Page 152 of Depraved

The PC scrubbed his chin with his thumb. “We got a situation.”

“What situation?”

The detective closed the steel door to ensure we had privacy, and the PC stepped up to me. “Someone called the station saying they know where Alyx is.”

“Where is she?” I didn’t care about the who, or the what, or the when. All I cared about was finding her.

“We don’t know that yet.” The PC started pacing, and the detective leaned against the open gate of the cell.

I threw my hands in the fucking air and was about to rip someone’s goddamn head off. “Who the fuck do I have to kill to get some answers here?”

The commissioner stopped, his face pale and eyes worried. “The person said he’ll only talk to you, and no one else.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. He said to meet him outside the aquarium in thirty minutes. If you don’t show up, he disappears, and we’ll never find Alyx.”

I was still trying to register what the fuck the PC just said when Onyx burst out laughing like a total maniac. “Oh, this has Slither written all over it.”

“What the fuck, Onyx?” I warned.

His eyes beamed with crazed hysteria. “Oh, come on, Granite. Who in his right fucking mind will insist on seeing you face to face before he tells us where Alyx is? No one is that fucking stupid,” he shrugged, “except Slither.”

I ignored my brother and focused on the detective since the commissioner was standing in the corner as pale as a fucking ghost. “Did you track the call?”

He shook his head. “We didn’t have enough time.”

“Give me your phone.”

Harrison stared at me all bug-eyed.

“Give me your fucking phone!” I growled, and Harrison didn’t hesitate this time. My hand shook as I dialed the number. Whether it was adrenaline or fear, I didn’t know. All I knew was I needed to get Alyx back.

“Manic. Listen, get Ink and meet me at the aquarium in twenty. Make sure you’re packing.” I hung up, and Onyx shot me a knowing look. There was a reason I told Manic to make sure they came armed…because I was more and more convinced all of this had Slither’s name slapped on it.

“Commissioner,” I called, “I’m going to find Alyx. The only way you can stop me is with a motherfucking bullet. Feel me?”

He straightened and nodded, his face clouded with agony and worry. I didn’t stick around to chit-chat and hauled ass to the door.

“Granite.”

I stilled and met the PC’s eyes. A silent moment passed between us. In that moment, he wasn’t the police commissioner, but a father. And me? I wasn’t a criminal or the president of the American Street Kings. I was a man in love. A man who would ransack through hell if that meant finding his heart. And that was what Alyx was. My heart.

Onyx slapped Harrison on the shoulder. “Guess you’re giving us a ride, man.”

Harrison rolled his eyes. “Don’t know why I always get caught up in this shit,” he mumbled to himself while stomping to the door.

All eyes were on us as we made our way out. I didn’t give a flying fuck what everyone else thought, and I was convinced neither did the commissioner.

We got outside, the sunset painting the sky with its pinks and yellows. If it was any other day, the sight would have been tranquil, peaceful, beautiful. But not today.

The slight chill in the air felt good against my heated skin but did nothing to quiet the rage or calm the apprehension that had been making it fucking hard to breathe the last few hours.

I rounded the SUV, wanting to get in on the passenger side, when Onyx grabbed Harrison’s shoulder. “Hold up.”

“What?”

With a smirk on his face, Onyx held out his palm. “Gimme the keys?”