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“I don’t know what to do,” he admits. “I feel like I’m about to explode.”
“Go punch the hell out of a punching bag,” I suggest with a shrug.
His gaze travels to the doorway. “But shouldn’t we be checking on her?”
“Let Blaise comfort her tonight. If we all go up there, she’ll get overwhelmed.” I just wish I could be the one holding her right now, but she’s already forgiven Blaise, even before she knew the whole story.
He stares down at his hands. “I worry she won’t forgive us.”
“Me, too,” I agree, wishing I could offer him some comfort, knowing it’d be a lie.
The truth is, while I hope Al can move past this, with everything that’s happened, she may not. But at least one thing will come out of this.
We’ll get her out of this world, which was most of the point of all this torment to begin with.
We start to leave the room to go to the gym and throw some punches when our phones go off simultaneously. Figuring our fathers are already sending us on a job, we both heave frustrated breaths as we check the message.
But then …
“Holy fucking shit,” I mutter. “Al’s mother has gone missing.”
We stare at each other, somehow knowing it’s not a coincidence that she went missing right after Allura was handed off to us. I have this gut-sinking feeling that her body will soon be found at the bottom of a lake.
But the question is: why?
It makes me nervous. And by the look on Ryder’s face, he feels it, too.
“I don’t like this,” he says, clutching his phone. “Something’s not right.”
“I know,” I agree, knowing we need answers now more than ever.
Because I have a horrible feeling the devils that created us might be out to destroy us.
THIRTY-FIVE
ALLURA
I force myself to stop crying. I have to, or I won’t ever stop. Then I drag myself off the floor and wander over to my bed with the plan to go to sleep. But restlessness overcomes me, and I end up starting the task of unpacking.
I have a box opened on my bed when a knock sounds at my door.
I expected this, and if I had to guess, I’d put money on it being Blaise standing on the other side.
While I’m upset about what they told me tonight, deep down, I’m more hurt than furious. And not all of that hurt is directed at them, because I can understand why they made the decision they did. I’m not a fan of it, but I get it.
“Al.” Blaise’s gentle voice drifts through the shut door. “Are you okay?”
Swallowing hard, I make my way over to the door. “No, I’m not.”
A pause and then, “Can I please come in, baby? It’s fine if you don’t want me to, but I really want to see you, and hug you, and kiss you better. I don’t know if that’s what you need, but …” He trails off as I open the door.
He startles, his eyes widening, but then worry immediately creases his features as he notes my tear-stained face. “I didn’t think you’d let me in.” He starts to reach for me then withdraws. “Please tell me what to do to help you.”
Half of me wants to remain locked up in my room alone, but I’ve spent way too much time doing that over the years.
“I’m unpacking,” I tell him. “Do you want to help?”
His head angles to the side in confusion. “You want me to help you unpack right now?”
