Page 45 of Hell Storm

“What else did she take with her?” Liv asked, prompting me to scramble for an answer.

“She uh … it was only food from what we were able to tell.”

“And she left on foot?”

“No, she took one of Julian’s motorcycles.”

The silence that followed my statement was deafening. I’d been so grateful for the sudden cooperation, I didn’t know how to process the dead air.

“Hello?” I called out, anxious.

“Still here,” Liv eventually replied. “It’s just that, I think we may know where she went. Or at least, where she may have made a pitstop.”

“Excellent. Where?” Julian urged.

The pair went quiet on us again, and I noted the fury in Julian’s eyes.

“We uh … we’d rather go there ourselves, just to check things out. But if you guys want, you can buzz us back in a day or two and we’ll give an update.”

That deepening frown on Julian’s face made it clear he didn’t accept Felix’s offer.

“And if you don’t find her?” he asked. “What then? Two whole days will slip through our fingers, when we could just work together on this. Our friend is missing too. We need to find themboth.”

Now,Iwas the one who passed the questioning look. I didn’t expect him to extend such an offer, but he’d certainly just put it out there.

“Listen, I know you two are probably thinking of a thousand ways this could go wrong. You’re probably thinking it’s a setup, and we’re making some desperate attempt to shut down whatever operation you’re running, but I couldn’t care less right now who you are or what you’re into.” Julian was nearly breathless when he paused. “Right now, today, my only concern is getting Corina and Levi back here safely.”

“And we’re supposed to just believe that? We’re supposed to give up this one chance to get out there and find Corina ourselves, our one chance to bring her home, because you want to continue playing house and dress-up with your new pet human?” Liv argued. “Well, sorry to disappoint you, but there’s a real girl inside that body you disregard. She’s human and fragile just like the rest of us, so whatever she’s done while she’s been there, whatever lies she’s told you, rest assured she’s only done them to ensure her survival.”

There was a standoff between Julian and Liv, of which I couldn’t predict the outcome.

“We’re going after her, and that’s final,” Liv concluded.

“You’re wrong about all of this, you know? Wrong about us,” Julian blurted, halting Liv on the line.

“You sure about that? We saw the press conference; we know what you monsters did to her.”

Julian’s head lowered with Liv’s harsh words.

“Everything I’ve done, from day one, has been to keep Corina safe,” he confessed. “Right down to risking my own life to spare hers.”

The two on the line were quiet, which seemed to mean they were listening.

“I have this … terrible, nagging feeling in the pit of my gut, telling me this won’t blow over easily,” Julian admitted. “So, please, workwithus to find her, instead of against us. Before it’s too late.”

There was nothing else to add. The cards had been laid out on the table, and we had nothing else to offer. Even Julian’s monetary proposal had been shot down swiftly. All we had left was honesty, and he’d just given them his truth.

Liv breathed a heavy sigh.

“The races,” she blurted. “Cori rides for cash, so if she took a bike and was headed toward home, she wouldn’t have come back empty handed. If we’re going to find something, that’s where we need to be.”

Julian hung his head as relief washed over him.

“Thank you,” he replied in a rush. “As soon as we know something, you have my word you’ll hear from me.”

“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.” Felix’s confusing words stopped Julian in his tracks. “There will be no need to report … because we’ll meet you there.”

His bravery was surprising, but not unfamiliar. It was the same blind courage I’d seen in Corina. Apparently, they were all of the same mind.

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