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As he stood at the door to Mollie’s apartment, his impatience had him knocking louder and longer than he’d intended. Of course Crystal didn’t answer because she was most likely already in bed by now, but the only thing that mattered was seeing her, at home and safe. When no one answered the door, Mac became edgy. “Crystal!” he called out as he looked in the front window. Instinctively he knew he wouldn’t get an answer. She wasn’t there.
Mac began to run through his options. It was late, and something told him she wasn’t out partying. The idea that something could’ve happened to her sent fear and anger traveling through his body. Had Richard come around again? God help the man if she suffered even an ounce of pain because of her ex.
Later. He would think about revenge later. Now he had to keep his head and consider where she could be. Mac got in his car and started searching, his eyes watching out for any sign of her dark hair. He took his cell phone out of his jacket pocket and called Trent.
“Did you find her?” Trent asked.
“No, have you talked to her?”
“No, damn it.” He paused. “Could it be that prick of an ex?”
Mac sighed. “Fuck, I don’t know, but I hope not.”
“Where are you now?”
“I just left her place,” Mac answered. “I’ve called her cell, but there was no answer. I’m going to try Mollie again.”
“Should we call the police?”
“Hell, it hasn’t been long enough for them to do anything.”
“I’ll go looking, too,” Trent said. “That bastard better not touch her.”
Mac could hear the barely suppressed rage in his friend’s voice. “No shit.”
They hung up and Mac called Mollie next. “Hey, Mollie, I can’t find Crystal and I was wondering if you’ve heard from her yet.”
“I haven’t heard from her,” she said with worry in her voice. “I tried to call a little bit ago, but I got her voice mail.” A few beats later and Mollie’s frantic voice came over the line. “Where could she be, Mac?”
His hopes took a nosedive. Even as he held the phone to his ear, his eyes scanned the sidewalks on both sides of the street. It was already ten o’clock on a Wednesday evening, and there weren’t that many people out.
“I honestly don’t know,” Mac groaned. “I’ll call you the minute I find her. Don’t worry, sweetie.”
“Did you two argue or anything?” Mollie rushed to ask before he could sever the connection.
“No, nothing like that. I don’t think she’d ignore my calls, though, even if she was pissed.”
“No, it’s not like Crystal to be so thoughtless.”
Mac thought the same thing. That left only her ex. “I’ll find her,” he vowed. There was no other option.
“Of course you will,” Mollie said adamantly. “Call me the minute you do.”
“I will.”
They hung up, and Mac searched for another hour with no luck. He finally turned around and went back to his own place, hoping she’d shown up there while he was gone. He’d left her a note in case she did, asking her to call his cell. His mind imagined her safe and sound inside his apartment. Maybe she just hadn’t spotted the note?
Mac pulled up next to the curb and killed the engine. He sprinted to the door and sent up a silent prayer that she was safe. He had visions of her lying in some gutter, cold, hurt, alone. It made him feel sick to his stomach. He pushed the door open and was met with dead silence again. She was nowhere to be found. It was as if she’d dropped off the planet.
As he turned to leave, Mac’s phone dinged, signaling a text. He looked at the screen.
WANT HER? COME AND GET HER.
“Richard,” Mac bit out. The address the bastard gave him wasn’t far away, either. Mac quickly dialed Trent. “Son of a bitch just texted me.” He told Trent where to meet him, then shoved the phone back into his pocket.
Within minutes he and Trent were standing in front of a big, run-down old two-story. As they entered the house, Trent asked, “What game is he playing, Mac?”
“I don’t know, but if she’s here we’ll find her.”
