This gnawing feeling deep in my gut became a dull ache. I didn’t like this. This feeling like I was missing something. Like I wasn’t seeing the whole picture. It was bound to happen with an unknown variable, but when it came to Rayla, she had a habit of taking unknown variables and turning them upside down.
I should also talk to Ternin, maybe ask him what the Devils were like before they passed. See if they might have had an apartment or a plot of land here he was staying on. I knew Rayla, and she wouldn’t be giving up on this any time soon, not after the display she had with Ternin. I needed to solve this and solve it fast. Then we could get him a job or something, maybe something far away, send the heirs back to their homes, and then return everything to normal.
Normal. Yes. If the heirs weren't all rubbing up all over Rayla all the time, I wouldn’t be so uneasy. I wouldn’t be making the mistakes I’d been making. Once we got back to regular day-to-day stuff, I could go back to stuffing these feelings deep down inside. I’ve had over twenty years of practice. What was a week or two?
Before I knew it, we were out front with a whole bunch of cars. Irritation surged through my body. I was always the one that was efficient and early, waiting for Rayla and Rick to catch up to me. They only had to go down the strip, so of course they were done and back. I had the harder job. Rayla trusted me more, leaned on me more, which was why she gave me the job that would take longer.
I didn’t see her bike, but she probably put it back in the garage, not wanting all the bodies around her precious baby. I let a small smile creep up my face as I thought about how much she loved her bike. It was cute.
I climbed out of the car and barked to my men to park it and do a perimeter check before I went into the house. As soon as I entered, that ache in my chest grew, almost like the atmosphere in the house was agitating it. Did something happen? Did one of them find him and not tell me?
There were a few clan members mulling around, eyes flicking up the stairs and to the left. As soon as one of Ternin’s men saw me, they nodded. “They’re up in his office.” His eyes filled with worry as they shifted back up to the office, almost like he was waiting for something worse to happen.
I needed to find out what was going on, and I nodded my thanks before I zoomed up the stairs and into his office.
“Look, we just need to wait. Cosmo was still not—”
I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me as I called out, “Cosmo’s not what?”
I looked around at all the heirs, bosses, and Rick crammed into this office I used to think was too big for an office. The ache in my chest grew, and I looked for Rayla, knowing as soon as I saw her, it would all go away, and I could breathe again.
All their closed off and concerned faces had me questioning where those sparkling rose gold jewels were that could put me at ease. “Where’s Rayla?”
It was like my words sucked the air out of the room, and everyone turned to Ternin at his desk. His hands were clasped together as he straightened, and his eyes drilled into mine like he was trying to tell me something, trying to get me to understand, to not overreact. “Cosmo, Rayla has not come back yet, and we are unable to get a hold of her or her men.”
The ache in my chest took over my whole body, filling me up so hard and fast I shook with fury. “What?!” I worked hard to keep my voice low and controlled, understanding now why Ternin was focused on me. This was my job, my whole reason for being here, and I failed. I failed again.
Rayla was missing. My Ray was out there, and she needed me. A dark, potent, ugly feeling swirled inside of my head.I’m a failure. Worthless. I can’t even protect the woman I love. My fists clenched as I remembered our last conversation. I knew I should’ve been with her, protected her. I knew no one else but me would do the job justice.
“Cosmo, I think—” Ternin started, but my head snapped up, fire in my cold, dead eyes as I cut in.
“I will find her.” I looked around at the room full of the most powerful men and made a dark vow to them before I turned around and jetted to the door.
“Wait!” Falcon called out. His quick steps sounded behind me as my hand was on the door. “I’m coming with you. I want to help find Rayla.”
“Me, too,” Ax and Avery called at the same time, walking up behind me, and I looked over my shoulder at them. Rick nodded his grim face at me, telling me he was with me. All of them wearing faces that said they would not take no for an answer.
I wanted to scream at them to leave me and Rayla alone, but finding her took priority above my jealousy. Finding her was the most important thing. I took a deep breath and nodded to them before turning back to the door. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Chapter 9
Thefirstthingmybrain registered was that I was in my bed. It was the same mattress with the same feel of smooth, expensive cotton sheets, but it was slightly off. I starfished out, eyes still closed as I tried to figure out why this felt like my bed but wasn’t my bed.
Dizziness hit me, and my mind was in a fog, and my mouth felt like I ate sand. My mind flashed. Sand. Dirt. Rocks.
Even with my head aching, I tried to remember the last thing I did. I recalled searching for Lex. Walking down the path that kept making me want to turn away. The fight with all those hooded people. The ugly yellow-eyed demon. If that was my last memory, then it didn’t make sense that I was safe and cozy in my bed.
My eyes flew open as I shot up and scanned the room. At first glance, it looked like my room. My desk, bed, rug, bedroom bench, mirror. I ran my hands over my comforter, and while it was the same as mine, it felt stiff and brand new. Unused.
What the fuck was going on?I shuddered, unease filled my belly as I continued to look around, feeling like something was off.
An idea hit me as I narrowed my eyes at the room that was mine but also not. Flipping the blankets over, I padded over to my desk and reached behind it to feel around for the dent the tweedles put in it when they moved it in.
My chest tightened as I double-checked, but the back was smooth. This wasn’tmydesk. I whipped around—this wasn’tmyroom. What in the mind fuck was this place?
I scrutinized the custom dresser my dad got me while walking over to it slowly. As I got closer, I noticed the carvings were not correct.
I closed my eyes, trying harder to think back to the last thing I remembered, and a stunning, black-haired, devilishly handsome missing heir came to mind.Lex.
