Page 157 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

“Come back safely.”

“I will, I promise.”

Daega doesn’t say anything.

“Phones on silent. Get his hostages; we can kill him another day,” Rose whispers.

Two hours later, we’re almost at the address, and there’s this uneasy feeling in me, but I don’t know what it is. I’m so glad I moved us all to a different hotel. I feel better about it. There’s a relief in being unexpected, but it hasn’t stopped the creeping panic that won’t dissipate.

I check my phone, but there’s nothing from them. The new phone I gave Merle hasn’t called or messaged anyone, and it’s got a tracker in it. I’ll be able to find her if something happens.

Every contingency is covered.

Except when we get to this place, it is a series of homes, newly built, with people and families. Every house has lights on, and people are going about their lives. We watch for a while until Daega goes rigid.

“What?” I ask sharply.

“That’s Sariah. We need to get back, right now!”

It says a lot about how far we’ve come that I obey his sharp bark right away.

I slam the car into reverse, but the road is blocked by a massive truck, and it’s a dead end street. Daega jumps out of the back and runs.

We follow, but he meets that woman and then bolts out of the house. Seconds later, he’s on a motorbike, and he’s gone.

“Come on, we have to catch up.”

I’m halfway down the street when I pause and walk backwards, looking through a window that’s all lit up to hell. Did I really just see what I thought I saw?

Inside, dressed in an evening gown and a suit, are Roseland’s mother and my father. I stare at him. He shuffles and glances at the window as if he can feel my rage.

“What is it, Sage?” Rolly asks.

“That’s my dad,” I whisper. “He sold his soul, and now he gets to reap what he owes.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind, I’ll deal with him when I have more time.”

The hotel room is dark when we walk in. The lights are off, but worse, it feels empty. It feels cold. Before I’ve even checked the rooms, I know they aren’t here. Panic makes it hard for me to think, but then I see a flutter of white on the pillow. Something that doesn’t belong. I spring towards it.

It’s a note with an address in Raptor’s handwriting. It just has an address. Nothing else. Fuck, what is going on?

“Did you find something?” Blaze asks with a voice that sounds dead. I’m just relieved he’s talking.

“She told us where to find her,” I say with a smile. “Let’s go get them back.” And then I’m going hunting.

Raptor

The night is a thick, pervasive blanket of disappointment. The longer the minutes tick by, the more certain I am.

The warehouse is just an abandoned warehouse. This is not his latest home away from home. If he’s not here, then we have wasted our time.

I look at the cheap watch I stole. Three hours have passed. I’m not sure why Raven insisted we grab a watch, but she forced our hands, making sure I had it when I left them.

I frown, glancing down. I left a note on the table. It told them where we were going. They should be here by now. Why aren’t they here? At the last minute, I decided it would be a better idea to have the alphas come and kill him with us. I changed the plan.

They should be here, and that makes me nervous.