The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention, a warning sign that I needed to get the hell out of here and back to the club. My intuition was rusty sometimes, but right now with all the red flags blaring at me like a category five hurricane, I needed to run. Before my feet could take me anywhere, something hard hit the back of my head and I stumbled, crashing onto the grass. A ragged groan escaped my lips when a hard shoe kicked me in the ribs, forcing me onto my back.
My vision was spotty, but I could make out two figures hovering above me. “Blaize does have good taste in women. Too bad they all die.” His voice was rough.
“Don’t forget we get to have fun with her.”Fuck.
“Ev-Everly?”
She laughed bitterly, crouching down next to me, her red hair dancing in the brisk wind. “Hi,princess. It’s going to be so much fun killing you.” Her boot collided with my face, and black dots danced across my vision before everything faded to nothing, and darkness engulfed me.
CHAPTER 80
BLAIZE
Ichecked my phone, waiting for a text back from Kadence. I told her I was headed to Bellevue, but she didn’t answer me. There were several texts that went unanswered, but I knew she was having lunch with Annika and Fallon. I didn’t want to be paranoid and invade her time with her friends, but I was worried.
ME
Text me back, princess. I know you’re busy with your friends, but please let me know you’re okay.
I love you.
When we pulled to Roseridge, Jethro looked confused as to why we were in his town. He didn’t like me, especially if I showed up unannounced. If I needed something from him, I made contact through Damon.
“You called us, idiot,” Damon hissed.
“No, I didn’t. There is nothing going on in my town for you to be concerned about.”
I looked at Damon. “Did you see Everly? That’s what you said.”
“No, there is no one here. Someone lied to you.”
Damon pulled out his phone and his call log. “You called me, asshole. You said you spotted Everly in your town. Why the fuck would you drag us out here? To waste our time?”
Jethro shot him a look and opened his phone, showing Damon his history and his call log, too. “I didn’t call you. If that bitch was in my territory, I would’ve shot her for destroying my product. I still want my drugs, Blaize.”
“Damon, if they aren’t here, then this is a distraction.”
Fuck.
I called Kadence, and her phone went straight to voicemail. Panic seized my bones as paranoia overtook me. It was a trap to get me out of town. I called Hunter, and she answered immediately.
“Hunter, is Kadence back at the club?”
“The last I heard she was at lunch with Annika and Fallon,” Hunter said. “Is everything okay?”
I looked at my text messages again. “I don’t think so. Find Annika and see if Kadence is with her. I’m on my way back. Make sure the girls at the club stay there or are escorted home.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Her tone was more serious this time as I heard her heels on the ground.
“I think Everly and Ethan are planning their attack. Jethro said he didn’t call Damon, and I’m starting to think Kadence’s phone was hacked. She isn’t texting me back or answering my calls.”
“I’m sure she’s with Ann—fuck,” Hunter cursed. “Annika, where is Kadence?”
“What do you mean?” I heard her question. “She’s with Blaize.”
“Give her the phone, Hunter.” I heard Hunter telling Annika to talk to me, and when she greeted me with fear laced in her voice, I knew something was in fact wrong. “Annika, is Kadence not with you?”
“No. She got a text from you! She left the cafe around one to go to the cliffside. There was a picnic set up. She hasn’t answered me or Fallon, so I thought she was busy with you.”
