Page 66 of Merciless Oath

“Just try not to kill us, okay?” He grimaces and climbs into the passenger seat.

Alfonso slips into the back, and I throw the car into drive, flying down the windy driveway. We make it to town in record time and slow to a stop in the main square.

It’s after midnight, and the sleepy town is dark and quiet. Every store window is shuttered, and every resident is long asleep.

“Ideas?” I ask, pulling up beside the little gazebo in the center. My fingers nervously tap on the steering wheel as I scan the dark, silent streets.

“Fuck, I don’t know,” Rafael growls, squinting into the starless night. “We get out and canvas the streets?”

Alfonso’s the first one out of the car. Rafael and I follow suit and convene in the gazebo, spinning around to get a better look at the town.

“Alfonso, take the main road,” Rafael finally decides, slipping into leadership mode. “Enzo, you search the south side—go into the small streets and alleys, too. I’ll take the north side. Meet back here in an hour.”

We nod and split up, determined to find a missing little girl in a dark, sleepy town.We don’t even know if she brought her here—she could be anywhere.

She could be halfway to the city by now. Or on a plane to another country, for all I know.

Despite my hesitations, I make my way through every street, alley, and backyard on the south side of town. After being chased by several dogs and accidentally breaking a mailbox, I end up popping out of the quiet neighborhood on the opposite end of Main Street.

By the time I reach the car, I’m exhausted and demoralized. I lean on the hood, waiting for the others, really wishing I had picked up smoking so I’d at least have some form of stress relief right now.

Rafael’s burner phone vibrates in my pocket, and I yank it out, answering immediately.

“Enzo,” Lenny’s stressed-out voice comes through. “Jack and I are on our way to town. Where are you?”

“Main square,” I say. “We searched the whole place, top to bottom. Nothing.”

“Fuck,” she breathes. “We’re coming anyway. Stay there.”

Alfonso emerges from an alley and spots me. He looks just as distraught and worn out as I feel.

“Nothing,” he says, slumping onto the car and pulling out a cigarette. I stare at it, tempted to ask him for one.

“Same,” I answer, after a long battle with my brain. Rafael’s the last to join us, crossing the street just as a big Cadillac pulls up and Lenny throws herself out of the passenger door.

“Jesus Christ, woman,” Jack screeches from the driver’s seat, slamming on the brakes. “Let me stop the car first!”

“We found nothing,” Alfonso tells her sadly. Jack joins us, and we stand under the streetlight, unsure of our next move.

“Then I guess we go to the city next?” Lenny says, rubbing her face.

“Our men are watching the city, and they’re much better equipped than we are,” Rafael gently reminds her. It once again hits me how much he’s changed since falling in love with Lux.

The big oaf actually learned how to talk to people, how to be empathetic and gentle. Wonders never cease.

“I can’t just sit at home and do nothing,” Valentina says, desperation creeping into her voice. I pull out Rafael’s phone again and dial the numbers ingrained in my brain.

This time there’s no creepy pre-recorded message, just endless rings.

I hang up and try again. Everyone watches me, holding their breath—even Jack, who’s probably the least invested in this, stares at me expectantly.

“She’s not picking up,” I scoff. “Not that I expected her to answer and tell us where she is, but still…”

“Can we track that number somehow?” Rafael asks.

“We tried.” I shake my head. “It’s not assigned to anyone, apparently. She’s done a number on the communication towers around here.”

“Let’s head back home and regroup,” Alfonso suggests. “Better than standing here in the cold. Anyway, I think the consensus is that she’s probably taken her to the city, right?”

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