Page 84 of Haven

I knew it sounded crazy to someone else, but it would help. If there was another person there and I could remember a name, we would be able to have a better lead to find Cinder.

ME

I know it sounds crazy, but if I can remember we can find her. Please. I’ll be okay. I have Izzy and the Vipers. It won't make me spiral.

MELISA

We’ll meet. When are you free?

ME

I’ll call you. I’m out of town currently.

She would talk to Vesper and Widow, because everyone thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Or maybe Melisa didn’t have access to the files, and Widow did. Cinder did trust Widow with everything but my heart, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Widow had case files and everything else. I knew Cinder was also in contact with the detective from Nevada who was in charge of my case.

I needed to call her if Melisa wouldn’t give me anything. She would want to keep me safe because it was her job, but also because of Cinder. I would figure it out one way or another, even if I had to drive to Nevada and talk to the detective in person. Nothing would stop me from finding Cinder.

ME

Do you have the number for the detective in Nevada?

She sent me the number, and I took a deep breath. I needed to gather my composure before I called this woman. It would open a can of worms, and I was terrified of what I would remember because of it. I needed to remember. My mental wellbeing didn’t matter if it meant remembering something that would help me find my sister. I had Izzy, and I paid her good money to listen to my problems. A few extra sessions a week wouldn’t hurt me if it meant I could have Cinder back home. My brain needed to stop protecting me. Now, I needed it to help me.

My phone vibrated once more with an Instagram notification, and I grimaced. I didn’t have any tattoos planned and cancelled any recent ones I had after everything happened. I hated doing it, but I needed to focus on my mental health, as well.

K.ARIEL

Hey! I hope you are well <3 My back is nice and healed. I am ready to get the process started for the rest of it!

I forgot we said three weeks at most. I knew I wasn’t in the right headspace now, but when I was home, it would be better. I needed another two to three weeks tops before I committed to doing her tattoo.

MISFITRORY

Hey! I’m so sorry but can you give me another three weeks? I’m dealing with a very close loss and I am not in a good headspace right now. I’ll definitely give you a discount for the delay and everything, but I want my best work put into your tattoo.

K.ARIEL

Oh no :( I’m so sorry. And I am totally fine with waiting. I am sending you the best vibes and thoughts.

I wanted things to go back to normal, but I had to find my sister. Cinder was alive, and she was waiting for me to find her. She saved me ten years ago, and now it was time for me to rescue her.

Seventy-Two

Hades

Iwas going to ask Rory to be my girlfriend. She deserved something special amidst all the chaos. My plan had been to wait, but why prolong it when I wanted more? Plus, with her stalker out there, there was a risk I could lose her before I even had her, before she was officially mine. If she wanted to wait, I would respect her decision and accept my fate, content with continuing to learn about her life and everything else she was willing to share with me.

Instead of going to see Zade, I sent him a message and told him to let me know if he could find anything. He was normally good at finding things like this in a couple of days, if not hours. I didn’t want to waste a trip just to leave anyway when I had a gorgeous girl waiting for me at my house.

When I got home, I told Rory I wanted to take her to the beach tonight. What I wasn’t expecting was a gorgeous set-up. Candles lit up the room with a dim glow. Rose petals were scattered around the floor, casting a subtle rose smell in the air. Rory found my stash of things in my closet and created something gorgeous. She planned every moment of this, each intimate detail. My heart swelled because I never experienced something like this in my life.

And then I saw her. Rory looked breathtaking in a cherry-red cami dress that hugged her curvaceous figure wickedly with black fishnet leggings that sparkled under the dimly lit room. Her hair was curled slightly and her makeup was flawless. I never understood how someone could create a wing sharp enough to kill, but Rory perfected it every time.

“I wanted to do something special for you, because you make me feel special,” she muttered against my lips before pulling me into a kiss.

“Now it’s my turn to spoil you.”

The drive to the beach was sensual with my hand on her thigh and singing love songs to her. This woman had me wrapped around her finger, but I wasn’t complaining. My intentions were obvious, especially when I made her stay in the car until I was ready for her to walk down to what I had planned for her. The sun was setting and the waves were crashing against the seashore, creating the perfect moment.