Page 79 of Retribution

My chest hurts at the thought of her just leaving and not even telling us, not bothering to say goodbye.

I see Blake and Mav walking toward me, their faces full of questions. I tell them everything Lu just told me, as succinctly as possible.

Mav looks thoughtful. Blake looks scared, though he’s trying to hide it.

‘You think she ran?’ he asks.

‘I don’t know,’ I say. ‘But there’s a lot more going on than she’s been telling us. Our girl has been keeping secrets again.'

‘She wouldn’t have unless she had to,’ Mav says. ‘Think about it. She’s got Banderville and John and that stalker taking away all her independence. She got a little back when she fixed Envy and was producing it. Now, Banderville has taken it all away again. She wants it back. She wants to take control of her life again. She needs to. Plus, she’s used to being alone, making decisions herself.’

‘You think we should just wait and see?’ I snarl.

‘Lu’s right. If Daisy wanted us involved in whatever she’s doing, she’d have told us. She hasn’t, ergo, she wants to do whatever it is herself. I trust her. I know she’s smart and capable. She left us out of the loop for a reason. So, I guess the real question is, do you both know the same things I do?’

Blake nods after a moment.

‘Yeah,’ he says finally. ‘I know those same things. The problem is that she takes risks.’

Mav shrugs. ‘Arguably, ones she’s already assessed and decided are acceptable.’

‘Acceptable for whom?’ I mutter angrily.

I see what Mav is saying, and I agree to a point, but I can’t help but want to protect her the way I used to when we were kids, even if it’s from herself.

‘Old habits die hard, huh?’ Mav says, correctly guessing my thoughts.

‘I guess so,’ I sigh. ‘But when we see her, I swear to God, I’m tanning her ass red for keeping stuff from us again.’

Mav grins. ‘Maybe that’s one of her acceptable risks.’

I smile in spite of myself, remembering the times I’ve spanked her and she loved it.

‘I miss her,’ I say. ‘If she is running, we’ll find her when it’s safe.’

My friends nod in unison.

I just hope that’s sooner rather than later.

‘What about Banderville?’ I ask.

‘Do we know when we’re gonna do it? How?’

‘I’m researching his movements but he’s a slippery asshole. He doesn’t have a routine. Never does the same things at the same times. It’s going to be difficult to know where he’s going to be to get him.’

‘Maybe we can lure him somewhere,’ Mav suggests.

‘Maybe.’

‘Whose is that?’ Blake asks suddenly, pointing down at my hand and I realize I’m still holding the bodyguard’s phone.

‘This needs to be taken somewhere in case it’s being tracked. Lu said it’s the bodyguard’s. I was going to have one of the KIP guys take it out to the State Forest.’

‘No need,’ Blake says, holding out his hand for it. ‘I’ll take it. I’m about to head out there pretty deep anyways.’

‘Kormak?’ I say very quietly.

He nods, expression shuttered. ‘I’ll be back tonight sometime. What’s going on with Sauvage?’