“They’re calling around, trying to see if anyone has seen Lor and Vail.” Conall winced and ran a finger over his red leather collar, almost like it calmed him down to mess with it, and the light from the chandelier overhead sparkled on the buckle. A few strands of dark hair had slipped out of the bun on the back of his head and brushed his cheeks.
“Any luck?” Rowen asked, crossing his arms.
Conall shook his head. “No. They left their last client for the day sometime after six o’clock.” There was fear in his eyes and I hated it. I wanted to hug him, but Rowen seemed to understand how I was feeling and shook his head again. I sighed and fucking despised all this, especially when something awful began to churn in my belly.
“Surprised Sloan is mounting this sort of search,” Rowen said, glancing around at all the busy men.
Conall sighed and gently tugged on his collar. “He likes Vail, but it’s not only Vail missing. Lor’s gone, too. That’s scarier.”
“Aye, I get that,” Rowen said.
Confused, I tilted my head.
Rowen huffed. “Vail on his own might wander off and forget to let anyone know, but—”
“Lor wouldn’t,” I finished, finally getting it.
Conall nodded gravely. “It’s odd. And we’re going to find them.”
“Where’s the boss?” I asked.
“Right behind you, Mr. Maher.”
I shot to my feet and stood aside.
Sloan offered his hand to Conall, and he stood, cuddling up to the boss. Sloan always looked a little grim, due to the scar that cut across his left eye, but tonight his usually cool exterior was tense. Conall fixed the lapel on Sloan’s black suit and swept a caring glance to Sloan’s face. The boss’s bleached blond hair was combed to the side in a style that made the brown roots stand out, and when Conall was done messing with the boss’s suit, he slid his fingers up to comb them through the strands. Sloan caught Conall’s hand and kissed it.
“Sorry, sir,” I said.
Sloan inclined his head. “Anyone have word?” He barely had to raise his voice and the room went quiet. “Anything at all?”
No one answered, and Sloan sighed, waving his hand. Everyone went back to talking on their phone. Conall gave us the most pitying look I’d ever had directed at me, and I’d been in the hospital with serious injuries recently, so that was saying something.
“Let’s go into the city,” Rowen said, and I shot a look his way but couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He was good at keeping cool. “There are people Vail or Lor might go chat with. We can check in a few spots. Maybe the university? If someone needed help, they would likely hare off without saying a word in the heat of the moment.”
Conall nodded and fiddled with the tie on his robe. “That’s a good idea.”
Sloan’s jaw tightened and he looked ready to murder, which I didn’t love. “If they’re not dead when you find them, they’re in trouble. Lorcan was given specific instructions to let us know where he was going before he left the grounds. I checked the garage personally, and his Audi is out there. I’m not sure what could’ve happened.” He didn’t need to add that it pissed him off to be in the dark because it was clear in the way his shoulders stiffened.
Conall gasped and patted Sloan’s arm. “Vail doesn’t drive, right?”
Rowen and I shook our heads.
“He can—” Rowen scrunched his nose. “—but he prefers not to do it. It’s safer for everyone that way.”
“Pet, what are you thinking?” Sloan frowned at him.
“You checked the garage for the Audi. Uh....” He laughed and flashed the type of smile that had Sloan scowling and his eyes narrowing. “You know, a couple of days ago Lor asked if he could take my Lamborghini for a spin. Was it there?”
Sloan blinked and glanced around, looking lost. “But someone would’ve known if that car was missing.”
“Not if Lor went when no one was in the garage. The keys are all right there. And would someone really know if thatcarwas off the grounds, or would they know ifIwas somewhere you didn’t think I should be?” Conall stared at Sloan, who raised an eyebrow.
“I might have a way of locating the car.”
Conall narrowed his eyes at Sloan, and I wanted to laugh but bit the inside of my cheek. As brave as I’d pretended to be with Rowen earlier, I knew better than to get involved in whatever bullshit might be about to go down between them.
Sloan huffed. “It’s my right to know where you are at all times.”
