Page 106 of Creed

“I have her phone, thanks, Oll,” Nexin says. “It’s my top priority to get into it.”

“Any trouble with school?” Tag asks. “Problems with any students or professors?”

“Sophie wasn’t overly social, but everyone loved her. She’s sweet and nice, authentic. People vibe off that.”

“And the gun that someone said they saw?” Rolf circles back to that.

“The surveillance cameras didn’t show anything to support that,” I remind. “Or even that the guy on a motorcycle was on campus.”

Antonio turns to Ryn. “Where’s Len?”

“She’s reviewing the security footage again,” she replies.

I assume Len is another member of their team. I’m wondering about Ryn and her role, and my confusion must be apparent.

“I’m a close friend of Antonio’s,” she explains. “Tag, Nexin, and Rolf are my security team. They have experience in things like this and are here to help until the authorities step in.”

Tag’s brows pull together. “What organized crime factions operate here?”

“You’re thinking because of the mention of a big dude on a bike with the gun?” Nexin drums his fingers on the back of the chair. “The biggest motorcycle club in this city, I think, is a chapter of the Havoc Guardians. The mother chapter is in San Francisco.”

“In any rumors of the sighting, there was no mention of leather vests, though,” Miguel says. “Members of an MC always wear their cuts.”

Nexin nods. “It’s like a club sin or something if they don’t.”

“I can’t see Sophie running toward a biker holding a gun and willingly going with him,” I protest. None of this jives.

“What about some people saying there might have been someone chasing her?” Ryn asks.

“From the messages I’ve gotten, that sounds even more unlikely than the possible sighting of a biker pulling out a gun and Sophie jumping onto the back of his bike. And no one had any pictures. You know our generation, they take pictures of everything.” I rub my temples, trying to ease the mother of all headaches. “Thismakes no sense. It’s not how Sophie would act; there’s nothing on the surveillance feeds. God, I hope this is really just her going away for the weekend to get laid.”

My cheeks heat as I realize what I said in front of Antonio about Sophie—ever the goodie-two-shoes—but my distress immediately pushes the embarrassment away. “But none of this makes sense. There’s no evidence to back up the rumors, but if Sophie did go away for the weekend, I know she’d never leave her phone. She’s always there for any family member if they need anything. It hurt her to be so far from them.”

Tears burn my eyes again, and I can barely stop them. I’m on the verge ofuglycrying.

“Hey.” Antonio reaches forward again and touches my hand. “How about you get some rest?”

I sniff and stare at his bloodshot, exhausted, worried eyes. “Hello, Pot, meet Kettle.”

Rolf rumbles a laugh, and Nexin smiles. “She’s got ya there, Antonio.”

Ryn looks between the two of us, frowning. “You both need some rest.” When I shake my head, her frown eases. “You’re a good friend, Ollie, but you can’t help Sophie if you can’t think straight because you’re sleep-deprived. You’ve been up since yesterday morning, haven’t you?”

I chew on my cheek as I fight another urge to cry. “I’m really worried.”

“How about this Zac guy?” Nexin asks. “How can we reach him?”

“He got an emergency call from his dad and had to go home to Tennessee. I have his number, though, or I’m sure he’ll be back by Friday. Their football team and frat house always host an end-of-spring break bash for whoever’s around.”

“Oh, goodie, a frat party.” Nexin rubs his hands together.

“We’re not crashing a frat party.” Tag frowns.

Nexin rolls his eyes. “Such a killjoy.”

My heart clenches because I always call Sophie that.

“Let’s hope Sophie is back before then,” Ryn says.

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