Page 71 of Pretty Poison

Every possibility floods my mind and while I try to push them away, the images are there to stay until she’s back in my arms.

∞∞∞

After a twenty-minute drive that feels like hours, we all pile out of our cars, slamming the doors behind us. We scatter across the street to different vantage points, our hands on our weapons, concealed in the small of our backs, as we inch closer to the SUV.

We all peer inside while Silas slips around to the front. With his hand on the hood, he says, “It’s fucking freezing. She hasn’t been in it for at least an hour.”

“Yeah, well this cold doesn’t fucking help, does it?” Cassian seethes, raking his fingers through his hair.

Since we married, he and Liana have been attached at the hip. He helps her with training while she gives him dating advice. It’s a whole thing I don’t quite understand, but he plays a small part in keeping her sane while her brother withers away in the cells. Plus, they’re close in age so it’s like a built-in friend for both of them.

Remi finds his way to Cass’s side, pulling him away from the group for a breather.

In the short time we’ve known that the possibility of finding her here is slim, Cass has been like a loose cannon, berating anyone within earshot of him.

“Silas, Maze, both of you head inside and ask everyone you see if they know anything. Take statements, and do whatever else you need to do to get information. Ciro, get them to show you their footage. Red, you’re with me.” I spin around on my heels. “Remi, you and Cass join whoever when Cass gets his emotions in check. You have one fucking minute.”

“Got it,” Remi calls out before rushing across the road and down the slim alleyway as the echo of Cassian’s fists banging against metal doors surrounds us.

As everyone disperses, Red and I slip through the ajar gates that lead to the back. He takes the lead, our eyes scouring every single aspect of our surroundings, and something shiny draws my attention. It’s small and slightly buried beneath the gravel, but the reflecting sunlight makes it blinding to the eye.

“Fuck’s sake,” I spit as I squat down to retrieve it.

“Her ring?” Red asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I nod, twisting it over between two fingers to read the inscription—finché morte non ci separi, piccolo.“It must’ve fallen off her finger,” I say, defeated.

“What, and it buried itself? Yeah, I don’t think so. She had to have hidden it. How else would it have gotten beneath the stones?”

“Anything is fucking possible,” I breathe. “All we know is the ring is here and she’s not. Where the fuck does that leave us?”

“At the place she was last seen, Dario. That’s better than nothing.”

I stand back up, pocketing the ring in my inner jacket pocket. “You keep searching out here, I’m going to see how things are going inside. I’ll send Remi out to you instead.”

He nods, walking through to the expansive area to the right, gently kicking at the gravel as if to kill two birds with one stone.

As I round the corner back onto the main street, I rush inside and find Silas threatening the hostess. He has her computer held over his head as if ready to throw it, and Maze is yelling at someone who seems to be the manager.

“Si, put the fucking computer down, would you? Use your damn words. Not everything has to be a damn threat.” I inch closer to the stand, my eyes squinting at the young woman’s name tag. “Runa, is it?” She nods, her eyes wide with fear. “Get my brother what he wants. This doesn’t have to end in a fight.”

“I-I already told him I wasn’t working when his friend came in. I have no access to the other hostess’s account to retrieve the booking.”

“Then be a doll and go get it from your supervisor.” She tears her eyes away from me to momentarily glance to the corner and I follow her gaze to find Remi and Cass. “We’re not here to hurt you or anyone, we only want answers, okay?”

She gulps, nodding before rushing away from the hostess stand towards Maze and her boss. The dishevelled-looking old man flicks his eyes over to me and his anger fades away. He grips the young woman’s wrist, dragging her towards what I assume to be the back room, her fingers clawing into his skin as she tries to release his grasp.

Maze isn’t far behind, following them with a pep in his step, silently announcing he’s about to beat the shit out of that man for being so brutal with such a dainty little thing.

“If she’s not back in two minutes with the information, Ciro can sort it out after he gets the surveillance footage. Wait here, I’ll see how he’s getting on.” I turn to Remi. “Red needs you outside, Rem.”

He gives me a nod, patting Cass on the back with enough force to make his entire body jump before disappearing out the front door. “Cass, you’re with me, kiddo.”

As he comes to my side, I lead the way towards the hallway Maze had followed the manager and hostess into, and the sight before me brings a slight smile to my face. “Security room?” I ask no one in particular.

Runa lifts her shaky arm, pointing to the end of the hall. “On second thought, stay with the girl, Cass. Calm her down and see if there’s anything she remembers from when she came in to work her shift. She might’ve crossed paths with someone or something that could help.” Cass obliges, guiding the girl into the staff room as I take off down the hall.

Pushing through the security room’s door, my gaze locks onto the man in the corner. His shirt is completely torn; the only things remaining are his sleeves. The rest of his shirt has been used to render him completely helpless. He notices me, his eyes widening and muffled screams reaching my ears.

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