Page 143 of Crave

I don’t know if I can even swallow this shit.

He squints dark eyes watching me drip the runny stuff off my spoon. “You don’t want to waste that.” His voice is as torn and ragged as the collar of his outfit.

With a shaking hand, he pulls some to his own lips, then nods at my tray.

“Why isn’t anyone messing with you?” I whisper before choking down the first bite.

It tastes like rat piss.

The tattered sweater around his shoulders raises and lowers as he shrugs. “They know me.”

By the third or fourth mouthful, the expectation of flavor is less.

He’s right, I’ll need the nutrition. I wish I had something sweet.

What I’d give to have Lara’s candy jar here.

No, I’d rather have her. But sure as hell nowhere close to this place.

Damn. I have to figure out how to get out of here.

“Why are you helping me?” I ask him as I look past and see a hulking figure glaring.

His spoon stops halfway to his chin, but he doesn’t raise his head.

After a long pause, he slurps the gruel from the narrow curve before it lowers back to his plate. “I was young once, and knew many people. There was a particularly cruel one that I remember well.” He takes a slow nibble before his dark eyes meet mine. “He looked an awful lot like you.”

CHAPTER 69

LARA

The smellof fresh espresso fills the foyer when the double doors slide open. Cool air blows over me as I push out of the Vegas heat.

I’m tempted to stop and get one of the sweet drinks to help soothe my nerves, but it isn’t on the diet plan Alexei and I came up with.

Pain rips through me at the thought of him.

I haven’t heard a word, and it’s been days.

The ride up to Mikhail’s office is the longest it’s ever taken. It has me almost running down the hall once I’m on the fourth floor.

Bursting into his office, I can barely contain my irritation. “Why didn’t you reply to my texts? Why didn’t you call?”

I’ve been hanging on every update hoping to hear how Alexei is doing. Well, Mikhail too, but I know Alexei is the one in the most danger.

My brother looks up from his desk with sadness tinging his eyes. “I wish I had something to tell you. I couldn’t tell you I had nothing.”

Digging my nails into my palms doesn’t lessen the stabbing ache that pierces my chest. “I need to know…anything?”

This hollow emptiness inside of me, the not knowing, it’s killing me.

Mikhail hangs his head and slowly shakes it. “I dropped him off five days ago. I even went back to the rendezvous another night, hoping he’d show.”

Anger tries to replace the agony. “Why didn’t you wait longer? He could be there right now, maybe hurt, needing you.” Before I realize it, I’ve stepped across the room and am pounding my fist on his desk. “Please? This hurts too bad.”

My knees give, leaving me hanging on the edge of the oak surface.

Mikhail jumps up and wraps his arms around me. “I know, Lara. I have Enzo working his entire team trying to find him.” Gently, he turns me towards the couch and sits me next to him.

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