Page 104 of Bind Me

In my last moment of clarity, as the final tendrils of who I was slip away, the truth settles over me like a shroud.

I am lost, and there is no coming back.

Chapter 29

Kaden

The late afternoon chill clings to my skin as I step up to the front door of my mansion, my heart pounding in my chest. Left ajar, the front door swings slightly in the breeze, and a knot of dread tightens in my gut. Sasha’s car is parked out front, but the silence inside the house is deafening.

“Sasha?” I call out, my voice echoing through the stillness. “Chowder?”

Only silence responds, and the dread unfurls in my chest. I rush through the place, searching every damn corner, even the basement.

Nothing.

“Motherfucker!” The word tears from my throat as the realization crashes over me—I’m alone. I should never have left her side. I was chasing a lead, and it turned out to be a goddamn waste of time. Now she’s gone, and it’s my fault.

A roar of frustration escapes me, reverberating off the walls as I charge through the house again, hoping I missed something. Anything. My heart is a sledgehammer against my rib cage. She’s my world, and without her, everything feels wrong. The fact that Chowder is gone, too, only deepens my dread. Zane’s been dealt with, so this only leads me back to Lilia.

I bolt back outside, diving into Sasha’s car. It’s after midday, but the world feels like it’s collapsing around me. I yank the seat back, barely avoiding getting strangled by the seat belt, and drive like a man possessed. I never learned to drive properly, but I’ve watched it enough times. I careen down the road, jerking and swerving the car as I shift gears too quickly.

“Get the fuck out of my way!” I shout at the cars I speed through intersections without stopping. The city blurs around me, but all I can think about is Sasha.

I skid into the parking area behind her workplace, tires screeching as I park across three spots. I pry myself out of the car, barely noticing the skid marks from my tires. I’m too angry, too terrified to care.

Inside, I demand to see her boss, who just happens to be walking past the reception area.

“Can I help you?” she asks, her eyes widening as she stares at me, bewildered.

“I’m looking for Sasha,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m her… fiancé. Did she come in here today?”

“Oh, she never mentioned she was engaged. But yes, she was here earlier when she brought in a felon. Then she headed home.”

I grind my teeth, nodding tightly. “Okay, thanks.”

“Is everything all right?” she calls out after me.

“I really hope so,” I mutter over my shoulder, rushing back to the car.

I drive to the wharf, my mind racing. I have no idea where to start, how to find her. My insides burn, my heart squeezing so tight I feel like I might pass out. But anger fuels me, driving me faster. The world outside is a hazy streak as I weave through traffic. Every second feels like an eternity.

At the wharf, I park and leap out, charging down the pier where Sasha told me she last saw Lilia. The wooden dock creaks under my weight, my footfalls heavy and urgent. My heart trembles with fear that something awful has happened to her. If it hasn’t, and she’s just out shopping or something, I’m going to lock her up for good for scaring me like this.

I stop a couple of wharf workers, demanding answers. “Have you seen the Siren’s Vengeance boat?” I bark.

The men exchange glances, pointing to an empty spot along the pier. “Yeah, it was here earlier today… guess it must’ve headed out again.”

Pushing past them, I sprint to the far edge of the pier. I scan the sea, but there’s nothing. Just the flat expanse of blue, burning under the sun. It’s too glorious, too bright. It mocks me, and I stand there, feeling myself fall apart.

Loving someone this much was supposed to be a gift, not a weapon slicing through my soul. I’ve let her into my heart, let myself love her, and now it’s shredding me to pieces. The rage inside me is a hurricane, threatening to tear everything apart.

I’ll destroy this city, the ocean, the entire fucking world if I have to. I won’t stop until I track down my little mermaid.

Grinding my jaw, fists balled tight, I turn away. I’ll go to the wharf office, find out if there are records of the boat’s journey and when it’s returning. Something deep inside confirms that Lilia is behind this, and it makes my blood boil.

I march away, the feeling of helplessness gnawing at me. The sea is vast, and I’m directionless, aimless. I hate it. I hate feeling so fucking useless. But I won’t let it stop me.

“Kaden.”