Page 45 of Sweet Torture (Torture Games #1)

THIRTY-SIX

CHAOS

T he arraignment was early this morning.

It was a restless night of anxiety cannibalistically feeding on my infuriating impotence of knowing that Naz needed me. Surely Bastian wouldn’t let her out of his sight knowing how obsessed I was about her safety?

That was the best I could hope for while I nervously waited for all this frivolous shit to be done with.

Claire attempted to make nice and tried to explain the situation to me, but the scowl on my face made her go quiet. I regretted the way I acted but until I knew that Naz was safe, nothing else mattered.

Liam didn’t fail, and I gave him power of attorney to retrieve the money for bail from my accounts.

Claire kept watch on me all through the night, and while I appreciated the gesture, I still resented being in that position in the first place. She followed me silently to court and has been hovering in the background ever since.

It figures that the first time I trust law enforcement is the first time I get burned, the last time if I have anything to say about it.

That bastard Vlad got me good, but I won’t rest until I rectify this situation.

Disappointed, I searched for Naz in the courtroom but only found Bastian and Claire.

Bastain also raced into the room at the very last minute, which left me concerned while I turned away to focus on the judge before me.

Once the proceedings were finished, Liam stepped away to arrange the last paperwork, my cuffed hands were unlocked, and Bastian stormed me, only to wrap me up in a hug. “Wow, you really need a shower, brother. Let’s get you home. I am sure your girl is waiting for you.”

“Why isn’t she here?” We walk out together, still shadowed by Claire, as I sign for my personal belongings and head for the door.

The sunshine is blinding but I force my gaze to my surroundings, looking for any sign of Naz.

Bastian claps his hand on my shoulder in encouragement. “See, it is a beautiful day. Let’s not spoil it by being mad that she missed your bail hearing,” Bastian covers for her.

“Where is she, Bastian? Just tell me,” I demand .

He looks toward Claire, and she shakes her head, despondent.

I whip around to pin them both with my stare.

“I am losing my fucking patience with both of you. Claire, get over it. There is nothing you could have done differently. At least now we know where we stand and we can get the fuckers next time. I am sorry if I made you feel guilty but I am so worried about Naz that her safety is the only thing consuming my thoughts. Then Bastian,” – I turn to face him fully – “Where the fuck is she? I thought you were looking out for her?” I am breathing hard.

A passersby is glaring at me but I don’t give a fuck.

“I dropped her at your home last night. I needed to meet a friend who offered to help me find who the bug belonged to. Your security alert went off once. I assumed she ordered some food because she knows she needs to stay indoors. I sent her a message this morning about your hearing and even went by to pick her up, but she didn’t open your bedroom door.

I didn’t want to disturb her in case she was still sleeping.

She had a rough time with it, too, you know. ” Bastian’s eyes are pleading.

Granted, she had a good excuse, but she will hear it when I get home.

Bastian leads us to his car, and I choose to sit in the back of the black Dodge truck. It isn’t the newest model but it is in immaculate condition. I gaze out the window at the bustling of the city floating by, where people are continuing with their lives as if nothing has changed.

Where the fuck is she? Do I mean so little to her?

Claire and Bastian theorize about what could have gone wrong the whole way home, and I keep wondering how these two got caught up in my life.

It is unlikely for a career criminal like me to become friends with an honest police officer and a forcefully retired cop turned P.I., yet here we are.

Bastian parks in my underground parking spot that he has been using since living with us, and we enter the building using the parking entrance.

Herb is behind the desk and stands when he sees us enter. We are on the way to the elevator, so I wave but then think better of it. I march to his desk and he adjusts his hat before he greets me. I ignore the greeting and get right to the point. “Hi, Herb, have you seen Naz today?”

“Not today, sir. She came back with Mr. Black yesterday, and then I changed shifts with Leroy. Would you like me to call him up and find out if he has seen her? Otherwise, we could look at the security footage in the manager’s office,” Herb helpfully assists.

