Page 204 of Midnights
Anywhere.
There's no trace of my grandparents. No lineage. No history in the usual places. It’s like they never existed. And the deeper we dig, the more frustrating it becomes.
Kane texted me once, asking how I was doing. I didn’t reply.
I’ve just been too busy trying to figure this shit out. Too busy obsessing over answers I can’t seem to find. And honestly, I don’t really feel like talking to him right now.
But at least one thing's going my way.
My arm is healing pretty fast, unless it truly wasn’t as bad as I thought that first night. My ribs are still pretty sore, but nowhere near as bad as they should be. I should be stiff, bruised, and still wincing every time I breathe too deep. Instead, I feel… almost normal. I do have a pretty sick bruise, though. And, thank God my nose wasn’t actually broken, I wouldn't have been able to hide that under my clothes.
The last thing I need is Rachel asking questions that I don’t have the answers to.
By the time night rolls around, I’m too exhausted to overthink things, and I pass out before my head even hits the pillow. No weird dreams. No creepy attacks. Just anendlessloop of searching and finding nothing.
Time drags, but eventually…Rachel snaps.
“WHY IS THERE NOTHING?!”
The sound of a book slamming shut echoes through the room.
I glance up from my laptop to see Rachel pacing the living room with murder in her eyes. “It’s like your family just vanished off the face of the planet, it's almost like they don’t want to be found.”
I rub my temples. “I know.”
The words land heavy, and yeah—I feel the same damn frustration. “It doesn’t make any sense. There has to be something. A record. A name.Anything.”
Rachel stops abruptly. Her eyes go wide, practically buzzing with energy.
“Oh my God.”
I sit up warily. “What?”
She turns to me, grinning like a lunatic. “If it’s like they don’t want to be found, then we need someone who’sreallygood at finding things.”
I stare at her. “Let me guess… Kane?”
Her grin widens, all too pleased with herself. “Well, yes, Kane would be great, but I'm actually talking about Cam.” She wiggles her phone. “He’s like Sherlock Holmes, but hotter. And I have his number. Convenient, right?”
I hesitate. The idea of involving either of them makes me uneasy. “I don’t know, Rach.” I shake my head. “This feels like something I should figure out on my own. Not… ‘Hey Kane, remember that time you lied to me? Cool, now use those same sketchy skills to uncover my family secrets’, thanks.”
Rachel’s brows knit together as she watches me, her smirk fading slightly. “Okay, hold up, lied to you? What are you talking about? What did he lie about?”
Shit. I didn’t mean to let that slip.
I shrug, trying for casual, but she isn’t buying it. “It’s nothing. Just…” I exhale, playing with my hair. “He didn’t exactly tell me who he was at first.”
Her eyes narrow. “What do you mean? Like… he has a wife and three kids? Or—”
“God, no.” I groan, cutting her off. “It’s not that. It’s just—” I hesitate, “He owns the castle the ball was at.”
Rachel blinks. “The castle?”
I nod.
Her lips part as the realization sets in. Then her jaw drops. “Kane fucking lied about owning a whole-ass castle? Are you kidding me?!”
“Technically, he just…left that part out.”
