Page 51 of All Our Ghosts

A soft scoff comes from my side.

Trey’s eyes flicker over to Kadence. “You’re the new office girl?”

I glance down at her, our eyes meeting for a brief moment before she nods. “Yeah, Kadence.”

Falcone smirks as he looks back at me. I know exactly what he’s thinking and even that thought makes me want to throttle him.

“Where is he?” I ask.

Trey sighs, nodding his head toward the Church. The room where too many of my brothers became comfortable with the idea of letting Stokes fund the club. “Been in there since I woke up. Dex is with him.”

Ah, of course Dexter Wolfe is with him. Plotting whatever way they can to get me out of this club.

As if on cue the Church doors fly open, a blind rage plasters over Cole’s features as his gaze lands on me. But it isn’t me he’s pissed at. His eyes flicker down to my side, to Kadence.

“What the hell did I tell you?” He marches towards the two of us. I take a step forward, guarding myself between the two of them. “I asked you if there was anything I should be worried about, and what did you say?” I don’t miss the venom leaking from Cole’s words.

Cole takes another step forward, forcing my hand to fly out.

“Hey!” I bark. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

I feel her grip tighten on my hand as she moves around them. Cole lets out a chilling laugh. “Your new conquest–”

I shove my hand into Cole’s chest even before he can finish the sentence. “Watch it, O’Neil,” I warn.

“Kadence is apparently a missing person,” Cole says flatly, his eyes flickering back down to her. It’s then Wolfe who rounds the edge of the door, clapping his hand over his shoulder, “And a fucking felon.”

“I–” Kadence’s soft voice filters through the powder keg threatening to go off between us. “What?”

My jaw ticks the longer Cole glares at her.

A missing person? What the hell is he talking about? Kadence sounds just as confused as I feel. Dex shoves Cole back a step, pulling his focus to him.

“You were supposed towait, not storm out here like an asshole.” Dex turns back to the three of us, his face exhausted, yet his brows pull together with the bulldog look he uses to intimidate people. It makes me laugh whenever he does it, though deep down I know Dex. Right now it’s just a look, nothing murderous about it, at least not yet. “A news story from this morning, plastered all over Fox News, CNN, all that mainstream bullshit, says your girl here isn’t who she says she is.”

Kadence steps forward, her hand dropping from mine as she moves. “What news story?”

Cole shakes his head, steam practically rolling off his ears with the redness creeping up his neck. “Why don’t you see for yourself?” He pushes his way past Dex, who shoots me a look.

I rest my hand on her lower back, guiding her towards the Church. Dex waits for us as Trey goes back to the bar. The door closes behind us. Cole’s already standing in front of the TV hanging on the wall.

He unmutes the flashing photos and news junkets. Kadence takes a step towards the TV, her arms crossing over her chest. I can only watch her. Whatever is on the screen is bad, bad for her and bad for us. But I also know mainstream media is full of fucking bullshit stories flared for the masses to get views.

Now out of Miami-Dade County, Florida, we have Lieutenant Jeremy Miles, Lieutenant Miles what can you tell us about Kadence Andrews?

A man with short-cut hair appears on the screen. His face twists with what appears to be grief and he’s dressed in some stupid fucking bandana wrapped around his neck. Kadence stumbles backward, her hands finding the table as she grips the edge, holding herself up.

We’re investigating the disappearance of Kadence Andrews and an arson related to her disappearance.The man stated plainly.We have reason to believe that Ms. Andrews is under extreme duress and acting irrationally due to post-traumatic stress disorder.

“That motherfucker.” Her voice is only a whisper and only meant for herself to hear, but I catch it, and it fuels the rage within me as I try to figure out what the fuck is going on.

“What the fuck is this, Kadence?” I ask through gritted teeth.

The screen flashes to a townhome, completely burnt to the ground, pieces of a blue door still scattered across the screen.

Lieutenant, it’s also stated that she’s wanted for arson? Can you please tell the viewers more?

Certainly, Ms. Andrews, in a frenzy, set fire to the townhome that she and I shared.

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