Page 108 of King of Pain

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.

AMissing Personsband 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.”