Page 43 of King of Pain (Damaged Hearts #1)

Right Here Waiting

Anthony

I wake up with a start, disoriented for a moment before the crushing reality settles in again. Chance isn’t next to me. I fell asleep. What if he tried to call? Fuck.

My pulse throbs in my temples as I blindly reach through the blankets, searching for my phone. I fling the bedding off in frustration, sending the phone clattering to the floor. Scrambling out of bed, I grab it and sink down, my back against the mattress as I check my notifications.

Nothing. No calls. No texts. No read receipts.

I scrub my hands over my face, dragging them into my hair. “Where are you, baby?” I whisper into the silence.

My ears perk up when I hear a clinking sound in the kitchen.

He’s back.

I jump to my feet, yanking on a pair of boxer briefs as I rush to the bedroom door, Little G right on my heels. I burst into the dining area, eyes frantically scanning for him—instead, I find Lexi sitting at the table, sipping coffee, and Jen standing in the kitchen doctoring hers.

“What are you doing here?” I demand, voice rough. “Is he back?”

Lexi gives me a sympathetic smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “No, sweetie, he’s not, and we haven’t heard from him.”

The little bit of hope I had fizzles out, and I sag against the counter, unlocking my phone again to text him. “Have you texted him this morning?” I ask, my fingers already flying over the screen.

Lexi nods. “I have. I called too. Nothing.”

I swallow nervously, hitting send on my message.

Jen moves toward me, wrapping me in a warm, grounding hug. “Wait, why are you here?” I ask as I pull back. “I only asked if you’d heard from him. I didn’t tell you—”

Jen squeezes my arms, her grip firm. “What, did you really think Lexi wasn’t going to call in reinforcements?”

Jen gives me a soft smile, tilting her head. “She texted me last night and filled me in.”

Gesturing to the counter, she adds, “So, we made plans to be here early and bring you breakfast. And caffeine.”

I glance at the box of bagels and the gallon of coffee on the counter, then give Lexi a grateful look.

Jen smirks. “Now, while it’s been my heart’s desire to see you in your underwear since I met you, these are not the conditions I wanted that to happen. So, how about you go get dressed? We’ll take Little G out, and then we’ll make a plan to find Chance.”

I sigh, glancing down at myself, suddenly remembering I ran out here nearly naked. “Yeah, okay. Thanks.”

I head to the bedroom to get ready, heart heavy.

Where the hell are you?

I drop onto the edge of the bed and sit there, mind racing, until the girls come back in with Little G.

I tug on some sweats and mindlessly grab a t-shirt and pull it over my head as I walk back into the dining room, only vaguely aware of the fabric against my skin.

Jen’s eyes land on me, and she raises a brow. “Wow. That’s dark, Pacini. Even for me.”

I blink at her, then glance down, pulling the hem of my shirt out to read what I’d mindlessly thrown on.

A Missing Persons band t-shirt.

I huff a humorless laugh. “Didn’t even look at what I was putting on,” I admit. “I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore or what even to do.”

A single tear slips down my cheek, and before I can swipe it away, Jen moves. “Oh, Anthony,” she murmurs, reaching for me. I slump into a chair at the dining table, my head dropping into my hands.

Lexi and Jen flank me immediately, one hand on my shoulder, the other rubbing my back. Lexi speaks first—after I pull my face out of my hands. “You don’t need to know what to do. That’s what we’re here for.” She lifts her head, looking over at Jen. “What’s our plan?”

Jen straightens, rolling her shoulders like she’s preparing for battle.

“Well, we’re going to call and text the fuck out of him until he responds, obviously.

And Lexi, how about you call all the hospitals again?

Maybe start calling police stations too.

He might have gotten wasted and wound up in the drunk tank for the night.

I’m going to call Frank and Kathy and see if they can give me his emergency contact information from his new hire paperwork. ”

Lexi hands me a coffee and a bagel as we agree to our parts and start making calls. I shake my head, trying to push it away. “I’m not hungry.”

Lexi arches a brow. “You have both of us here now. Resistance is futile. Eat the bagel, Pacini.”

I sigh, taking a small, begrudging bite. My stomach is in knots, my chest burning with dread. But if nothing else, I need the energy to keep searching. I need to find him.

Hours pass—still nothing.

Lexi comes back in from taking Little G for another walk. She has her phone out, and earbuds in. “Okay, thanks. I appreciate your help.” She hangs up, unleashes Little G, and sighs. “Well, that was the last hospital. No luck.”

I start pacing again, my pulse hammering with worry. Then Jen’s phone rings, and we all freeze. She glances at the screen. “It’s Kathy calling me back.”

