonight?”

“I have a few tattoos to do today, but after that I’m home free.”

“Do you want to spar?” I think that was code for: we will be training regardless because some psycho is after you.

It took me a moment to process Vesper’s request as my mind flashed with different versions of a hot and sweaty Vesper on top of me. “So I can have you sweaty and on top of me?” I did a happy dance like she could see me. “I’ll be back at the clubhouse around 11.”