Page 97 of Tainted Deception

“Careful,” I warned in a low voice. “Just because you have our ink doesn’t mean shit. Watch your fucking mouth.”

“Where are you?”

“I had to deal with something,” I forced out. “Let me know if you find her.”

He muttered something under his breath and then hung up. I found Hyde’s number, not caring that Rynn wanted to leave him and the other guys out of gang business. I needed as many people looking for her as possible. Panic swarmed me, and I pushed the car even faster. Once I knew she was safe, I was leaving. She didn’t need to get involved with my past any more than she already was.

* * *

I flew up the stairs,running toward Rynn’s room. I came to a halt when I saw her door wide open. Jace was standing in the living room, and I scanned the space, my stomach twisting painfully when I realized the place had been ransacked. Jace glanced at me as I moved toward her room, seeing all her drawers on the floor.

“I don’t think this is where they took her from,” Jace said from behind me. “No signs of a struggle. They were searching for something.”

“There’s nothing in here linking her to our organization,” I muttered, eyeing her nightstand. “Her purse is gone.”

“Hyde was here a couple minutes ago.” Jace came into the room, stopping beside me. “None of her guys have seen her.”

“Fuck,” I snarled, anger ripping down my spine. I spun around, storming out of the room, hearing Jace following. “If he helped his dad, I’m going to fucking kill him.”

I didn’t slow down as I stomped down the stairs and then slammed the door open before making my way toward Kian’s dorm building. It didn’t take long before I was in front of his door. I pounded my fist on it, not stopping until it swung open. Tripp’s eyes widened in shock, and he opened his mouth to say something, but I was already wrapping my fingers around his throat, tightening my hold as I backed him into the room.

“Where the fuck is he?” I growled as I slammed him into the wall.

“He can’t breathe,” Jace murmured from behind me as I heard the door close. “Let him answer before you kill him.”

I reluctantly loosened my hold just enough to let Tripp suck in a breath. He raised his hand to shove me off, and I caught his wrist, smashing it against the wall.

“Get the hell off me,” Tripp demanded between breaths.

“Where is he?” I asked again, my voice barely above a whisper as I tried to keep it steady. “My patience is practically gone, so if I were you, I’d be very careful about how you answer.”

Tripp’s eyes darted past me to look at Jace. “You can’t hurt me. We have a truce.”

“True,” Jace mused. “But that’s gang business. This? It’s about her, and it’s personal.”

“You don’t have a truce with me,” I told him, digging my fingers into his neck. “I’ll kill you and bury you. Make sure no one finds your body.”

“I have no idea why you’re here,” he shouted in panic. “I didn’t touch her.”

I slammed him into the wall again when he tried pushing me away. “Where’s Kian?”

“I haven’t seen him.”

“Bullshit,” I hissed. “You’re up his ass all the time, and you’re telling me you have no idea where he is?”

“I don’t know where he is. He left hours ago and hasn’t come back.”

A phone rang, and I glanced over my shoulder to see Jace pulling his out from his pocket. He frowned, showing me the screen, and I stiffened when I saw Kian’s name. Jace answered it, putting it on speaker.

“Where are you?” Jace asked tightly.

“Grimrose and the Disciples are having a party in three days,” Kian said, his voice so quiet that I could barely hear him. “To show face about the truce.”

Jace frowned, his eyes dropping to the phone. “I know. Chris told me.”

Kian paused. “You should be there.”

“Why?”

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