Page 54 of Ruined

I glanced around the room. "Mina isn't in here."

He looked up, his brow creased. "No. I thought she was with you or Gianni."

"She might be with Gianni, but I can't find him either," I said. "Neither of them are in their rooms, or anywhere in the house as far as I can tell. I tried ringing Gianni, but there was no answer. It's possible his phone was on silent and he didn't hear it."

Reuben slipped his bookmark into his book and set it aside. He sat up straighter, hands on his thighs.

I ignored the way my pulse ratcheted up. This was not the time for that.

"What else?" he asked. He knew me too well.

"One of the cars is missing. According to the tracker, it's in the city."

"It didn't get there by itself," he stated.

"No, and the staff are all accounted for. It's only Gianni and Mina I can't find." I shoved my hands in my pockets to keep from showing the worst of my frustration and concern.

"Fuck," he said softly. "Gianni wouldn't have…"

"No," I agreed quickly. "If they're together, she's a willing participant."

"You think they're together," he said.

"They better be." I couldn't think of another scenario. "I have a theory that Mina thought Kurt might come to Dusk Bay earlier. She might have decided to confront him. Gianni went with her."

"Why wouldn't she come to us?" Reuben asked. He shook his head slightly. "It doesn't matter. You have the location of the car? Wake the twins, we're all going." He pushed himself to his feet.

I nodded. "Yes, boss. I'll get them and the car ready."

"We'll get to her in time," he said half to himself.

"Of course we will, boss. Knowing her, she'll have him pinned down by the time we get there. Tied up and ready for us to bring him back here." I wished I could be so sure.

"Without doubt." He stopped beside me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

If I thought my pulse was going faster before, it was doubled now. My heart was beating so fast I could barely catch my breath. His face was so close to mine, his breath would have brushed my lips if he turned just slightly.

My balls throbbed. Time stopped while we stood there side-by-side, his skin burning a hole in the fabric of my T-shirt.

Moments passed, like a clock ticking slowly.

"We should go," I managed to grind out.

His throat bobbed as he visibly swallowed. "Yes." He dropped his hand and stepped past me.

The moment contact was broken, time started again. My shoulder felt colder than ice, but I shook myself out of my stupor and went to wake the twins.

All of the Brantley brothers must be night owls, the twins weren't asleep either. Fortunately for everyone concerned, because I suspected when woken up they came out swinging. Or stabbing, if a knife was close to hand.

I gave them a brief explanation and they were hurrying down to the car behind me. I had to give them credit. They'd fully accepted Mina as one of their own. If she ever needed them, they'd be there for her. At this rate, she'd have her own army.

Reuben was waiting patiently beside the car, with one of the staff who'd sorted guns for each of us. Usually Gianni's job.

I was going to tear him a new one when I saw him next. He should know better than to go out on his own, even in Mina's company.

If anything happened to either of them, I was going to be… I'd have to finish that thought later. Right now, I needed to be cool and clearheaded. I'd leave being rash to everyone else.

"The car is near Clarissa's store," I said. The comment was more or less redundant. Where else would Gianni or Mina have gone?

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