Page 69 of Into the Fire

“Could it be. . .” my words trailed off. I didn’t want to ask about Fallon. I wasn’t sure if Drake even knew that situation and didn’t want to be the one to give it away.

“Look, Bianca is. . . everything. She’s beautiful and kind. Smart. I don’t want bad shit happening to her,” he said, his voice soft and taking on a broken-hearted affectionate tone, the pain laced through his words. They were surprising to hear coming from him considering Dom had told us all the screwed-up shit Hail had done to Bianca when she was engaged to him.

“I’m trying hard to figure out where she is,” Drake continued. “It’s just dead ends everywhere. It doesn’t add up. It had to be someone on campus. I have my suspicions.”

“Who do you think?” Enzo asked.

Drake was quiet for a moment. “Tate. I think he’s acting odd. I’ve been following him, but he never leads me anywhere but circles. I think he knows I suspect him. If I catch him though.” He let out an angry snarl. “I fucking hate him. He’s off his rocker. I’ve wanted to gut him like a pig for years.”

“Do it in his sleep,” Cole said. “If he has Bianca, I’ll do it for you.”

“I think she brings out the killer instinct in everyone,” Drake mused softly. “But that’s all I have for you guys. I wish I hadmore. I really fucking do.” He paused. "I am running low on my sugar supply. I really think shit’s being stolen from me, but it’s in such small amounts that I can’t be certain. Doesn’t help the shit puts me on my ass when I use so I may have miscalculated. The newer stuff is wild. It makes you a fucking zombie.”

I crinkled my brows and looked to Enzo. He wasn't supposed to be giving that out to anyone. It belonged in our personal wares.

“I just wanted to test it on a broader range,” Enzo muttered, shooting me a quick look. “It’s not in bulk.”

I grunted at him, feeling irritated. I knew that shit was too potent to be out in the hands of pieces of shit like the lords. Not that I thought Drake was a piece of shit, but the guys he was chumming around with definitely were and not the sort I wanted that drug to fall into the hands of.

“Anyway, I need more if you have it,” Drake continued.

“Not the zombie drug,” I said abruptly. “We’re out.”

Enzo shot me a look and sighed before speaking. “We can make sure you’re refilled without that particular drug.”

“It’s just as well. The powder and smoke sell better.” Drake cleared his throat. “If you guys hear anything about Bianca, let me know, OK? I. . . she’s a good person.”

“We will. Make sure you call us if you hear anything,” Enzo said.

“Will do. Take care.” Drake disconnected the call, leaving us in silence.

“What if she’s never found?” Cole murmured.

“I don’t know,” Enzo answered, pain in his voice. “I hope she is though. And I hope she’s OK and just ran off and left the note to throw the kings off.”

I shook my head. “She didn’t. She loved them. You know she did. She wouldn’t have left them.”

Cole nodded sadly. “She really was thefuck yousort of person. She’d have definitely said it to their faces.”

“So, what now?” I asked after a brief moment of silence.

“We love our girl, help when we can, and pray shit gets better soon,” Enzo said, his voice low.

It didn’t feel like enough, but it was all we had so I agreed, my heart in my damn throat.

TWENTY

ROSALIE

“Perfect,” Anson said, nodding as he watched me finish the choreography in front of the group. I’d gone to him with some suggestions in the hopes that everyone would find them easier, and he was kind enough to humor me as he sat back in his seat and watched me perform the modified choreography, his blue eyes glittering. That had been a few days ago now. He and I had worked on really improving it since I’d shown him, and now I was showing our group.

“That looks way easier,” Lance said, nodding. “I can do that.”

“Everyone? You good with this modification?” Anson called out.

We were met with a resounding yes.

Anson stared out at the group. “OK. Let’s do this.”

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