Page 32 of Love Me

When I get in my car, I call Bailey. “Celine is up to something. Hack her phone. I want everything I can get—updates on all calls, texts, and her location at all times. I’m going to follow her now.”

But first, I drive to the warehouse in the city where I keep my bike. We all have a rebellious streak we hide from the Family. My bike is mine.

Bailey sends me a live tracking feed. I love it when I am right.

Hopping on my bike, I trail after Celine.

She drives to the Family compound but makes a sharp right for the forest and parks. I stop and turn everything off before she notices I’m following her.

Dressed in black, she wears a mask, blending perfectly with the night. What the fuck is happening right now?

She pats her ear while she talks. She must be wearing a wireless communication device. Climbing the fence, she then squats to avoid the cameras, waiting until they stop blinking.

I shake myself off my momentary paralysis and follow her.

She looked so effortless doing it.

What did you learn in that school? I am sure that was not part of the regular curriculum.

She runs straight to my house and ducks when guards come around. She can’t get in without a key. Then it hits me. Celine stole it while I thought she was worried about me.

I breathe through the onslaught of emotions and take off after her.

You want to play cat and mouse? Let’s play.

My focus is sharp as I slip inside Kaden’s family home, putting my infrared goggles on. I have been in this house so many times. An image of me running up the stairs to Kaden’s room hijacks my attention, keeping me rooted to the spot.

“Celine.” Mia’s voice in my earpiece pulls me back in.

“I’m in,” I say.

I follow the dark hallway, avoiding the sculptures. Felix has always been one to show off his wealth, especially his unique art. I touch one with my gloved hand but suppress my desire to push it. I don’t have it in me to destroy someone else’s hard work again.

I slip inside his home office. The goggles scan the room for the safe. It appears to be behind a shelf filled with books. Testing for an opening, I push three books that are attached, and I come face to face with an analog safe. Good that I came prepared. I unzip my coveralls and pluck the stethoscope from my inside pocket. I try to crack the code while listening as I rotate, but it takes longer than I have.

Hunter lets out a sigh ringing of impatience. “I knew I should have come with you.”

“I need you there more.”

“We’re grasping at straws here,” Mia says.

I doubt we’ll find something here.

Hunter keeps cussing in my ear.

“Ahh, you have so much confidence in me.”

“It’s not that.”

“Both of you, stop,” Mia says. “Time is running out. Three more minutes before the guards approach.”

“Give me one. Just keep quiet so I can focus.”

I go to work, and number for number, the safe gives in. When it clicks open, I riffle through Felix’s stuff—legal documents, property contracts, a stack of money, jewelry—stopping when a document catches my attention.

“Celine, get out. Now,” Hunter says.

I mute them and take a few photos of it. It’s for a property not far away from here, and it didn’t show up in any official recordings of the Family.

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