Page 13 of Bad Ruck

I took a moment to glance back at India and mouth her a silent apology. Was there anything I could have done to prevent her death? Was there anything anyone could have done?

Maybe if Ramsey hadn't sent Dallas to her, she would have gone unnoticed. Or would she?

This might not have anything to do with Dominic King or Carlos Jones. It might be a jealous former boyfriend or customer who killed her. Or a random attack on an innocent woman.I didn't like any of those options either, and I sensed this wasn't random or anything to do with jealousy. Her death had something to do with us. What, I didn't know.

I wish we'd come here sooner. A couple of minutes earlier and we might have stopped her killer before they took her life. She might be alive right now. They might be dead instead. Or on their way to my brother’s workroom. Or?—

Fuck only knew how many possible scenarios we could have prevented, or brought to fruition. In the end, we weren't here in time and India paid the price.

How many other people were going to die before this was done?

And where the hell was Dallas?

Chapter Five

Chelsea

"I'll tellyou where heisn't." Frost appeared from the room Dallas claimed as his own, green eyes full of regret and disappointment. He held onto his hope Dallas was there for the entire drive home. Now that hope was dashed, he looked like a lost boy who misplaced his puppy.

I had to remind myself he'd killed a woman. Daniel Frost was no lost, innocent boy.

"He isn't in any of the bedrooms." Frost rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, frowning as though sure he missed something.

"Neither of the bathrooms either." I sighed. I hadn't expected to find him there, but I checked anyway. Grateful at least not to find him in the bath, under the water, or lying dead in the shower.

"His car isn't parked in his space." Storm dropped his keys on the kitchen island, where they clattered across the granite surface.

For the hundredth time, I checked my phone. No notifications. No text messages, no missed calls. Nothing from Dallas, Ramsey or my brother.

Nothing.

I flopped down on the couch and cradled my face in my hands. Not losing my shit was taking everything I had. Usually, I was good at remaining calm in a crisis. My job relied on it. This? This was getting to me more and more. Unravelling me slowly.

The longer we went without answers, the more difficult it became to keep my composure. The more I wanted to tip my head back and scream in frustration. I wanted to walk the streets of Dusk Bay until I'd been everywhere he could possibly be and even places he couldn't. I wanted to get everyone in the city out to look for him. And to look for whoever killed India.

I was good at a lot of things, but dealing with the feeling of helplessness was not one of them. I hated that I couldn't fix any of this.

"I'll try calling him again," Frost said. He sat down on the coffee table in front of me and held his device to his ear. He frowned slightly as he listened to it ring. Shook his head as it went to voicemail. He opened his mouth, as though considering leaving a message, but closed it again and ended the call.

We left enough messages on Dallas' voicemail already. One more wouldn't make him answer them sooner.

I sighed heavily. All I wanted right now was for him to walk through the door and tell me he was fine. That he got distracted and lost track of time. A long walk on the beach. A training session at the gym. Something.

Anything.

Jay sat down beside me, close enough for comfort, but giving me space at the same time. "I don't know Tex all that well, but I'm sure he'll be fine."

"What Jay said." Atlas sat on the other side of me, his thigh touching mine. "We're Smashers, we don't give up without a fight. We're tough as old boots. Better looking though."

Frost stared at him.

Atlas stared back. "What? You've never heard anyone compare themselves to old boots before?"

"That's the first time I've heard you call yourself a Smasher," Frost said. "That you've admitted you're one of us."

Atlas shrugged. "It's the first time I've felt like one of us. Part of the team."

"Me too," Jay said softly. "Part of the family." He glanced up at Storm, as if expecting him to contradict them.

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