Page 116 of Creed

“You mean, did Sophie call earlier? And there was a glitch with Ollie’s connection to the tower, and it pushed the voicemail when it reconnected?” Nexin shrugs. “That’s a possibility.”

“But I had just been speaking to Zac not even a minute earlier,” I protest.

Nexin presses his lips together. “I’ll see what I can find out about the provider towers in the area and if there has been anything regarding connection issues, so we can officially rule that out.”

“What do we do now?” I ask, scanning the room. I need them to have a plan because I have nothing. Zilch. Zip. Nada. And I’m going to lose my mind with worry.

Ryn gets off the arm of Antonio’s chair and comes to sit on the coffee table in front of me. “You can help us go through a list of some names if you think you’re up for it?”

“Yes. Anything.”

Ryn looks at me with understanding and empathy. “Good. We’ll get some food into you and get right to it.”

“You and Miguel reading from the same playbook?”

Miguel snorts, and Ryn smiles. “Yep, the playbook for catching the bad guys.”

“Count me in, then.” I’ll do whatever they tell me to do, as long as I can do something to contribute to finding my friend.

“Cariño, we think it might be best for you to stay at the hotel.”

My earlier fear and paranoia return with Antonio’s concern. My eyes widen, and my bottom lip quivers before I suck it between my teeth. “You think I’m in danger?”

“It’s just to be cautious, Ollie,” Tag says, sounding like he’s trying not to spook me.

“You can stay here in our suite,” Antonio offers and motions to the sofa. “That pulls out into a comfy bed.”

“Trust me.” Nexin pats the cushion. “It’s deceptively comfortable for a pull-out sofa.”

“I don’t want to impose,” I say, reluctance and fear playing against each other.

“You wouldn’t be imposing,” Antonio insists. “Or Miguel and I can get you your own room. But staying here with us makes the most sense if we think there might be a risk.”

I’m torn about what to do. I can’t afford a place like this, even for one night, and I won’t accept their charity for them to pay for my own room, but I don’t want to impose by staying with them.

However, I don’t want to return to my dorm right now. Especially not with so many people gone. Students will start returning mid-to-late week, but until Wednesday or Thursday,the place will be a ghost town. Zac had said he’d ask campus security to do more rounds by my dorm, but that won’t fully protect me if someone comes there, either for me or Sophie.

“Soph would kick our asses six ways from Sunday if we didn’t take care of her friend,” Miguel says, hooking his thumbs in his belt.

Antonio smiles at him, but emotion fills his eyes when he turns back to me. “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t even know Sophie was in trouble. Please, let us do this,cariño.”

The tears I’ve been forcing back surge forth again, and I can’t stop them this time as two roll down my cheeks. I nod, accepting their offer to stay here.

Wiping away my tears, I look at Ryn and her security team. “Zac knows you’ll call him and is waiting to talk with you.”

“Thanks. It will be good to get his insight.” Ryn squeezes my hand. “We’ll get this figured out, Ollie.”

It feels like a promise, and I grasp onto that, needing it more than I realize. Antonio does, too, it seems, as he reaches over and hugs Ryn from behind, and she squeezes his arm.

It helps that I’m not alone in this angst and worry. And it helps that people who know what to do are taking charge. I will do whatever I can to help them.

Chapter 34

Sophie

Three days later

My life is amazingin so many ways—including mind-blowing sex and earth-tilting orgasms. I fall deeper in love with Creed every minute of every day. His family protects and welcomes me into their fold as if they’ve known me for years.

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