Page 19 of Wake the Dream

“I’m so sorry. I bet that was awful. I’ve never been able to stomach the stuff myself. Weak constitution. You must have nerves of steel.” And just like that, Kieran developed his character as a beta to Daniel’s alpha. Wow. “How long were you at work?”

Illaria listened through the rest of their conversation. The two men went through the standard questions including where, what, when, etc. Kieran asked Daniel if Yelena had ever given any indication that she was unhappy. Did she have any enemies? Did she mention meeting anyone?

Illaria sagged against the wheel hub, listening to the answers, the metal cool behind her back. No, Yelena was happy. She knew it as fact. Her sister rarely complained about anything. Daniel repeated much the same. Yelena had been content to drive the Winnebago out to the lake and neck near the rope swing. He hadn’t seen her for a week. She wasn’t answering her phone. He ended withdumb bitchand a general derogatory statement on women.

She nearly put her fist through the door. No, Illaria didn’t approve of Daniel in the least, and his sterling personality was only the beginning of her laundry list of issues with him. He treated women like they were expendable. Yelena deserved to be treated like a princess, not a backup plan.

Maybe if Illaria had been there the night Yelena disappeared—

No, she didn’t need to think about such things. Not when the prickling beneath her sternum intensified and within seconds, she had trouble breathing. Her sister was gone. Vanished without a trace.

Without Yelena, she would be alone. Well and truly alone. No one else was coming to save her. No one else would give a damn about her.

She pressed her hand to her heart and the rapid boom of her pulse.

It came back with crystal clarity. That horrifying thought that, if she gave any attention to it, would eat her alive.

Without Yelena, she had nobody.

Scuffling steps from inside sent Illaria scrambling back toward the car lest her presence be found out. Although she hadn’t promised Kieran she’d stay in the car, he’d been under the impression she would. She didn’t need another police officer thinking he knew what to do with her and throwing her in the lockup.

Tossing herself into the front seat, she had enough time to turn on the car and blast the radio to the first channel she could find with real music.

“Papa Don’t Preach” shook the windows when Kieran jogged into view. He spared a glance left, giving her an excellent view of his side profile, before slowing his gate as he approached.

“How can you stand to listen to this? Aren’t you afraid of going deaf?” he yelled, his hands on the door handle. Then reached his arm through the open window and turned down the volume.

“I like it,” Illaria insisted, shifting to face him and taking care to keep her face a neutral mask. “What did you find out?”

Kieran smiled and got in before answering. “No, he hasn’t seen her, and no, she isn’t answering any of his texts. He called her a few rather choice names before telling me about a cute little nymph he’s been scouting out and making free Frosties for. Apparently, they’re meeting tonight to listen to some band play in the next town over.”

She’d hissed at the part about the nymph. How did this loser keep finding women to fall under his spell? And cheating on Yelena...? Her knuckles cracked. “It sounds like you got nothing. This was a complete waste of time.”

“I got a few things. Not enough to fill out an entire page. Of course, I had to paraphrase a few statements.”

“If he had no information for you,” she said hotly, “then why are you smiling?”

“Actually, we did get something.” He threw the car into gear. “Daniel’s lying.”

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