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Frustrated, I step out into the courtyard. We’ve split up, desperate to cover as much ground as possible, but the disappointment flashing in Shift’s eyes as he rushes out of the building beside me tells me he’s had no luck either.
I fucking hate this place. It’s too wide of a scope to have a lock down of any kind. My gut tells me she’s gone, but a tiny slither of hope has me holding out. Every second we’re looking in the wrong place is another moment she’s left in danger.
Now in hindsight, all I can think about is how she offered me the gift of reading and writing, and I didn’t even have the common decency to offer her something I know; how to protect herself.
I want to scream, cry, and exhale the feelings and emotions clogging up my throat, but I can’t. That would show weakness, just like Kincaid wants. He fucking knows he’s hit a soft spot for me, and he’s going to twist that knife deeper and deeper until he’s satisfied there’s nothing of me remaining. It feels like Duffer all over again, only this time, it’s not so quick. I knew he was dead the moment he hit the ground, but I have no idea of Emily’s circumstances and that is both a blessing and a curse.
Huffing, I dig my hand into my pocket, retrieving the crumpled letter. I straighten it out, and though my eyes drag over the words on the page, I barely read them. Instead, I repeat them from memory, forever seared into my damn soul.
When Molly was adamant I hadn’t, I called bullshit. Then the always watching eyes I have saw her. But more importantly, they saw howYOUare with her.
It seems the Ruthless Brothers MC doesn’t want to take my threats seriously, but I know you will. You know what I’m capable of, Scarlett.
I’m going to enjoy watching you drop to your knees for me after all this time. Even more than that, I’m going to enjoy making you mine for them to see.
He knows he can use me to get the Ruthless Brothers to bow to him and his rules, and he knows he can get to me through Emily. If he so much as hurts a single hair on her head I will break his fucking neck. Well, I’m going to do that either way, but extra painful if necessary.
“Scar,” Shift rasps, coming toward me, and I stuff the letter away. He doesn’t need to see it again, he already knows. The heartbreak brimming in his eyes is palpable, twisting my heart even tighter. He’s lost, so fucking lost, and I can’t fix it.
“We’re going to find her, Shift,” I murmur, and he nods, solemn, not trusting my promise as a sea of Ruthless Brothers move toward us from every direction. Not one of them has a blue-eyed, blonde-haired, button-nose girl with them. I didn’t think it was possible to sink any further, but here we are.
I catch sight of my Viking joining us from the right, but I can’t bring myself to turn and look at him. It’s too painful.
“No luck?” Ryker asks, confirming just how bleak everything is looking, and everyone shakes their head.
“Fuck,” Emmett bites, deep and gravelly, making my body stiffen at his pain. My eyes close, trying to take a second to gather my emotions, but it’s pointless. We’re in this mess because of me and everyone here knows it.
“I say we question the fucker tucked away in Shift’s trunk,” Gray states, referring to Joshua and his current location, and I nod, ready to move out toward the parking lot, but a hand on my shoulder halts me.
From the dark brown boots and denim jeans, I know it’s Emmett without even lifting my head, which keeps me locked in place with my eyes fixed on the ground.
“Look at me, Scarlett.” I shake my head slightly, shoulders slumped as he sighs. “Everybody, get ready to head out except for you four prospects. I want you patrolling every inch of this campus on repeat. If you’ve passed the same spot four times, do it a fifth. Understood?”
“Yes, VP.”
I start to sidestep him, but his grip on my shoulder tightens.
When the sound of retreating footsteps tapers off in the distance, his other hand lifts to my shoulder as well, adjusting my stance so I’m standing toe-to-toe with him. “Look at me, Snowflake,” he repeats, using my nickname this time, but even though it clenches my chest, it doesn’t ease any of the turmoil I’m drowning in so I remain where I am. “Scarlett,” he grunts, pushing my chin up to look at him, but my eyes drift closed at the same time. “I can’t help you, if you don’t help me.”
I scoff. “You help me? I don’t think so. I deserve to feel like this,” I say, making him shake my shoulder forcefully.
“Bullshit. I can sense that you think this is all your fault, but you need to hear it from me. It. Is. Not.” His grip on my chin grows tighter, and my eyes open instinctively. “There you are,” he breathes, not relaxing his hold as he looks at me.
Looking into his swirling blue eyes, every piece of emotion I’m feeling rushes to the surface and I feel myself crumbling. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll let you get those three words off your chest, Snowflake, but I don’t want to fucking hear them again. This isn’t your fault.”
“How are you this calm?” I rasp, nostrils flaring as tears threaten the back of my eyelids.
“Because I know you won’t rest until we find her, and between us, we’re going to rain down hell on this fucking town. She’s coming home to us. There’s no alternative.” His words stoke my fire, and I exhale, latching on to them with everything I have. “Just to clarify though, it’s not your fault Kincaid has some point to prove, it’s not your fault he’s a raging asshole, and it’s definitely not your fault that he took her to hurt you, which in turn, will hurt us. You’re allowed to have a weakness, Scar, someone you care for, someone worth fighting for.”
His eyes drill into mine, and even as I nod, I can’t stop the anguish seeping into my response.
“I took my eye off her, Emmett. The whole reason I’m here is for her and I couldn’t even last a week.”
“It wasn’t by choice and you know it. You had some motherfucker in your face causing issues, just as he was likely paid to do. But just like with everything else, you’re going to help get the answers we need out of him, aren’t you?” It’s a statement, not a question of my strength or ability. “I believe in you, Snowflake, I believe in us, and I believe it isn’t her time. But I need your head in the game.”
“I should be pep-talking you, not the other way around.” I swipe my hand down my face and he releases his hold to offer me his hand instead. I take it without question, and he pulls me to where the bikes and SUVs are lined up.
