“Brooke’s been taken, and Trevor is dead.”
Roaring fills my ears as I focus on a speck of dirt on the windshield. Everything blurs, all sound and light becoming distant. My body tenses, my chest no longer rising and falling. My muscles begin to ache with tension, my lungs burning from the lack of oxygen. Red seeps into my vision, a clap of thunder rumbling against my ribs. The blood in my veins feels like liquid fire, scorching every cell in my body.
I’m on the brink of something otherworldly.
I’ve never felt anything like this.
I embrace it.
They will die.
“Layton! Did you hear me? Snap out of it!” Eric shouts into the phone, bringing me back.
“What the fuck happened?” Slamming the gear shifter in reverse, I skid back onto the road, smokebillowing from my burning tires.
“I’d been trying to reach Trevor for about thirty minutes. I wanted to check in, but he didn’t answer. I rode by to make sure everything was okay, and he was slumped over in the seat with a bullet in his temple. I ran to the house, but the door was open. There was a little blood on the floor and she’s missing.”
“Where the fuck is she?” My knuckles turn stark white, gripping the steering wheel hard enough to snap it from the column.
“There’s no trail. I’m heading over now to get the CCTV footage from the main roads. I need to figure out what kind of vehicle we’re looking for.”
“Trevor. He didn’t see them coming.” I’ll grieve for him later.
Right now, finding Brooke is my priority. “I’ll burn this whole fucking city to the ground to get her back. If Johnson wants a war, he’s fucking got one.”
“I just pulled up. I’ll call you back as soon as I have something.” He ends the call just as I pull into her driveway.
Running across the yard, I open the door and freeze when I see the droplets of blood peppering the floor. It’s not a lot, but enough he probably knocked her unconscious to get her out of the house.
This happened right after I left. Why wasn’t I paying closer attention?
This is my fault, Brooke being kidnapped,Trevor being killed.
Running outside, I jog towards Trevor’s car. My stomach knots with dread as I get closer, seeing his lifeless body.
He was a good man. He didn’t have a spouse or any family. He was a lone wolf who found purpose in protecting people from the bad guys.
There’s so much pressure within me, I feel like I’m about to explode.
He deserved better.
My phone dings with a text message.
Eric:I have a friend coming to pick up Trevor and his car. He will handle everything. I assume you don’t want the police involved.
Me:Send me the address of where you are. I’ll be there soon.
He sends me the information, and I lock up the house. A million thoughts race through my mind, but I focus on one.
Murder.
I’ve never killed anyone, but the idea of watching the life leave his eyes awakens something dormant, something feral.
You don’t touch what’s mine, motherfucker.
Speeding out of Brooke’s driveway, I head for Eric’s location. My phone dings with another message.
Unknown:You pay, or she dies.
