Page 94 of Promise of Destruction
Desperation rolls off of her in waves now that her angry façade has faltered. I realize just how quickly she cycled through multiple stages of grief, and I think she realizes it too, because she clears her throat and straightens her spine.
The pinging of the computer steals my attention, and I look back at it. Her eyes follow mine, though I doubt she has any clue of what any of that means. I laugh and glance at her quickly.
“Good.” She’s silent as I type in the name that’s been hammered into my head:Rhea Boudreaux. “Because I may have just found her.”
Her silence shatters when the screen fills with photos of the girl that’s got everyone worked up.
I tap on one of the pictures—the one with the most recent time stamp. It’s from five days ago, but it’s the best I have. The location coordinates pop up under the pad of my finger, andanother tap sends the map zooming out so that I can read the location.
Dubai.
sixty-one
Soren
Myeyesfeellikethey’ve been massaged with sandpaper, and when I open them, everything is blurry.
“It’s okay.”
The voice that assures me I’m okay is not Declan’s, but that’s not exactly cause for concern considering I can’t stomach the idea of facing him right now.
Dimitri leans a little closer—I can smell him, warm and spicy like he’s made it a habit of bathing in cinnamon cloves. It takes a few seconds of rapid blinking, but my vision clears, and I’m able to see the look of concern on his face. It pulls his thick lips down into a frown, puts a crease between his eyebrows. There’s something about this man that feels comforting in the chaos that is Declan and his intrusion in my life.
“What happened?” I groan.
I remember leaving the guest house with Dimitri, his concern, his offer of assistance. And then I remember why I needed to get out of there— what I saw on Declan’s computer. I remember the betrayal, the humiliation, the realization that my beloved husband didn’t love me half as much as he claimed he did.
“I’m no doctor,” he shrugs, “but Elaine simply thinks you passed out from malnutrition.” He glances quickly over me, and I realize I’m lying flat on my back on some sort of couch.
It isn’t a couch though—we’re outside. I can feel the breeze on my skin, hear the chirping of animals or insects in the distance. I sit up slowly and take in my surroundings. The setting sun is orange and pink as it sinks into the water, turning the horizon bloody with the reflection of it. It’s easily one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
“I think you had some kind of panic attack.”
Dimitri’s voice tears my attention from the pool sparkling in front of me, and I turn to look at him.
“Probably just tired. I didn’t sleep well.”
That’s a lie. I slept most of our flight here, and I’m still tired, but I won’t admit that to him.
“I’m sure that’s a factor too.”
I focus on breathing the evening air, marveling at how fresh it feels when it hits my lungs. I won’t let my mind go back to the place it was before I passed out, so I focus on how the falling night seems to breathe new life into me.
“How long was I out?”
Little pricks of light bloom to life every couple of feet and I notice the strings between them. This place is peaceful… I’m not sure I ever want to leave. I turn around to look for the source of whoever turned the switch, but Dimitri laughs.
“They’re on a timer. And not long. I came back to fetch coffee for Evers, but you passed out right before I walked in. I heard you hit the floor. How is your head?”
“Fine,” I swallow. The uncomfortable swarming feeling that had been there before I hit the ground is gone, and if it never comes back again, it will be too soon. “So, he’s still working on finding her?”
“He’d better be.” Dimitri’s voice is gentle, but also firm. I don’t have any doubt that if Declan fails to give this man what he wants, then things will go bad. I hate that I feel concern for him, but I do. I don’t want Declan to fail, because I don’t want him to get hurt.
I shouldn’t care what happens to him, but I do.
“I’m not.”
I look up to find Declan walking casually toward us, and fuck, he’s gorgeous even when he’s dressed down. Maybe even more gorgeous because of it. That white shirt clings to his muscles like it’s holding on for dear life.
