Page 164 of Hate Me

“They’re on their way,” he told me.

“Good.”

He went to put his phone away, but it started ringing, pulling him up short.

He took in the call display, then told me, “It’s Luke.”

He put it on speakerphone mode and we huddled together as he answered.

“Luke, is everything okay?”

“Tell me you’re at King Manor.”

“Actually, no. Sky and I had something that needed seeing to. But we’re about to head back there. Why?”

“Return immediately and text me once you’re safe inside the mansion walls.”

“Safe?” Bastian and I exchanged a worried look.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Elijah has evaded us. We’re trying to get a lock on him and a handful of his merry band of mercenaries still remaining. It’s a possibility that he may be headed for Rossun to punish King. Bastian, you know the best way for him to do that—through those he loves. So get home ASAP.”

Bastian frowned in thought. “Why aren’t we hearing this from Cas directly? What’s happened?”

“He’s in no state currently.”

“He’s hurt?” I asked in a freaked-out rush.

“Physically, he’s fine.”

“Luke,” Bastian pressed, wanting more details.

“Later. For now, get home.”

He hung up and Bastian and I stared at one another, worry infiltrating everything.

Oh my God.

We hadn’t spoken a word since a couple of Caspian’s guys had arrived to secure the scene at Ashley’s, and we’d gotten back in Bastian’s car.

Both of our minds were going a million miles a minute, trying to absorb the content of Luke’s call.

They hadn’t managed to get Elijah.

That asshole was still alive.

Worse, he could be coming for all of us.

An unhinged madman hopped up on retribution.

Desperate from the losses he’d sustained tonight too.

The latter just added a whole other dangerous element to the situation.

A desperate person had no limits.

“We need to call Caleb,” I said, finally cutting through the silence. “I know he could still be in the middle of the op, but—”

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