Page 67 of Colton
I step back into the night, the cold air hitting me like a wave. The pain in my head is still there, but it’s manageable now. I have something to focus on, something to chase. And as I start walking, the voices in my head fade into the background, replaced by a single, driving thought.
I have to find her. I have to find Luella.
Twenty minutes later, a car arrives, its tires crunching on the asphalt as it makes its way to me. I don’t recognize the driver, and I don’t care. I climb into the back seat, my jaw set tight.
“Drive,” I order, my voice cold and steady despite the storm raging inside me. The driver nods, pulling away from the bunker without a word.
As we speed through the night, the city lights blurring into a stream of neon, I can’t shake the image of Luella’s face from my mind. The determination in her eyes, the set of her jaw, the fucking fire that burns within her.
I underestimated her.
I lean back in the seat, closing my eyes as the voices in my head start to whisper again. They’re quieter now, but they’re still there—always there. I can’t let them control me, not now. I need to focus, need to find Luella before she does something that can’t be undone.
The car pulls up outside the police station, and I’m out before it’s even stopped moving. I stride inside, my eyes scanning the room until I find the cop I’m looking for. He sees me coming and stands, his face pale.
“Where is she?” I demand, not bothering with pleasantries.
He swallows hard, glancing around before he answers. “She’s at a safe house.” He hesitates, looking around nervously before continuing, “But, Colton, she seemed a little…crazy.”
I scoff, “I know. All the good ones are.” I lean in, my voice dropping to a low growl, “Now, tell me where this safe house is.”
He sighs, resigned, and scribbles an address on a piece of paper, sliding it across the desk. I snatch it up, my heart pounding with anticipation. I turn to leave, then pause, looking back at him. “You never saw me. You never gave me this address. Understood?”
He nods quickly, relief washing over his face. I don’t bother with a thank you; I’m already out the door, the address burned into my mind. The cold air hits me again, but I barely feel it. I’m focused, driven. I have a destination, a purpose.
The driver is still waiting, and I climb back into the car, barking out the address. As we pull away from the station, the voices in my head start to chatter again, but I push them back. I can’t deal with them right now. I need to focus on Luella.
The city lights blur as we drive past, the neon glow reflecting off the rain-slicked streets. I think about Luella, about the fire in her eyes, the determination in her voice. She’s not just running; she’s fighting. And I’m not going to stop her. I just need to make sure she’s safe.
The car pulls up outside a nondescript house in a quiet neighborhood. I step out, my eyes scanning the windows, searching for any sign of her. The house is dark, quiet, and unease creeps into my veins when I see the door is open. The house is too quiet, too still. The open door sends a shiver down my spine, setting my nerves on edge. I approach cautiously, every sense heightened, every muscle tensed and ready. The voices in my head, for once, are silent, as if they too are holding their breath.
I step inside, my eyes adjusting to the light. The safe house has been ransacked. Furniture is overturned, broken glass litters the floor, and papers are scattered everywhere. The sight of the destruction sends a jolt of panic through me. I’m too late.
“Luella?” I call out, my voice echoing through the empty house. No response. I move from room to room, checking every corner, every closet. Nothing. She’s gone.
In the kitchen, I find signs of a struggle. A smashed plate, a tipped-over chair, a knife on the floor. The sight of the knife sends another chill down my spine. Did she fight back? Is she hurt? The thought of her in pain sends a wave of rage and fear crashing through me.
I need to think. I need to figure out where she could have gone. I force myself to take a deep breath, to calm the storm raging inside me. I close my eyes, trying to picture Luella, trying to think like her. She’s smart, resourceful. She wouldn’t go down without a fight.
My eyes snap open, heart pounding like a drum in my chest. The room is dark, but my mind is a whirlwind of chaos and fear.
Who is she fighting? My father or his fucking goons? The thought of her, alone and vulnerable, makes me shudder. I can almost hear her screams echoing in my head, taste the metallic tang of her fear in my mouth.
Does he have her?
The image of her trapped, helpless, at the mercy of those monsters, makes my stomach churn. I can see her wide, fiery eyes, feel the cold sweat on her skin as if it were my own.
There’s only one thing for it. I have to go home. I have to return to Blackwood Manor. The very thought of that place makes my blood run cold, but I can’t ignore this. I can’t leave her to face this alone.
I have to go back and face the real monster of my own story.
My father.
Chapter 31
Luella
Idon’t hear them coming.
