“I’m going to strangle you,” the words leave my mouth in a low hiss, and I can’t stop them. I’m already reaching for the gun that’s tucked inside my jacket, but Lucas stops me. He puts his hand over mine, my eyes dipping down to where he’s sitting in the chair. He shakes his head, gripping my hand tighter.
“She’s not worth it.’’
It doesn’t help. Kaya’s someone very much insane, and she’ll take any opportunity she can to piss me the fuck off. The fact that I need to keep her alive, or rather, am not truly able to kill someone of her caliber, is bringing me to the brink of my own insanity.
Ignoring the smug smirk Kaya throws my way, I focus on the screen in front of Lucas. The message X has sent disappears in a blink of an eye, and there’s not a single trace of it ever being there. Lucas and I exchange a glance, but he doesn’t seem shocked ithappened.
“He’s taking precautions,” he explains. “But if he’s referring to Blair in his message, that means there’s still time. We need to hurry. What’s Nelson revealed?”
“Not much.” I grab a nearby chair, taking a seat next to him. “Just that it’s revenge. Something regarding Blair’s biological father. Find me everything you can on that man. There must be something we’ve missed or haven’t looked into thoroughly. I want to know everything. And by everything, I mean his routine, and even the time he takes a dump.’’
Lucas nods, noticing the serious tone of my voice. He turns to his computer, immediately getting to work. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I turn my head to the side. Aria offers me a small smile of comfort, which I struggle to return.
My brows narrow.
Aria’s looking different now that I’m taking a good look. She’s lost a bit of weight, there are bags under her eyes that weren’t there previously. She’s someone who takes care of herself, showering three times a day, with hair and skin care products more expensive than I’d care to admit. Yet, she looks like utter and complete shit.
“Aria,” I put my hand over hers. “What’s going on with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You look terrible.’’
“Don’t worry,” she smiles, and I know that the smile’s as fake as they get. “I’m just really tired these days.’’
I don’t believe that, not even for a second. She’s never been the best liar, and there’s something in her eyes, something I can’t put my finger on, that awakens worry inside me. My mouth opens, and I’m ready to start prying until she tells me everything I want to know, but Lucas’ voice cuts in.
“Alright,” my attention is immediately on him. “Alexanderhas taken a week off work for personal things.This is your chance.’’
I’m out of the chair before he even finishes speaking, rummaging through the drawer that holds a couple of guns. I pick out three, hiding them inside my jacket, then grab my phone.
“Send me the address, and send me Hudson.’’
TWO
I turn the engine of the car off close to the secluded restaurant. It’s located in the woods and marketed as a beautiful resort, with a hotel, a few restaurants, and a perfect lake. It’s rather pretty but pretty far away from the rest of civilization, which makes all of this perfect.
My laptop is on my lap, and I push my seat all the way to the back, my dark hoodie on. It’s only at times like this that I slightly regret ever bleaching my hair. It stands out, and no matter how much I try, it always peeks from under the hood.
The phone buzzes, and I connect the call to the device on my lap while working on the program Mom and Lucas created. It’s one of the easiest to use but leaves little to no trace. The goal is tohack into the system and see if he’s checked in for the night or if he’ll be returning home.
“Yes?”
“I’m right behind you.” Dad’s voice echoes in the car through the laptop, and I flick my eyes upward, looking into the rearview mirror until I spot his car parking a few spots down from me. “What’s the plan?”
“I just got access to security cameras,’’ I respond, skimming through the live footage until my eyes land on Alexander. He’s dressed in a professional suit, with a man whose face I can’t see. Of course, the other fucker is hidden from the other cameras, sitting in the only blind spot of the restaurant. “I’m thinking we wait him out. Going in and causing a scene is unnecessary.’’
Dad hums from the other line. “Alright,’’ he pauses, and it’s silent for a couple of seconds. “How are you doing, Arlo?”
“Fine.’’
“Stop bullshitting me. When your mother got kidnapped, I was a wreck and beside myself. You don’t need to put up a front. Not to me, at least.’’
My eyes fall on my right wrist. The ribbon I gave Blair — the same one I found on the muddy ground the night she was taken — is wrapped tightly around my wrist. The color has faded, and no matter how many times I washed it, trying to get the stains out, they stayed. I haven’t taken it off since.
“I’m surviving,’’ I admit. “I won’t live until I’ve found her, Dad. I can’t live while she’s god knows where, in god knows what state.’’
“We’ll find her,’’ he says, determination lacing his tongue. “I promise.’’
