I break away, my cheeks flaming. We’ve gained an audience. Bane just grins, not the least bit bothered that everyone is staring at us, including his biggest fan across the room.
“What happened?” Foxy asks, sliding off the barstool to stand in front of her man.
He presses a kiss to her lips and pats her bottom. “Let’s take a walk.”
I watch as they head down the hallway together, then turn back to Bane.
He sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. “You want answers too, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Come on.” Grabbing my hips, he lifts me off the stool and puts me on my feet.
“Where are we going?”
He nods towards the back door and reaches for my hand.
The second the back door slams shut behind us, he drops my hand and pulls a pack of cigarettes from the inside pocket of his cut.
“Smoking will kill you, ya know.”
“Yeah, well…” He flicks the lighter, lighting the smoke, and takes a deep drag. A cloud of smoke billows from the end as he stares out at the horizon.
“We found out who they were working for,” he says finally. “They’re part of a trafficking ring run by the Valenciaga crime family. They’ve partnered with the Sinners to move girls through the Southeast.”
My blood runs cold. “The ones who tried to take Saylor? They’re human traffickers?”
He nods, his expression grim. “She fit a profile. Young, pretty.”
“And me?” My voice is barely above a whisper.
“You were in the way.” He takes another drag off his cigarette.
I process this information, my mind racing. “And those men... are they dead now?”
Bane turns around and stares at me, his blue eyes giving nothing away, but he doesn’t have to. His silence is answer enough.
I look away, my mind and heart at war. I should be horrified that he killed someone, but I knew who the Kings were before I was brought here. I’m not completely sure they didn’t have something to do with my father going missing. Tacoma gave me his word, but what is that even worth? It’s not like I know him well enough to know the kind of man he is. I should leave this place. Run as far away as I can. “I?—”
“I don’t have time for this shit,” Bane growls, cutting me off as he flicks his cigarette away and starts to walk off.
What? “Bane.” I hurry after him. “Where are you going?”
“To find the missing girl!” he shouts over his shoulder.
I stop in my tracks. “Right.” My heart sinks into the pit of my stomach. Heather. How could I be so selfish? God! I’m such a bitch. Here I am, feeling sorry for myself and worrying aboutstupid stuff. Who cares how many women Bane has slept with? That’s not even important. There’s a girl out there who’s gotta be scared out of her mind, going through God knows what.
I look over my shoulder at the building where Cyber’s command center is, and take off in a jog.
Focus on what’s important, Frankie.
Reaching the vault door, I push the button on the intercom. “C’mon, c’mon.”
“Look up at the camera,” Cyber’s voice crackles through the speaker.
I tilt my head back and find the small lens embedded in the wall above the door. There’s a loud click, and the vault unlocks.
“Couldn’t stay away, huh?”
