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So, how long will you be gone?

Just a few days.

The thought of leaving her alone for two days sinks like a stone into my stomach. If it were literally anyone else asking for my help, I’d say no. However, Cole’s never asked me for help with anything. I know it’s serious without him telling me. It doesn’t rectify the fact that Patience is going to do her best to find the man responsible for the missing girls on her own.

Well, I’d say be safe, but I feel like that isn’t in the cards. So, just try not to be too idiotic and get yourself hurt. Again.

I’ll try my best. Try not to get into too much trouble while I’m gone. Please.

Only mild mayhem.

Thank you.

I suppose mild mayhem is as good as I’m ever going to get from her. Making quick work of packing my bags, I step into the waiting cab. During the entire trip to the airport, my mind races with thoughts of Patience. I take my seat near my gate and see the screen showing the local news.

A report interrupts the weather service with the announcement that another woman has been taken.

Fuck.

26

Litza continues to pore over the new information she’s learned after hacking into a few more police files. I appreciate her exuberance, but she could have come later this morning. Apparently, she was able to confirm a marble left at a crime scene in Oregon. Information like this used to excite me. One more piece of the puzzle in my hunt for the man in the shadows. Now, it just falls flat.

My gaze drifts over to the couch where Ethan ravished me last night. Warmth settles in my chest, remembering how he looked after being spent. The majority of my sexual encounters have been a quick and shallow satisfaction, like scratching an itch. Last night was different. It was like finding calm in the chaos. Litza’s voice fades in the background as my mind floods with images of our time together. Ethan’s name echoes back at me, forcing me to the present. Shaking my head, I turn to Litza.

“What?” I ask, trying not to sound too lost in the conversation.

Her mouth pulls into a line as she repeats her question.

“Are you sure it’s not Ethan? I mean, he was stalking you. How do we know this isn’t part of his plan?”

“It’s not him. He was with me all night…” I whisper, before rolling my eyes to the brown elixir in my cup.

Litza’s brows nearly hit the ceiling.

“It’s not like that…not really…I mean…maybe like that a little bit…”

“Did you fuck him?” The tone of her voice lets me know this is about to be the first of many questions.

“No, I didn’t fuck him. How big of a slut do you think I am?” She gives me a pointed look. Her accusatory eyes send a lick of heat up my spine. “I’m not Zarya, for fuck’s sake.”

“True.” She shrugs and begins to flick her fingers with nervous energy. Her eyes light up with what I’m sure are a thousand questions, waiting to be released, but she can’t seem to bring herself to speak. Throwing my hand down to stop the incessant flicking, I let out a relenting sigh.

“Go on…ask…”

I don’t like speaking about my private life, but my sisters are the exception. After all we’ve been through, I’d probably go nuts if I couldn’t confide in them. The only downside is when it comes to men, it’s like speaking to a mini pack of hyenas—chomping at the bit for every sordid detail. Obnoxious.

God, I love them so much. The only blessing I have in this is that Zarya isn’t here. Litza is more concerned about safety than the raunchy details.

“Well…it’s just that…you said he was here at 10:00 p.m., so when did he leave?”

“Early as fuck this morning. I don’t have a time, but it was starting to get light.” Too early. Suspiciously early. Did he not enjoy last night? No. He did, I think…

“Right. Well, she was last seen at 6:00 p.m., so he has four hours unaccounted for.”

“I can assure you he didn’t do it. He was likely here in this house.”

“You gave him a key?” Her shocked expression has a laugh bubbling up my throat.