Page 62 of Tainted Rose

Beau’s hands clench into fists at his sides. “Someone turn the fucking music off! Everyone spread out. You’re looking for a redhead. Go!”

The music cuts off and our classmates spread out like ants scurrying around the house, like some sick reversal of a game of hide-and-seek where the only person we’re looking for is Scarlett.

With each passing second, the giant weight sitting on my chest gets heavier and heavier. I squeeze my eyes shut for a second, trying to figure out where to look next.

Micah stops next to me, concern written all over his face. “I don’t think she’s here. I mean, it’s a big house, but we’ve got close to fifty people checking every room.”

I nod, my jaw tense, and pull out my phone to send a message to the one person who had damn well better be prepared to help me.

Me:Hey, I need your help. It’s an emergency.

A few seconds go by while I stare at the phone. Micah jangles his car keys. “Wherever you need to go, I’m driving.”

Beau dashes up to us. “I’m sending everyone out of here. Are we going out to look for her?”

I nod. “Yeah, give me a second. We’ll check her place first.”

“Good call. Could something Aria said have upset her? I mean—fuck, man. You thought she was cool with everything, but are you sure Aria didn’t decide to double down on her bitchy attitude?” Micah growls.

“I don’t—” My phone pings with the incoming text, and I hold out a hand for everyone to stop talking.

Sebastian:You want my help even after everything you said to me the other day?

I wave over my shoulder that Beau and Micah should follow and hurry to the front of the house as I furiously shoot a text back to the arrogant asshole.

Me:Your daughter went missing from a party, so yeah.

I take off at a dead run across the yard to Micah’s SUV, Beau and Micah hot on my heels.

As we get into the car, I huff, “I have a lot of crazy shit to fill you in on. Buckle up and pay attention so you know exactly what the fuck we’re dealing with.”

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