Page 17 of Beautifully Ruined

No, I wouldn’t believe that.

The conversation I’m not part of turns more intense and finally, Enzo shakes his head and moves off.

Cade heads to where I am.

“We’re checking the place. Stay with Tommy, here.” He nods at one of the armed men.

Without another word, without waiting for me to respond, they take off.

I sink down on a chair that’s sitting in the great room at the edge of the foyer and do what I’m told. I wait.

They must be looking for Jean. They have to be.

So, they didn’t spring into action immediately, they’re off doing it now. Meandering. Whatever.

I suck in a shaky breath of air because my humor has just run out, and I want to throw up all over again. I rub the heel of my hands against my itchy eyes.

Cade might not be a cop, but a criminal? A bad criminal?

I almost laugh.

Now I’m segmenting criminals… But I’m also aware the law isn’t perfect, that the government isn’t perfect, and the people who run things aren’t perfect either…Isaac, for instance.

Cade’s exposed other criminals by committing criminal acts and…

I stop.

I’m going in circles, and I don’t get what’s taking them so long.

The place is big, but we all came from down, not up, and keeping someone prisoner in a room with cement floors doesn’t make sense if it’s upstairs. That place wasn’t ever meant to be seen.

I start shaking.

What the hell happened? What is this place?

And who the actual fuck is Cade. The Ghost?

The last question is one that just keeps snowballing inside me along with the criminal aspect, but right now, I shove it away.

I can’t…

“Vi?”

I jump up as Cade and Enzo return.

There’s no girl with them.

“We didn’t see anyone else.”

“Not even staff,” Enzo adds. “Living.”

Cade shoots him a look. “We need to go. I don’t think there’s a girl here?—”

“She exists…”

“I’m not doubting you,” he says gently. “But we went through the whole place and there was no one.”

Enzo is looking at the door. “Cade, man. We’re out of time.”