Page 8 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

I lose it. “We can’t risk her dying, motherfucker.”

Zane types again, shoving his phone under our faces.We can tell Domenic. Get him to call in some security to help search. He can do that, but he won’t have to tell his father.

“Why the fuck would Dom keep it from his father?” I ask, incredulous.

“You know, I agree, I don’t think we should tell the dean.Wecan find her,” Saint says.

He’s on Zane’s side too.

“Oh, yeah? With what? Supernatural powers? Psychic abilities? Fucking fortune cookies?”

“We’ll look for her and we don’t give up. Not until we find her.” Saint sets his jaw at me, and I know he’s not going to move on this.

I glance at Zane, and he nods, pointing at Saint. So, they’re in agreement. Great.

Uncertainty buzzes at the back of my mind like an annoying insect. What if this is all part of whatever crazy plan it was that brought Vani to Verona Falls in the first place? This whole thing could be a trap—a setup. What if Vani did know Reagan was dead, and she’s just a fucking good actress? She might have deliberately crashed the bike, knowing we’d stop and look for her, and we’re about to be accosted by Jarl Olsen and his men.

I keep my thoughts to myself, though I’m not one hundred percent sure why. Maybe it’s because if I’m wrong, putting these kinds of ideas in Saint’s and Zane’s heads wouldn’t be a good thing.

What would they do to Vani if they thought she’d been planted by Jarl Olsen?

No, that’s not her. It’s not an act. She’s as real as anyone I’ve ever come across, and right now she needs us.

“It’s better if we split up,” Saint says. “We can cover more ground.”

“Some madman might have her and be doing things to her as we speak.” I want to punch Saint’s lights out. “We need help.”

“What can Rossi do? The cops won’t search for her until she’s been missing for twenty-four hours, anyway.”

“Saint, that’s bullshit. Her bike is crashed. They’ll look for her.”

Zane types again.Let’s try, and if we haven’t found her in the next couple of hours, we go back to the college and tell Dom.

I relent with a low growl. “Jesus, fine. One hour, though. One goddamn hour. If we haven’t found her, I’m calling the cops.”

“We split up and try to search for her,” Saint orders.

Zane nods, and I sigh but admit defeat. I set my watch alarm to one hour, and then turn on my heel and stalk away from them.

I won’t wait a minute past that hour. If I don’t hear from either of them, I’m calling this in, consequences be damned.

CHAPTER 3

Vani

My mind is in turmoil,my stomach is roiling, and my heart is beating way too fast. What the hell did this freak mean by saying I could give him something?

The idea terrifies me. If only I had some strength in me, to fight, or run, but I’m drained.

Still wearing the hood and skeleton mask, he gathers items, getting a kit together. At first, the items appear to be basic first aid, but then I realize he is adding other stuff. Weird looking stuff. He puts strange herbs into one of the mortars and pounds it into fine dust.

He reminds me of a medieval monk as he works, or maybe a character fromLord of the Rings. When he’s got everything laid out on a table by the bed, he takes out a cell phone.

I automatically tap my pockets for mine, but it’s not with me.

Crap, I left it in my room when I went to return the file, and got so upset, I ran from the college without taking anything with me.

This man has a cell, though. He can contact the outside world, even if I can’t. The modern equipment is in strange juxtaposition with how ancient this place feels inside and this man’s old-world vibe.

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