Page 85 of Sutton's Shadow

“Oh, this is my... my boyfriend,” Ronnie answered for him. Even if she hadn’t hesitated in her explanation, he wouldn’t have believed her.

“Right. Can I speak to you alone?” It wasn’t a question. He grabbed his mother’s arm and hauled her back out of the house, knowing Jude would keep the guy contained.

“What the fuck are you doing with someone like that?”

“Like what?” she tittered. “He’s my boyfriend. We... we enjoy each other’s company.” Her eyes darted back to the front door, a nervous tick. She was afraid of the guy.

Wyatt scoffed. “That man is not boyfriend material. He will chew you up and spit you out. I don’t know what he’s got you doing, but once you outlive your usefulness, you will be no good to him anymore.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she argued, keeping up the ruse of refusing to see the truth.

“Is he part of the grand plans you have in the works? What kind of scheme are you cooking up with a guy like that?”

“Nothing. We’re just fucking.”

Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Right. Sure. Fuck buddies and that’s all.” He closed the distance between them, glaring down at her. “If I find out you had anything to do with Bethany’s disappearance, you will pay. One fake body part at a time. You’re afraid of that man in there, but who you should really fear is the man who will stop at nothing to protect those he loves.”

He let the threat hang in the air before whistling for Jude. His phone rang as he stalked back to the truck.

Wade.

Shit, he’d forgotten all about the meeting he’d set up with him.

“Dude, where are you?” Wade barked as soon as he answered.

“Bethany’s missing. I’m out searching for her.”

“Fuck, man. Is there anything I can do?”

“Sutton should be at the house. Check in with her to see where you’re needed.”

“There’s no one here, man. I’ve already been inside, and the house is empty.” Wyatt’s gut burned. Sutton wouldn’t walk away from helping Bethany. He knew she wouldn’t, no matter what was happening between them. She wouldn’t abandon his sister. Something must have happened. Something must have drawn her away from the house. Something he didn’t have a good feeling about.

“Stay there. I’ll be home in a few.” He hung up and buckled himself into the seat as the vise that had clamped on to his heart when he’d first discovered Bethany was missing tightened.

Chapter 26

Suttonstoodbyatree a few houses down from the address Bethany had given her. A normal house in a normal neighborhood—one very similar to Wyatt’s. Nothing stood out to indicate something nefarious was happening inside.

Wiping at the sweat on her brow before it could drip into her eyes, she tried Bethany’s cell once more, cursing the heat that baked her even as she stood in the tree’s shade. It went right to voice mail—again. The texts she sent also went unanswered. Sutton tried not to panic at the implications behind why the teenager wasn’t answering her phone.

The house looked empty. No cars in the driveway. No movement in the windows. Sutton took a deep breath, thinking this was as good a time as any to check things out.

She stepped out from behind the tree and meandered up the sidewalk. The sweat trickling down her spine was more fear induced than heat generated. Even though her heart raced and her limbs felt jittery, she tried to act casual. She didn’t remember getting this out of sorts on any of her former projects, no matter how dangerous. Apparently, she was out of practice.

She drew even with the house and turned to stroll to the front door. Just a woman visiting with neighbors. Trying not to make it obvious she was peering into the windows, she peeked in, seeing no movement. She tried the door. Locked, of course.

Not ready to give up, she walked around to the back, somewhat more at ease now that she didn’t have to worry about the neighbor’s prying eyes. There was a door at the back of the house that opened into the kitchen. She tried the knob, shocked when it turned. She pushed the door open wide enough to stick her head through. The kitchen appeared to be empty, so she slipped inside, shutting the door carefully behind her.

She closed her eyes, taking a moment to reach out with her other senses. There were no other noises, aside from the normal sounds a house makes. The refrigerator hummed to her right. A click, then the whoosh of vibration as the air kicked on. But no human sounds.

She made her way through the kitchen, noting that it was ordinary but clean. The living room was the same. The dining room had a round table covered in a green felt cloth that resembled a poker table. That was odd, but not screaming illicit.

There were stairs off the living room. Sutton climbed them, freezing halfway up when a floorboard screeched in the silence. Heart lodged in her throat, she stood rooted to the spot until she’d calmed down and assured herself that there was no imminent danger.

The second floor had four bedrooms and one bathroom. She checked them all, noting the bunks in two of the rooms. They’d crammed two sets of bunk beds into the two rooms, leaving very little space for anything else. It looked uncomfortable, but again, there was nothing criminal about it.

Finding nothing on the second floor, Sutton made her way back to the kitchen, huffing out a frustrated breath. She had so hoped to find Bethany, but the house was empty. She closed her eyes and listened to the house one more time. Still nothing.

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