I head back to my car, start it up, and pull onto the street. My eyes are peeled on the road, taking in every detail. I won’t give up. I’ll search for her for as long as it takes.
A few blocks pass, and I spot the same women I drove by earlier. Only two of them are still there. The smoker and the pregnant girl. This time, the unease in my stomach wraps around my ribs, and before I know what I’m doing, I’m pulling to a stop in front of them. Both women approach me, and I roll down my window.
The older one smiles, cigarette dangling between her fingers. “Hey, handsome,” she says in a raspy voice. “Two for the price of one for you.”
My gaze slides to the younger girl, and my insides go cold when she stares through me. Her hand rests on the swell of her stomach, and I notice her jeans are zipped down to allow them to fit.
I clear my throat and glance away, feeling slimy as hell. “How much?”
The older one checks out my car and lifts a shoulder. “Hundred bucks.”
I know she’s high-balling me, but it doesn’t matter. Reaching into my wallet, I pull out two hundreds and hold them out.
The smoker is about to grab the cash when the pregnant girl pushes my hand back into the car and hisses, “Jesus, is this your first time or something? You pay us after.”
I extend the money again. “Take it. You’re worth more than anything I could put in my wallet, but this is what I have.”
The girl frowns, staring at the money. She looks back up at me, and her hand is unsteady when she finally takes it. The older woman reaches out an open palm, and the girl gives her one of the hundreds, tucking her own into the back pocket of her jeans.
“I’m looking for someone. A girl, seventeen. She used to live here and probably just got back in town.”
The pregnant girl takes a step back, eyes me up and down. “You a cop?”
“No.” I push out an irritated breath. “I’m not a cop, all right? I’m her ... I’m her brother.”
“Well,” the smoker says, “either way, we can’t help you. Sorry.”
My phone buzzes.
“That’s it?” the woman asks before she takes a pull of her cigarette.
I stare at the ID on the screen.
Caller Unknown.
“You don’t want us?” the younger one asks.
I look up at her, hitaccept, and my gaze flicks between the two of them. “I have someone. She’s all I need.”
They both stare at me while I drive away, and I put the phone to my ear while I search for a place to pull over.
“Hello?”
The voice that answers is low and calm. “Easton Rutherford.”
My gaze narrows, and I pull into a parking lot. “Is this Alejandro?”
“Yes. I hear my cousin is in danger.”
“Your cousin ...” My brows furrow, and Eva’s words replay in my head.It’s not what you think. I’m so sorry. I can’t tell you.Her cousin. He’s her fucking cousin.
An exhale pours from my lips, my grip on the phone shakes, and I feel like a fucking asshole.
“That’s right.” There’s a pause. “Bet it all makes sense now. It’s a pleasure to meet you. So, Easton.” The calmness in his voice fades, and a menacing tone seeps through the phone. “Tell me who I need to kill.”
Eva
“It’s a beautiful day to be alive. Wouldn’t you agree, Evangeline?”