“No need, I will check upstairs for myself first. Have a great day, Herb.” I salute the doorman.

I walk back to where Bastian and Claire are waiting for me, and together, we get into the elevator. The door closes as Herb waves to me .

Claire remarks for the first time since I cussed her out, “You should be careful. Others may see you this possessive and think you have fallen in love.”

I only stare at her, daring her with my eyes to say it again.

“What! I knew it. I saw the way you looked at her when you thought she wasn’t looking. Congrats, man; she is a beauty.” Bastain slaps my back, and I move forward with force. He is a powerful man.

“Great,” Claire says, folding her arms over her chest. “It's just what every girl wants: the threat of death as an engagement gift.”

This jolts me into action. “Who the fuck is talking about getting engagement? We have an arrangement, and until it is terminated, she is mine.”

Claire opens her mouth but it takes her brain a few seconds to catch up.

“You mean to tell me she means nothing to you? This is how you react when someone is inconsequential? In that case, sign me up. All the sexy fun without the pesky annoyance of feelings fucking anything up. How can any girl refuse?” Claire keeps her eyes on the door but I see the displeasure radiating from her being.

“She is just jealous.” Bastian whispers on my other side.

The elevator door opens, and I need to keep from sprinting down the corridor. I pause only to swipe the keycard and cry out when I enter, “Naz, where are you? Get out here, right now.”

We are met with silence, and I rush to the bedroom door to fling it open.

No one and the bed is still made.

Dazed, I check the bathroom and walk back to the Blacks, who must have checked the other rooms.

“She isn’t here,” I whisper to myself.

“Bastian, can you pull the feed of the camera outside. I need to see who took her.” I grab his arm with force.

He immediately pulls out his phone and starts fiddling with it. Minutes later, he proclaims. “She looks fine. Here. She left at 16:45, and she only took her handbag and a coat. It looks like she is on a mission.”

I grab his phone and look for something, absolutely anything that can give me some clue as to why she would have left the penthouse.

I enlarge the video and zoom in to look at her face as the elevator door closes. I have seen that look of determination before. Before the door closes, she takes out her phone and the light on the screen disappears.

“Look, she is on her phone. Can you bring up her call logs to give us a clue? Even better, does she have GPS tracking on her phone? I mean that could give us a clue where to start, right?” I look at the Blacks, and they exchange knowing glances before Bastian moves closer to put his hand on my shoulder again .

“I hate to bring up the obvious, brother, but is there any way she left on her own accord? I mean, you did kind of trap her here when you demanded she stay here. Naz is a free spirit and might have seen this as an opportunity to get the hell out of here.”

I grab him by the front of his shirt and step into his face as he is impossible to move. Even for me.

“She is in danger; I can feel it. And there is no way she would have left me like that.”

“Are you sure?” Claire pipes up from the back.

“Because she told me how you left her in that restaurant and avoided her for a week. Maybe this was her way to get payback? I know we have become more familiar but you never know what goes on in the heads of temperamental artists. It isn’t like you are offering a hell of a lot. ”

Her arms are folded, and I know she is referring to our earlier conversation.

Fuck that. And fuck this.

I let go of Bastian and point my finger at her.

“It is abundantly clear that you have issues with whatever this is but it is still between Naz and me. I know she wouldn’t walk out on me like that because she is better than me in every way and if you won’t help me to find her then get the fuck out of my way. ”

Bastian pushes my back with his hands on my chest, and I resist the urge to deck him. I doubt he would even feel it .

“Hold on there. You know she doesn’t mean it like that. She is just testing your commitment like an idiot. Just tell us what you need done.”

I swipe his placating hands off my chest and turn around to afford myself a moment to think.

Naz is out there all alone, fuck only knows where and I have no idea why?

Why would she leave the safety of the penthouse when she knows it isn’t safe for her out there?

Where would she go?

The playhouse.

I start running for the door before I can explain. I hear them following but couldn’t care less.

I am coming, Naz, hold on.