Page 26 of Broken
“Yeah.” I supposed I didn’t have a choice, since Theo needed someone to tell him where Jerome would really go, and at least I’d know if he was safe if I could contact him.
He grabbed an earpiece and put it in his ear, then pointed at the computer screen. “Justclick on this button over there if you have any news.”
I pressed my lips together when he got hold of his phone and the map flashed on the screen. “Why do you need me if you have that?”
“I might lose my phone or I might not have time to look at it.”
Okay, that made sense. I’d been afraid he’d just convince me I needed to stay here for no good reason at all. “Are you sure you don’twant me to call anyone?”
“Yeah.” He hurried for the door, and when I was alone, I wondered what would happen if Theo found Walter and killed him. I didn’t think he was going to go after me next, but I didn’t know what I’d do if he decided he no longer had to stay around me.
I monitored the red dot on the screen, and it seemed like Jerome was really going to the Spiders’ area. Theo’s dotwas green, and it was moving at great speed. I suspected he was on a motorbike since the dot seemed to sway slightly from side to side on the screen, so he might be weaving between cars. The red dot stopped moving, and a few moments later, it started again, but much slower and it was going for one of the buildings.
Jerome’s car had to be parked somewhere and Jerome was going inside. Theowas only two blocks away now, and he’d slowed down too, maybe even gotten rid of his bike. The map indicated he was at the edge of the Spiders’ area. Jerome was still in that building, and if Walter was with him, then Theo had to hurry.
But just as the green dot was halfway to the building, it vanished off the screen. A gasp escaped my throat as I blinked, hoping the dot would reappear, exceptit didn’t. I tapped the screen, wondering if it was a glitch, but the dot was still gone. My heart jumped into my throat, and I pressed the button Theo had indicated. The only thing I heard when the speakers turned on was static.
“Theo?” I said, but there was no answer. Grabbing my phone, I dialed his number—he’d given it to me a few days ago when he’d bought a new phone—but it went straightto voicemail. Fuck. I thought I was going to throw up. No matter how long I stared at the screen, the dot didn’t reappear. Something had happened to him. Tears filled the corners of my eyes, but I pushed them back because I didn’t have time for crying. I had to go find Theo. Except... the door was locked and I couldn’t get out of here.
I jumped to my feet, trying to find something with Theo’sfingerprint on it. But as I got closer to the door, I realized there was something different about it. The fingerprint scanner was cleaner than usual or maybe even brand new—or I was imagining it all.
I went closer, eyeing it carefully. Before I could think about it, I pressed my finger to it. The door clicked open. Oh God. Theo had added my fingerprint to the system somehow—I’d found a smallblack box on the table one morning and lifted it up, but never figured out what it was, so maybe that was how he’d done it—and I couldn’t be gladder for it. I could go after him. I could find him. I just hoped I wouldn’t be too late.
Chapter 15
“YOU’VE GOT TO HELP me find him!” I said, giving Vix and Tobias, the leader of the Cobras, a pleading look. As soon as I’d gotten in contact with Vix, I’d told her to arrange a meeting for us at one of the Cobras’ safe houses. I knew that if I went after Theo alone, things could go very wrong, especially when I didn’t havemuch info about the Spiders and their territory. But after I finished telling Vix and Tobias what had happened, they were just watching me with serious looks on their faces.
“I’m really glad you got here safely. Maybe you should stay here and then we can see what we’re going to do,” Vix said, her brown eyes trained on mine. Her light brown hair was tied in a ponytail, and I had a feeling I’dcalled her in the middle of training since she was wearing sweatpants and a hoodie.
“Stay? No, I didn’t come here to do that. I came because I need your help to save Theo.”
“Are you sure something happened to him?” Tobias asked, his dark eyes guarded. He was casually leaning against the wall as if the whole conversation didn’t interest him very much.
“Yeah, his tracker disappearedand I couldn’t contact him. Look, I don’t have much time. If you’re not going to help me, then I have to go alone.” Every minute was precious, and right now I didn’t even know what was going on with Theo.
If the Spiders had caught him, would they have killed him immediately? I couldn’t let myself even think about that. Theo had to be fine. Maybe they’d captured him so they could questionhim about my whereabouts. But that was exactly why I couldn’t allow myself to get caught too. Then we’d both be dead.
“No! You can’t do that!” Vix’s eyes widened. “That would be suicide.”
“Then help me. Please.” I glanced down at my phone, but Theo hadn’t tried to get in contact with me and neither had anyone else.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. He might be working with thatguy,” Tobias said. “The whole thing might be a trap for you. If Theo knows you’d go after him, he could lure you there so Walter could kill you.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” I made a face.
“It does if he wants Walter to be the leader of the Rosa Nera,” Vix said, stepping closer and placing her hand on my shoulder. “I know how you feel about him, but maybe you should consider the possibility...”
“If this was about Seth, you would’ve gone after him in a second, or did you forget what we’ve been through to get him back to you?” I snapped.
She lowered her gaze. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just... Theo and my mother...”
“That doesn’t matter right now. We have to find him. Please do this for me, not for him.” I knew Vix would probably never like Theo, especially since she’d alwaysdisliked him and was distrustful of him for being so loyal to her mother, but she and the Cobras were the only ones who might be able to help me.
Tobias pulled out his phone. “I’ll tell Mick to try to locate him, but the Spiders’ area is complicated to monitor.”
“Do that. Thank you.” I offered him a small smile. “But we have to hurry. I don’t know what they might do to him, and...” Myvoice cracked.
“It’s going to be okay,” Vix said. “Maybe Theo simply wanted to go after Walter alone and he had to disconnect everything and ditch the tracker so the Spiders wouldn’t detect him.”