Page 67 of Light

It’s chaos. Men crowded around tables, smoke hanging in the air, girls half-dressed taking bets, drinks flying in every direction. A bare-knuckle fight is happening in the back, two guys beating each other bloody while a crowd screams for blood.

Hook mutters, “Looks like home.”

I cut through the haze and head straight for the office upstairs, where Deke should be.

But the room is dark.

I shove the door open anyway. Only one guy is inside, older, sweating, face pale when he sees me.

“Where the hell is Deke?” I ask.

He swallows hard. “He left. About twenty minutes ago.”

I blink.

“What?” That didn't make any sense. Deke knows I have the bill of sale. It's what he wants, so why would he leave before he could get it.

“I don’t know. Said he had something more important to handle. He looked... rattled.”

The bad feeling in my stomach hardens into something colder.

Deke wouldn’t just walk out before a major transaction unless...

My phone buzzes.

I yank it from my pocket. Unknown number. One message.

Image attachment.

My blood turns to ice.

Melissa. Tied to a chair. Duct tape across her mouth. Her eyes wide and full of fire. She’s fighting, I can see it in her posture. But she’s helpless.

Behind her, grinning like the devil, is a man I can only assume is Deke.

The background is familiar. It's her house. The same place I sent her, thinking she'd be safe until I returned. I didn't realize I was sending her right into the hands of a crazed, desperate stalker.

I swear I'm breathing, but it feels like I'm not getting enough oxygen. I need to get to her. I need Melissa.

My vision tunnels.

I don’t remember moving. Don’t remember the sound of my boots pounding down the stairs. I just remember the roar of my bike as I fire it back to life.

“Light!” Semi yells behind me.

I don’t stop.

“Light, wait! We need a plan!”

“There’s no time,” I shout back. “He’s got her. He’s got Melissa.”

I don’t care if I’m riding into a trap.

I don’t care if it takes my last breath.

I will burn the entire fucking city to the ground if that’s what it takes to get her back.

And God help anyone who gets in my way.

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