Page 147 of Consume Me

“Good. Now, how do we find out who that girl is?”

Mianeeds me, and I will find her. With motivation injecting my veins, I call Tyson, who picks up right away. “I need your help with something.”

“You sound off.”

“Mia got kidnapped.”

“Fuck, man. I don’t even know what to fucking say. How can I help?”

“Talk to your lackeys. Find out if anyone saw a girl jogging in the woods. I am offering one million if the tip is solid.”

“On it. I’m sorry, man.”

No more than I am. Oh, Father, you poked the wrong monster.

“Are you sure? It’s a lot of money,” Tyson asks.

“For her, I would pay with my blood,” I say and hang up, going to the others. We can’t afford to lose time.

I am silent as Dane says he found deep indentations and tire tracks, probably from a van.

“I can search the cameras for vans that went through Greenville tonight,” Bailey says.

“We both know they covered those tracks,” Hunter tells her.

“I’m sorry,” Bailey says, and he offers her a small nod, no trace of animosity between them for once.

“I informed Cassandra,” Kaden says.

I glance at the lodge one more time. Maybe this is the last time I will see it. Because I either find her and bring her back, or I won’t return.

“Man, I know what it’s like when you want a life with the woman you love or no life at all, but if you lose hope, you lose everything,” Dane says, squeezing my shoulder.

I jerk my chin in acknowledgement, and he says, “I’ll drive, hop in the passenger seat.”

“You’re leaving Abi to be with me? Never saw that one coming.”

“Fuck off. It will score me bonus points.”

Not that he needs those. I would have cracked a smile like he intended under normal circumstances, but there is nothing normal about this.

When we reach the estate, Samuel lets us inside. He offers me a sympathetic look as he leads us down the hallway andinto Cassandra’s office. She’s there, and Kaden’s mother has her hand on Cillian’s arm, who looks utterly wretched.

“I’m sorry, sir. It was my fault,” I choke up.

“No, it’s not,” he says and pulls Hunter into his arms, holding him.

“I’ll find her, Dad. You’re not going to lose her, too.”

“I can’t lose you either. Got that?”

He nods, but the look in his eyes is not truthful. He would die for her, too.

I won’t allow that.

Cassandra approaches and stuns me when she wraps her arms around me.

“I am so sorry. Maybe if––”

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