But then I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Instinct makes me glance up, and for a split second, I almost lock eyes with Jace.
He’s standing slightly apart from the others, scanning the street with that predator’s stillness that all of Kieran’s men seem to have. His head begins to turn, his eyes sweeping dangerously close to where I’m standing.
I freeze, trying my hardest not to even breathe.
Please look away.
Oscar must notice as he quickly says something that draws Jace’s attention back to him.
I don’t wait to feel any relief. I dart out of the shadows, making sure to keep my head down as I take the stairs leading up to the clinic two at a time.
My fingers tremble violently as I tug the door open and slip inside, praying that I’ll be back sipping tea with Oscar before anyone realizes I’m gone.
Chapter Twenty-Four
KIERAN
I’m parkedin the shadows of a quiet side street with my eyes glued to the building across the way. I peer through my binoculars, keeping my eyes fixed on the entrance.
So far, not a single person has come in or out, and I’m starting to think this is yet another dead end that someone is making sure I stay focused on.
I hate the uncertainty of it all.
There’s nothing worse than feeling like someone else is controlling the board.
I’m tired, but I can’t stop now. It’s bad enough that Ronan had to step in because I failed to take down Sean, and I’ll be damned if I fail at finding Cormac.
So, if that means I have to sit in this car for the next three hours, then so be it.
The silence is broken by the buzz of my phone against the leather seat.
I glance down to see three missed calls, all from Brennan. I ignore him, not because I don’t care, but because I need to focus.
The faint roar of an engine behind me makes me tense.
I glance in the rearview mirror as a sedan pulls up, and I catch Doyle’s eye. He’s been running the perimeter for me, but from the shake of his head, I know he’s coming up short too.
Where the hell is my brother?
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” I mutter as I lift my binoculars to my eyes once more.
When I hit the three-hour mark, I know it’s time to move. I’ve been sitting still for too long and as much as I want to continue the search for my brother, I’m due atThe Blackthornfor a meeting with our family accountant, and if I don’t go, Brennan will. And that’s a recipe for disaster.
However, the moment I start the engine, my phone buzzes again.
“Fuck’s sake, Brennan.” I glance down at the screen and immediately wish it was my brother calling, because the name flashing makes my heart sink.
Jace.
I told him only to call me if there was an issue, which means something has happened to Riley.
Swiping the phone, I answer at the same time I pull the car away from the curb. “What’s happened?”
“Boss, it’s Riley. She’s…gone.”
He might as well have shot a bullet right into my chest.
I slam my foot down on the accelerator, the tires screeching as I weave back onto the main street.
