Page 81 of Heritage of Fire

The water that hits my face is cold. A small mirror hangs above the sink, and I stare at the water dripping off my face—the tired I’m feeling visible underneath.

After drying off, I exit the bathroom and pass the interrogation room. Three men walk past me with the body bag while two more hose down the concrete floor and walls.

We’re efficient, that’s for sure.

I take out my phone, noticing the two missed calls from Luna—and another three from Frank. My stomach drops, and I fumble with the device in my hurry to call her back. Instead of ringing, it goes straight to voicemail. An irritating message tells me it hasn’t been set up yet.

Swinging open the door to the small space adjacent to the interrogation room, I find Luka still there viewing the recorded footage. I grab my suit jacket.

“I need to go,” I say, while I hauling it over my shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

“Three missed calls from Frank and two from Luna. I’m worried there might be another raccoon I have to deal with.” I smile wide, but Luka only shakes his head. My phone vibrates in my hand. Frank.

“Da,” I answer. “This better be good for you to call me over and over.”

Agitated sounding pants come through the phone, and Frank’s voice is choppy when he says, “Luna’s missing.”

I pause, my mouth suddenly going dry. My throat constricts. “What do you mean, ‘missing’?”

I twist sharply toward Luka, whose face is warped in confusion. I put Frank on speaker.

“Yes, sir. The guys and I went for pizza, and Lev … It must’ve been loud, because he didn’t hear her?—”

“Get to thepoint, Frank.”

“We were notified of a car passing through the gate via the security system. When we got back to the warehouse, a car was missing from the garage. We immediately called her, and she said she received …”

Frank’s voice tapers out in my ear. Even though I’m sure he’s still talking, his account of what happened is drowned out by a loudthump, thump, thump.

Overcome by an alarming sensation that pierces my chest, I don’t say anything. Luka strides over to the phone.

“Track her cell,” he commands, and I snap out of my paralysis.

“We did,” Frank says. “It’s not reading.”

I grind my teeth together as my heart rate surges. Where did she go? Why didn’t she wait? I should’ve answered her phone call.I should have answered the damn phone!

“I’m on my way. Send me the location of the car.” I hang up and plow through the warehouse, Luka on my heels.

“I’m coming with you,” he tells me.

When I look over at him, I see my own rage reflected in his eyes. As soon as we load into my car, I check my phone for the location of the vehicle Luna took.

I freeze.

“Luka, she’s near?—”

Luka’s phone rings. “It’s Salvatore.” He puts it on speaker and holds it out.

“They have Luna.” Salvatore’s voice blasts across the line, and Luka looks confused.

“Who?” he asks.

I shake my head, something cold slithering over my hardening heart. I will kill every single one of those bastards if they’ve laid so much as a finger on her.

“She’s at EV. Luka, look at the location.” I motion to the screen. Distracted, I narrowly avoid hitting a semitruck. Cursing under my breath, I grip the wheel until my knuckles ache. I need to get to her.

---