Page 223 of Beautiful Venom

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, just in case. “I’m fine.”

Even as I say the words, my rib cage closes around my heart, squeezing until I struggle to breathe.

Asshole.

Liar.

He said he’d wait for as long as it takes, but that’s apparently only two weeks.

Though he did miss his hockey games.

But they don’t have a game today.

“I’m sure he’ll come back.” Vi rounds the island and hugs me. “You look so pretty, it’s his loss if he doesn’t.”

I grab my phone and pause when I notice a few texts from Megan and him.

I open Kane’s text so fast, I’m surprised I don’t drop the phone.

Kane

Something urgent has come up. I have to go back. I’ll return tomorrow if I can.

I keep staring at the words with my fingers hovering over the keyboard.

For these past couple of weeks, he’s often texted me. Sometimes about groceries or what I want to eat. Other times, it’s to check on me.

His last text before this was ‘I miss you, wildflower.’ Which might have contributed to my sleepless night.

And because I planned on actually talking to him today, I type:

Me

Is everything okay?

I watch the screen for so long, I forget to blink. But there’s no reply. He doesn’t even read it.

I scroll back to Megan’s texts that she sent early this morning and freeze.

Megan

OMG OMG OMG!!! You won’t believe what happened last night!

Preston’s car was thrown off a cliff AND blew up. Kane and Jude were also there.

Girl!!! Where are u!!!

The phone clatters to the counter, and I pick it up with shaky fingers.

My face heats and a wave of panic chokes my throat, my breaths coming in low, choppy sounds.

A morbid feeling I’ve only felt when I heard about Vi’s attack explodes in my chest.

Fear.

All I keep thinking about is the last time I saw him. Yesterday morning.

When he smiled and waved.

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