Page 84 of Filthy Little Lies

“You think she was involved in this?” I step closer to him. “Do you really?”

He glances back up at the window, then down the street, like he’s trying to figure out what he thinks.

“No.” He finally says. “But I wasn’t sure what you wanted her to know and what you didn’t. I told her we were taking her somewhere safe.”

“Where’s Damien now?” The car isn’t on the street.

“He parked around the corner, but he’s hanging in the back of the building in case she leaves that way.”

At least he’s using some sense.

Pulling out my phone, I call her again. So far she’s been ignoring the call, letting it roll to voicemail. But this time she declines it. At least she has the phone.

“Where’s Lucian?” Roman looks behind me.

“I left him with Tony.”

He raises his brow. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“He’s fine. He can control himself.” I look up at the window. “Stay out here.”

I leave him and head up to her apartment. The stairwell reeks of marijuana as much as it did the last time I was here. But there’s an added stench of burnt popcorn.

When I get to her door, I take a breath. She didn’t run because she wanted to get away from me, she ran because she thinks I wanted to get away from her. Fucking Roman and his cloak-and-dagger act scared her.

And why wouldn’t it? How many times did she get told to pack her shit without knowing where she was going next?

I have to be calm. Deal with her rationally. I’m still going to take my belt to her ass for not talking to me before taking off, but I’m going to reassure her first. She needs to know I’m not letting her go.

Not now.

Not ever.

As calmly as I can, I knock on the door.

And wait.

Nothing.

I knock again, a little louder this time. Maybe she’s in the bathroom and didn’t hear me.

Still nothing.

The muscles in my neck tense. I already know, but still I knock a third time.

Not a sound from inside.

I’ve broken this door down before, I can do it again, but I try the handle first.

The door easily opens.

Before I step inside, I already know she’s not here, but I go inside anyway. A quick sweep of the place reaffirms it. It’s empty.

I grit my teeth when I find her cell phone on the kitchen table along with a note.

Don’t look for me. ~S

That’s all. Four fucking words.