Page 83 of Something Borrowed

Burn it.

Burn everything.

The thought won’t let go.

It’s the answer. The solution to finding her.

Standing with renewed enthusiasm I pick up a small barrel of fuel sitting near the loading area of the yacht. The menacing grin on my face would send chills through anyone who looked my way. But there is no one here. Not a soul around.

Tossing the bottle cap into the water I throw the open fuel can into the deck of the closest yacht. Then I spark my lighter to life. For a moment I watch the flame dance in the quiet night air.

With a quick flick of my wrist I throw the lighter onto the yacht as well.

For a second nothing happens.

Then a wall of fire explodes up from the deck of the boat.

It throws me off balance and I land hard on my ass on the jetty. Laughing like a mad man.

“Burn it all down. Burn everything until you find her.” I scream against the heat pushing towards me.

Standing up I dust my hands over my pants.

It’s time to go. I have things to do.

I have a plan.Finally, I have a plan.

I’m going to see if my hacker friend has come up with a list of Luca A’Vara’s properties.

I will burn them down - one by one - until he gives her back to me.

As promised, I will take everything from him. He will beg me to stop but I won’t. I will keep going until she is in my arms.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Verity

Ihaven’t slept for days.

Not since I got here. But I lost count. I don’t know how longs it’s been.

Everything is blurring together in one long stream of nothingness.

Sometimes I sit and gaze at the white curtains, other times I curl up on the bed and cry.

Right now, I am pressing my knees up against my chin and squeezing my eyes closed.

I can still see his face in my mind.

His beautiful dark red beard, the angular shape of his jaw. Those piercing, pale green eyes.

Where is he?

I have never needed someone as much in my life.

But not just anyone. It has to be him. I need him.

No one has come into this room to speak to me since they slammed the door closed. I’m alone it’s making me go crazy.

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