Page 97 of Greed

Trying to push the anxiety away and relax, I turned my attention to Skye just as Neven walked in from the kitchen. “Did you have a good shower?” I sipped my glass of wine.

“You know, it was the best shower I’ve ever had.” She smiled wide, her grey eyes dancing with an impish glint.

“What are you up to, Skye? I already told you we are not fucking again, so you can wipe that look off your face.”

“Oh, I know, but the torture was fun, and Neven filled the rest of my needs for the night.” She looked up at Neven, who rolled his eyes. “I’m just in a really good mood. Did you want a refill? I think I’m going to get myself a glass. This night calls for a celebration! Neven, would you like a glass?”

I watched Skye jump up from the couch and skip to the bar. Glancing down, I stared at the red wine and swirled it around. Unable to set my mind at ease, I picked up my phone, and saw that there were no messages.

I tried to call Minny, but it went to voicemail. “It’s me, Minny. You know what to do. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”

Beep.

“Hi there, my Little Bird. I was just thinking about you. If you change your mind and want to come over tonight, I’d love the company. I know I said I wouldn’t push, but I miss you. Talk to you later.”

I hung up the phone and tapped the cell on my knee. I was being unreasonable. The woman was allowed to have her own space and time to breathe without me hovering. I needed to learn to be patient. Sitting the phone down, I stood and made my way toward the kitchen, pushing the notation that I needed to rush over to her house out of my mind.

Anthony had a very loose tongue once the pain started, and I now had a Mr. Kupp to visit very soon. Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention to Neven and Skye, who were bickering over who got to do the best part of the torture. I smiled as I watched them, but my normal keenness for the topic just wasn’t there.

I woke up late, and the light was already streaming through the window. I groaned and flopped my arm over my face, tempted to roll over and not even bother to get up. I had meetings to attend today and someone else to ream out for their incompetence. What would normally bring me joy and rejuvenation felt like a weight around my neck trying to pull me down.

How many years had I been building this empire? Too many when the zeros barely fit on the bank balance of your statement. Maybe Minny was right. Maybe I needed to look at doing more with my funds and my talents. It had felt surprisingly good to give the money to the hospital and not simply because it was in honor of Minetta’s father. It had also stirred a longing in my gut, something that hadn’t happened in a very long time.

The phone rang, and I grabbed it smiling, hoping that it was Minny, but instead, it was an unknown number. I was tempted to let it go to voicemail but figured they'd keep calling if I didn’t tell the telemarketer to fuck off.

“I’m not interested in anything you’re selling.”

“Is Minny with you?” I sat up straight in bed as Penny’s worried voice drifted through the line.

“No, why would she be with me? She said she was going to be too tired to see me last night and was going to be staying home with you.”

“She changed her mind at work and told me to go home instead, that she was going to see you,” Penny said. “What did you do now, Riker?” Penny fumed, and I was tempted to reach through the phone and choke the young demon.

“And you didn’t accompany her here?”

“No, I…just tell me what you did.”

“I’ve warned you before about your attitude, Penny.”

She sighed and cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, I’m just worried, and you’re the only reason she would take off.”

“Whoa, back up. What do you mean take off?” I jumped out of bed and put the phone on speaker as I marched for the closet.

“When she didn’t show up for work, I went to her home. Her suitcase was missing, along with most of her clothes and her picture of Toby. Her car was gone…Riker, if she’s not with you, I’m worried. She shouldn’t be alone.”

“I have no idea why she would take off. Yesterday we texted, and all seemed well between us.” I pulled on a pair of jeans, and as my hand reached for a black T-shirt a thought occurred to me. “Could she have received a call about her mother or something else to make her take off?”

“She’d tell you or me something like that.”

“What time did you get off work last night?”

“We were working the three to eleven. Why,” Penny asked.

“Fuck me! That fucking bitch! I have to go. Figure out where she would have gone and call me back.” I hung up on Penny and stormed across the bedroom.

“Skye,” I hollered so loud the walls and windows shook. “Where the fuck are you?” I leaped over the railing of the top floor and landed softly on the lower level. “Skye,” I screamed again. Shilo came running, his face that of a ghost, he looked so terrified.

“Sir, what is it, what has happened,” Shilo asked.