I stop pacing, watching anxiously as she answers.

“Hey, Kathy, you’re on speaker,” she says, then jumps straight to it.

“Chance is missing. We haven’t heard from him since he got some devastating news about his mom.

Is there any way we can get his emergency contact from his paperwork?

If it’s a privacy thing, could you call for us? ”

“Oh no. Oh my Goodness,” Kathy says, her voice heavy with concern. “I hope he’s okay. Yes, I’ll get the contact for you right now.”

I exhale sharply, relief hitting me like a wave as we wait in silence. Then Kathy’s voice returns, “Okay, let’s see here. Oh. Oh dear.”

I stand, moving closer to Jen. “What? What is it, Kathy?”

She pauses before responding. “Well, it’s blank. There’s nothing. Not even his family’s home address.”

I curse under my breath, raking a hand through my hair. “Fuck.”

“I’m so sorry,” Kathy says. “Listen, Frank and I have things handled here. You guys focus on finding him, and please update me as soon as you know anything.”

“Okay, thank you, Kathy,” Jen says. “You and Frank are the best bosses ever.”

“Don’t even mention it. We love you kids. Now go find our boy.”

After the call ends, we strategize, making more calls, scouring places he might be. But it’s all dead ends.

Lexi and Jen realize we haven’t eaten since breakfast, and Jen suggests, “Let’s go pick up some food. We’ll take the long route and keep an eye out for his bike. Maybe stop at the nearest ER. If we’re standing in front of them, they might take pity and give us some information.”

She looks at me. “Come on, sweetie. It’ll be good for you to get out.”

I shake my head. “No. I need to stay here. If he comes back while we’re gone and I’m not here for him, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Jen and Lexi exchange a look before Lexi sighs. “Okay. We’ll call if we find anything.”

After they head out, I sag into the couch, open my phone and start scrolling through all the messages I’ve sent Chance. Unanswered.

The screen light glares in the dim living room as I scroll, my thumb mindlessly flicking up and down. Message after message, each one unanswered.

Where are you, baby?

Chance, talk to me.

I know you're hurting, but you're scaring me. Everyone is looking for you and worried.

I'm so sorry about Ma. I want to be here for you, the way you've been my strength and helped me find myself. Please come home.

Nothing. Just that empty space where his response should be, where his name should light up my screen, giving me something—anything—to hold onto.

Little G jumps up onto the couch beside me, his paws landing heavy on my lap before he rests his head over them. He lets out a soft huff, warm breath against my jeans. I scratch behind his ears, my fingers tangling in his thick fur.

“Yeah, I miss your dad too, buddy.”

He sighs, his body sinking into mine. The weight of him is grounding, even if only for a second.

The front door opens, and I look up as Lexi and Jen walk inside, arms full of takeout bags. The smell of greasy burgers and fries fills the air, and my stomach grumbles in protest. When was the last time I actually ate? More than a few bites, at least?

Lexi drops the bags on the coffee table and flops onto the couch beside me. “Alright, so, good news and bad news. We stopped by the hospital, and the guy at the front desk had eyes for me, so I put it to good use. Got him to search their whole network.”

I sit up straighter. “And?”

“Nothing,” Jen says, setting the drinks down. “No one by his name, no John Doe matching his description.”

I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “Great.”

Lexi nudges me. “Hey, at least we know he's not in the hospital. That's good news.”

I nod, exhaling. She's right. It’s something. It’s just not enough.

I push up off the couch and head to the kitchen, deciding to clean up before we eat.

The counter is a mess—empty coffee cups, half-eaten bagels.

I grab a Ziploc bag, stuffing the bagels inside, then start tossing out the cups.

The routine is mindless, something to focus on besides the gnawing ache in my chest.

The sharp ding of my phone cuts through the silence. My head snaps up.

A text.

My heart pounds as I brush the crumbs from my hands and bolt back into the living room. The girls watch me from the couch as I snatch my phone off the coffee table. My breath catches when I see the name on the screen.

“Oh fuck, it’s him.”

Lexi and Jen stand up as I open the message. With shaking hands, I read it, and the punch to my stomach leaves me gasping for air.

“What?” Lexi demands. “What did he say?”

I can’t answer. My throat closes, and my vision blurs with a million tears. My hands go slack, and the phone slips from my grasp, hitting the coffee table with a clatter.

Jen picks it up, her eyes scanning the screen as Lexi leans in.

Chance: I’m gone. Don’t try to find me.

The room goes silent.

The words sit heavy.

Suffocating… and final.

I squeeze my eyes shut, but the tears fall.

He’s out there, somewhere, alone.

And he doesn’t want me to come for him.