Page 27 of Vow of Vengeance
None of it makes me feel any better. I'm sick to my stomach the entire time he questions us.
I have to excuse myself at one point, feeling like I'm going to go insane as Declan recounts the entire experience of us searching her apartment, barging into Chik's. I don't know where I'm going until I wind up in her room again, sinking on top of her made bed and pressing a hand over my mouth to keep the scream inside.
There's no way I can quantify this feeling, no way to make anyone else understand that this isn't normal. I've been a headcase for the last year, and I wasn't the world's best friend even before. But Marissa was. She's kept me in one piecethrough all of the shit, and I can't lose her too. She's the only family I have left.
I find myself turning the TV on to drown out the sound of the officer in the next room, but I don't pay attention to whatever starts playing. I'm too busy staring at my phone, at the long line of calls I made to her, calls she's missed.
I decide to call one more time, a wild hope that maybe she'll answer this time. Instead, it goes straight to voicemail. That's new, and it's not a good thing.
With tears in my eyes, I call Khan. He's quicker to answer this time. "Ren?"
"Marissa's missing." I tell him, choking on the word.
Khan sighs. "Ren. Calm down."
"I can't calm down!" I snap. He's been our friend long enough to know that you never tell a woman to calm down. It only has the opposite effect on me. "I just filed a missing person's report."
"Youwhat?"
"Filed a missing person's report." I repeat. "I'm here at her apartment. They came here to take the report, they've looked around but there's no sign of her. Her car isn't here, either."
"Shit." Khan says. "So, this is... real?"
"Of course, it's real." I snap again, my patience so worn that it's practically non-existent. "She's never done anything like this, Khan."
"Yeah." He blows out a breath. "You're right. Sorry, Ren. It's just, after the whole thing with Declan Evers..." He hesitates.
"What about him?"
"I've just been questioning your decision-making skills. I'm sorry I came on so strong, but we were worried aboutyoulast week."
I'm quiet as I consider his words. Part of me wants to be offended; a part of me that has fallen hard for Declan Evers, the dark millionaire with secrets I haven't even unraveled yet.But Khan is right. I, too, was worried about my decision making skills when I took the contract that Declan offered.
"I'm sorry, Khan. I know I've been weird lately."
"Lately?" He laughs. "You've always been weird, Ren. But I love you for it, anyway."
I laugh, too. And I cry, swiping away tears from the corners of my eyes. I'm a mess, anxious and depressed, overwhelmed and terrified. My entire world has been turned on its head so many times in the last year and then again in the last month that I don't even know which way is up anymore.
"Want me to come over? We can… I don't know, make posters or something?"
I laugh, already picturing her complaining that whatever picture we choose isn't good enough to plaster around the town. I think through the photos on her socials, mentally trying to decide which one to use. And then it hits me.
"No," I say, standing up quickly. "Thanks. Declan's here with me."
"Declan?" Khan repeats, sounding skeptical.
"Yeah. He was with me when I got the feeling that something was wrong."
"So, what? Are you together now? Or are you just loaning yourself out to him whenever he wants you?"
I don't even have time to consider the question. "It's complicated. I'll message you later."
Khan is trying to say something more when I cut him off, stashing my phone and running out to the living room where Declan's just escorted the chief outside. He spots me, assures me once more that he'll do everything he can, and then turns to go. Declan shuts the door and raises an eyebrow, prompting me to spill it.
"You can find her, right? Your software?" I hold my breath, thinking of his ruined laptop. I hope he has access to it on more than just that device.
"Yep. That's our next move. You ready to go?"
