Page 118 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

Jagger jumps over a couple of seats and makes his way across the other side of the room. We begin our ascent up the aisles, our eyes scanning the seats as we go. My gaze moves to Asher, who still holds me, and I realize he isn’t looking in the same direction as we are; he’s locked on like a hawk and eyeing our surroundings as we make our way up the lighted stairs.

It’s dark, and the only light is the soft glow of strategically placed floor lights and the giant screen of the movie that’s already playing. The ceiling twinkles with tiny lights, mimicking a starlit sky.

Our collective anticipation fills the air as we continue climbing and scanning each row. This has to be it. I can’t think of any other place the kidnapper would suggest through his cryptic message.

As we ascent with no discovery in sight, my hope begins to fade, and the idea that we are at the wrong place starts to fill me with dread.

Asher pulls me to stop, and we all turn towards Jagger on the other side. He’s holding up yet another rose at us. I stopped expecting to find Storm in here as soon as we stepped inside, but I’m beginning to feel emotionally exhausted, even though determination still surges through my veins. The need to find my dog prevails.

With trepidation, we all make our way down and follow Jagger outside to the street. I watch him tear off the envelope from the flower and toss the rose onto the street, where a car just pulled up to the curb and ran over it.

Jagger takes the black card out of the black envelope containing the same handwritten white ink. I lean in to read it as he quotes it aloud for the other three men.

“Start where the concrete jungle thrives,

Venture forth where dreams and reality connive.

End where the Mojave whispers and sand drifts,

Your loyal companion awaits, your spirits lift.”

“Wanker thinks he’s a bloody lyricist,” snides Callum. “Bastard can’t even find a rhythm with those poor taste of words.”

“Bloody bastard’s playing us,” Haze says as he snaps a photo of it and sends it to Rick, who is with the cops as we speak.

Rick’s already forwarded a copy of the first card to them. Except police operate under rules and procedures, and shit like that takes time. Maybe if it was a human abduction, they’d work faster, but I can’t just sit by and wait for them to react at the turtle pace they are doing for my dog.

“Terra Sands,” I blurt out.

“Yeah, got the same impression as soon as Jagger read it out.”

“Should have realized it,” Asher scorns loudly, “Bastard wants you out of LA.”

“But why?” Haze gazes at me; his expression is warm but full of concern. “Is there any reason from your past that someone would want you gone from this city?”

I shrug my shoulders. As if I hadn’t spent years pondering the same question.

“Eddie,” Jagger interjects, “think back, darling. Maybe something you heard or saw and didn’t realize the significance. We were exposed to a lot of individuals. Plutocrats, politicians, mafia, corrupt people. We didn’t see or understand their substance of power back then because we thought our exposure to these groups was all meaningless PR stunts.”

“I’ve had ten years in the desert to run every scenario in my head. But during those ten years, I’ve only had one thing that bore more importance over everything else.”

I look at each one in the eye.

“Survival,” I say. “Terra Sands became my home, my sanctuary, my safe haven. If that bastard took my dog there and left him to perish in the desert, I’m going to find him, gut him, and string him up like a pig in a rotisserie. He’s made it not about me anymore. He invaded your home, interrupted OUR lives, OUR music, and took MY dog.

“I’m tired. Emotionally and physically, but I’ve got enough adrenaline coursing through me because of the hate and venomous feeling I have towards that bastard. It’s what’s keeping me active to find Storm, and if I find that bastard who’s ruined my life, then I’ll kill him. I’ll spare him the same mercy he gave me. None. Zero.”

There’s a brief silence as the men take in what I’ve just declared.

“Your life isn’t ruined, Eddie,” Asher declares. “We’re here, maybe ten years later, but none of us are going anywhere, and together, we’re getting our music career back.”

“And we’ll keep playing our music, even when the curtain falls on our stage,” Jagger adds. “Because that’s what we do, that’s what our souls need us to do. This time, we’re doing things our way and together as a team.”

“And partner’s in life,” Haze finishes off.

I smile, but I catch Callum stepping slightly away. He’s drifting, I can sense it, and before he fades into the abyss, I step between everyone and grab hold of his shoulder, steadying myself.

“I need you,” I say quietly to him. “Right now, I need all four of you.”

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