Page 108 of Cain

So she left willingly.

But why?

Where did she go?

Why didn’t she text me to tell me she was heading out?

“Did anyone check for a note?”

“Yeah,” Vas said. “Didn’t see anything. Maybe she just went out for coffee. Wanted to surprise you or something.”

Maybe.

But my stomach wouldn’t unclench.

The hairs on the back of my neck wouldn’t go down.

“Something still doesn’t feel right?” Briggs asked.

“I’m probably just being paranoid,” I said.

But then my phone started to ring.

“Is it her?” Briggs asked.

I couldn’t answer with the way my heart was wedged in the back of my throat.

“Babe, where did—”

“Cain?”

“What happened? Where are you?” I asked, already halfway across the clubhouse floor.

“I went to see my mom.”

“Your mom?” I asked, pausing mid-stride.

Briggs damn near rammed into me, he was following so closely behind.

“But… but then Perry…”

“Is he still there?”

“Yeah, but…”

“But what?”

“But, um. I don’t think I should say anything over the phone.”

“Okay. That’s alright. Give me an address. I’ll handle it. Whatever it is.”

“Um, it’s just… it’s… my mom has a sealed box of trash bags and gloves.”

“Oh. Okay. Yep. I can handle that too. Address, babe.”

She rattled it off, her voice shaky and small.

“It’s gonna be alright. Just stay where you are. Don’t touch anything. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”