Page 68 of Fatality

I shouldn't watch it. I should just keep looking for my stash.

I tap it anyway and swipe upward, sending it to my Smart Panel.

The screen lights up, and the video appears—my father is wearing a tailored suit, his hair perfectly combed.

I roll my eyes.

“The Enforcers have been deployed to the Lower Layers. A witness reported a violent conflict between two gangs. One appears to be a rising gang. The other controls the territory where the incident occurred.”

My father pauses.

“I want to ask all citizens to remain home and avoid traveling to the Lower Layers for the time being. The lockdown will be lifted once the perpetrators are found or once the Enforcers determine there is no longer any danger.”

He straightens slightly.

“You can trust your government. Our only priority is your safety and well-being.” a smile “This was Adrien Laordie, member of the C.A—Central Authority.”

The video cuts, silence fills my loft.

I throw my comm against the wall.

The sound of transparent glass cracking echoes through my empty loft.

“Well-being?” I snap, standing abruptly, my chest rising and falling heavily. “What about your own daughter's safety and well-being, you son of a bitch?!”

How can he look so reassuring? Be such a good man to the city while being a cold bastard to his own daughter?

I sink to my knees.

They hit the concrete floor of my loft with a dull thud.

I really wish you were here, Kyle.

My hands fist on my thighs.

I really need that fucking Ghostleaf, right now.

I push myself back to my feet, determined to tear my entire loft apart until I find that stash.

I search for hours. When I finally stop, I stare at my apartment.

It used to be clean, now it looks like a tornado tore through it.

No stash.

Did Jules take it? That little—Oh.

A memory suddenly hits me, like a lightbulb switching on.

I break into a run and practically dive onto the couch, shoving my hand—then my entire arm—beneath the cushions.

I yank something back out, fake claw-machine coin.

Again.

A strawberry-scented perfume bottle. Charlie.

For fuck's sake. She keeps leaving her shit here. I really need to clean between the couch cushions.