Page 60 of All Your Hate

I’m not sure what’s going on or who to even trust anymore.

Inside the club, the place is almost empty. It’s still early so I’m not surprised it’s quiet.

There’s a dancer on stage performing for two guys on the floor and another guy’s leaning against the bar enjoying the show from afar while chatting up a bartender I don’t recognize. My replacement probably.

A tall blonde with bouncy curls saunters past us in a dark blue bikini and I shout out, “Cassidy?”

Bones’ hand comes to my shoulder and squeezes firmly. A warning.

Cassidy spins to look at me, her eyes wide with shock. “Oh my god! Wynter? Where have you been? Everyone was worried sick!”

“I…” I don’t know how to answer that. “Will you give me a minute to talk to my friend in private?” I ask Bones quietly.

“Not a chance,” he whispers in my ear and Cassidy eyes us apprehensively. “Sorry, darling, I’ve been keeping her pretty busy.” He flashes her one of his most charming smiles.

She raises an eyebrow at him, looking him up and down, then her face pales as she seems to recognize him.

“You’ve been gone for months,” she says directly to me. “You just up and left us. Stef and Kara were worried sick. You could have at least text them if you were just off with some guy.” She frowns at me and eyes my clothes.

“How long has it actually been since you saw me?”

“Like over three months ago now.” She shrugs. The timescale means nothing to her, but to me it’s world-changing.Three months?My time in the dark felt endless. Like years could have past. But it was only a few months?

Letting out a sigh, I say, “I’m sorry. Can you let them know I’m okay?”

“You can’t do that yourself?”

I’m really not sure what Bones would do if I told her the truth, so rather than risk her getting hurt I lie. “My phone’s not been working. I’ve been meaning to get a new one. Are they working tonight?” I hope they’re not. Now that I’m here, I don’t want anyone else I know to see me like this.

“No. They jumped ship once your replacement stopped showing up. Everyone’s been getting seriously bad vibes and no one wants to be the next missing girl. Are you sure you’re okay?” She looks at Bones again. He’s not paying her any attention. His focus is on the men in the club.

“I’m—fine.” I’m not sure what else to say that won’t sound so obviously false.

She rolls her bottom lip between her teeth, but seems to settle on believing my lie.

“Alright. But if you disappear again…” she trails off as Bones clears his throat.

“We have an appointment. You’ll have to excuse us.”

Cassidy glares at him and puts her hand on my arm as she leans in close. “I don’t know what you’ve got yourself into, butpleasebe careful.”

Bones’ eyes burn into the back of my head, watching my every move. I know the gun is snug in his waistband which means I can’t make a scene.

“Honestly, Cass, I’m fine.” I give her one last smile before Bones leads me away.

“She seemed to know you,” I say, feeling oddly put out.

The way Bones shrugs makes me think I don’t want to know the answer. If he’s been here before then chances are he’s more than familiar with the employees.

That shouldn’t get me worked up with jealousy.

There’s no time to think as he grabs my wrist and leads us towards Jackson’s office.

Without bothering to knock, he swings open the door. Jackson is sat behind his desk, leaning back as a woman’s blonde head bobs up and down in his lap.

“Jesus Christ Bones!” he startles and shoves the woman off him, quickly tucking himself away.

“Out now,” Bones snarls at the woman I don’t recognize, another new hire. She looks scared to death as she hurries past us. Bones kicks the door shut behind her and the sound makes me jump.

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