Page 27 of The Deceptions

I'll be back.

I grin when knocking sounds at the bathroom door and a drunken girly voice carries through the solid wood while urgently pounding against it. Right. We're in the women's bathroom. Or perhaps my ghost came back to visit and tell me she's back for good.

I don't think she knew who I was. But I knew who she was.

“Hey! You can't lock this door! I have to pee!” a heavily slurred female voice says on the other side, pounding harder. Sobs pour from her lips, which is usually music to my ears. From my enemies only, though.

“That's our cue. Let's go home,” Wilder says, tucking the memory stick into his jeans pocket. “Can’t bring any more attention to ourselves.” He gives me a look. A very judgmental look.

He's just jealous I lost my virginity in a bar bathroom and didn’t discuss it with him first. He’s my keeper, after all. He feels entitled to my life choices and decisions. Of course, Boss Man appointed him to that position basically from the beginning, knowing I’d go off the rails and murder a few people. Whoops.

“Home…” I trail off when the door swings open, revealing a woman with furrowed brows and a reddened face. She doesn't ask questions, barging past us and into a stall, muttering to herself.

I follow Wilder out into the darkened hallway, looking around. Her perfume hits me immediately, mixed with our combined scent. She was here, standing in this spot. I stop, inhaling her until it dissipates.

Something happens behind my rib cage. My heart. It pounds with exhilaration. Ready to track her down and take her again. Maybe keep her. Tied to my bed and never let her go.

Our history is rich. Combined. Only, I don't think she had a damn clue who I was.

Even better.

The fog my ghost left behind lifts. Rage consumes me, drowning out the creaking of my black heart.

Meredith. Her picture on the corkboard has disappeared. I want her front and center every time someone passes down this hallway. I want them to look at her and take notice.

Now, she’s gone.

I swivel my gaze from left to right. There's nothing here. Employee-only rooms line the hall. Rooms I'll upend when no one is looking.

X Marks the Spot is ground zero. I'm sure of it. Only, I don't have any clues except Meredith and her disappearance.

“It's gone.” I point to the board where millions of business cards sit untouched. But my sister's face and missing poster have disappeared. Much like her physical self. I frown. I know I put it up here a few days ago when we came in. It was there when I dragged my little ghost to the bathroom. And now?

Gone. Missing. Disappeared right under my damn nose. I always promised to protect her after I found out she existed.

And look, I failed.

Wilder sighs, reaching into his back pocket and taking out another flier, and sticks it on the board again. The same flyers we made. We had to. The police in this town are useless. Deep in Franco's pocket. Well, some of them anyway. Others are in our pockets. But it's been a long, hard fight to get Boss Man where he is.

I trust no one with this task. Not the police—they weren't helpful. Not Nathaniel Franco and his fucked up army. They'reprobably the reason she's gone. Hell, I hardly trust the man I pledged my undying loyalty to. My boss.

Only Wilder has my trust.

I barely trust myself in most cases.

Life is funny like that.

Trust is non-existent when you grew up as unstable as I did.

Just ask the woman I murdered as she begged me not to. Wait, you can't.

I shake my head, ridding my mind of the past.

“We have a small lead. We'll find her, okay?” Wilder slaps my shoulder a few times and pulls away with realization.

“If we don't…” I trail off as we saunter through the loud bar unnoticed.

“They'll face our wrath, Malic.” He raises a brow when the warm August heat hits us square in the face.