Page 141 of Finders Reapers

Jamal pressed his hand against his chest at the same time. “You felt that?”

Rome nodded.

Fletcher hopped off the desk. “Something isn’t right.”

“Finally,” Maddox snapped. “Mr. Bub called a meeting with Charon. We’re allowed to go up.”

“What has your knickers in such a twist?” Jamal snapped, the tendons of his fists white with tension.

Whatever Rome, Fletcher, and Jamal were feeling had passed Maddox by completely.

The large man blinked and frowned. “Valentina has been in contact with Mr. Bub the entire time that she’s been with us. She’s been spying on us for him. If Charon doesn’t vouch for our asses, we’re going to be shoved so deep into the void that we won’t even be a memory. Excuse me for refusing to die like Richard did.”

Rome’s brow creased. “No. Valentina would not do that.”

“She could and did.” Maddox retorted, his jaw mashing together as his ire rose.

Rome shook his head but didn’t say another word. He shot a glance at Jamal, and it seemed that his confession about Sasha’s blackmail had been pushed to the wayside.

“Why are we rushing here?” Rome sighed. “Charon knows what he is doing. This is a fight for the boardroom. We are specks, we are not strong enough to go against Beelzebub, and Charon can handle himself. Why are you trying to meddle?”

Maddox shifted and squared his shoulder. “Charon asked us to investigate the contracted souls—”

“Charon asked us to look after Valentina. You started looking into the contracted souls because she was one.” Jamal pointed out. “What are we doing? What do you want from this, Maddox?”

Maddox’s gaze darted from Jamal’s to Rome’s and finally settled on Fletcher. When Maddox spoke again, it seemed like all of his energy had left him. “She didn’t tell me that Beelzebub had approached her.”

Rome stepped forward and flicked Maddox directly on the forehead. “?????.”Shithead.

Maddox blinked, offended. Before he could ask why Rome had flicked him like an errant child, Rome spoke.

“You were scared that you were going to lose her like you lost your friend.” Rome nodded sagely. “But, you got angry and took it out on her. ?????.” He threw in anotherShitheadfor good measure.

“I—” Maddox started to say, but his word choked off as Rome bent over and coughed. Hard. Breathless.

“What is happening?” Fletcher wheezed.

“It has to be Valentina.” Jamal struggled to stand.

Maddox blinked. “I’m not affected. It’s not the Grim bond.”

“It’s Valentina,” Rome stated. “We have to find her.”

“We have the meeting with Charon,” Maddox argued.

Jamal and Fletcher looked like there were ready to mutiny, but Rome was surprised most when Fletcher—largely considered the most placid Reaper in the Grim—marched forward and pulled back his arm, striking Maddox in the jaw with his fist.

Maddox dropped like a sack of potatoes and cupped his jaw. “Fletcher!” He growled.

“You’re fucking blind.” Fletcher shook his fist as he turned on his heel.

The others ignored Maddox. On the floor, and pulled out their phones. Maddox made a noise halfway between a gag and a scoff as they tried to call her one by one.

No answer.

Rome felt it in his bones.

The elevator opened with a swish, revealing Charon. The ferryman was not amused.