Page 28 of Darkness Tempt Me (Bloody Desires #7)
Chapter twenty-four
Peyton
A few days later, I’m in the breakroom with Iris, practically buzzing after the last several nights Mavik and I spent together, when the TV hanging on the wall shows the news and the latest updates on the search for Adam Costa.
He still reminds me of my ex. Only, this asshole has a lot of money.
I shiver. God, I can’t even imagine how many people my ex could hurt with the type of money Adam Costa has.
“I hope someone killed him,” I blurt. I clap a hand over my mouth.
I’m in public, and Adam is a politician.
People can get weird about who they support.
The last thing I need is for someone to key my car or slash my tires.
Luckily, it’s only Iris and me in the breakroom.
Iris nods. “Same. Those poor women. Did you hear Drake Sinclair has also been missing for a few days now?”
A chill slides down my spine, and the blood drains from my face. “What?” I ask in a shaky voice. “Drake is missing?”
“Yup. I wonder if it might somehow be connected. Drake was a huge supporter of the Costa family.”
The blood rushes to my head, making me dizzy. ‘Drake will never scare you again.’ Mavik’s words from the night he came home late circle through my mind. At the time, I was tired, horny, and just wanted to take care of Mavik. It didn’t occur to me how strange it was for him to say that.
My eyes flicker back up to the news. Could Mavik…
No. There’s no way. Right? Fuck . Is he involved somehow?
A few more names of people who have been reported missing or turned up dead come to mind.
People that Mavik knew either through business or certain social circles.
All of them had been accused of being horrible people; rapists, pedophiles, abusive assholes.
All people who deserve to be dead, but that doesn’t mean anyone has the right to play judge, jury, and executioner.
“Hey, Iris. Do me a favor. If Mavik asks. Will you tell him I’m going to our place to grab something for my brother, and then meeting up with him to discuss something? I won’t be long.”
Iris gives me a quizzical look. “Sure thing, hon.”
“But only if he asks you,” I say quickly.
Iris reaches out and squeezes my arm. “Are you okay, Peyton?”
“Yes, just… I’ll be back.”
I step onto the elevator and slap the button for the penthouse.
My mind is racing a million miles an hour, searching for clues to either prove or deny the crazy thoughts flying around my brain.
As soon as I open the door, I stand there in the doorway, frozen, unsure of where to start.
Only after a moment’s hesitation, I run to the home office, ripping open drawers, looking through papers, and searching for secret compartments.
I find nothing, but that only makes me more determined.
I freeze. Holy shit . I’m determined because deep down I somehow know he’s involved.
Tearing open the closet doors, I look through everything, each time coming up empty. Mavik is a smart man. Even if he were some crazy mastermind vigilante, there’s no way he would have any clues just hanging around.
These past few nights have been so fucking perfect. Too perfect. I know I’m freaking out right now, but I can’t shake this feeling that I’m right.
I storm into our bedroom. Yes, our bedroom, because I’ve been sleeping here the last several nights, wrapped in Mavik’s arms. Peering around frantically, my eyes land on the nightstand on his side of the bedroom.
I jog over to it and yank the drawer so hard, it almost flies out.
Then I spot it. Mavik’s burner phone. The one I see him hiding in his suit jacket and making secret calls to Hunter.
With shaky hands, I pick it up.
Then, I place it back down. I shake my head. “No,” I say out loud. “I’m just being paranoid. I’m acting crazy.”
I pick up the phone again.
I swipe open the screen. Blinking up at me are eight asterisks, indicating I need to put in an eight-digit password. I’m about to start punching in random numbers when I stop. What if I get the password wrong and it alerts Mavik somehow?
I stop and think for a moment. It’s probably not a four-number pin repeated twice. Not a phone number. Maybe a date? It wouldn’t be his birthday or his mom’s because if this really does lead to some secret vigilante mission or whatever, Mavik wouldn’t be that dumb.
My brain decides to take that moment and remind me how sweet Mavik has been to me, how tender and caring. Am I really accusing him… of what? Being a murderer? I’ve been falling for this man, and it seems like the feelings are mutual.
Slowly, I type in the date for my birthday, waiting for red flashing lights or some type of alarm to go off. But no, none of that happens. Instead, the screen just goes to the home screen. Oh, fuck. The password was my birthday.
My breaths are shallow now. How fucking stupid! My birthday? Fuck . How romantic. I shake my head, slamming down the phone. This is insane. I slow my breathing and take a deep breath.
Picking up the phone again, I notice it’s timed out, and the screen is black. I swipe it open and scan the home screen. My heart races all over again when I see a folder labeled ‘Kills from my favorite TV shows’
When I tap on it and open the first file, I see exactly what happened to Drake Sinclair. I rush to the bathroom and throw up.
Then, I run.