Page 39 of Of Flesh & Bone

"Whatever it takes."

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Arriving at Eve's apartment in record time, I immediately notice that her Jeep isn't here.I didn't even realize she had her keys when she left my room, but she obviously never intended to stay because she already had the keys and her phone before she left the closet.

Knocking on the door, I wait and listen for movement.I should've insisted that Eve make me a key.I'll rectify that as soon as I get her back.Soon, I hear Vaughn yell from the other side of the door."Get the fuck off my doormat, you lying piece of shit!I knew you weren't good enough for her!I tried to tell her, but she'll listen now!We both fucking HATE YOU!"Vaughn's voice reaches octaves reserved for sirens and rare birds."I hope you crash that ugly ass little dick car, you inadequate mother fucker!"

Little dick?Inadequate?What the fuck?

"Where is she, V?"

"I don't know, ADAM.Why don't you check up your ass and around the corner and don't call me V, you irredeemable sack of shit."

Ace steps forward and says, "Calm down lady, you don't know the whole story."

Suddenly, the door locks start getting rapidly disengaged.I sense that something isn't right, so I pull Ace behind me right at the same time that the door flies open.Vaughn launches herself toward Ace.I grab her and hold her back while she fights to get free, and Ace looks on stunned once again into silence.

"You horrible piece of shit excuse for a human being!Fuck YOU!!How dare you come here after how you've treated her!She's so much fucking better than you in every way!"

I can't see Ace's face, but I know Vaughn's words hit hard.Quickly, Vaughn turns on me when she realizes I won't let her get to Ace.She starts kicking my legs and landing haymakers all over my face and body.She's small.5'6 at most, but her little fists are like tiny sticks of dynamite.

"Fuck you two wastes of space.You pieces of human debris.How dare you bring that Satan bitch queen from hell here?You were in on it together, fucking psychopaths!"

"All right, that's enough."

I toss Vaughn back into the apartment and shut the door, locking the doorknob as I go.It won't stop her for long, but hopefully, she won't pursue us if she has a moment to think about it first.Once I'm out the door, I face Ace, taking in her stunned expression.I see the shame written all over her face.

"You look pretty beat up."I say to her, referring to the regret that I see in her expression.

"Yeah, well you look like something fresh out of Fight Club.She really kicked your ass.I would've helped, but I kind of feel like I've already done enough."

"I'm glad you didn't.I'm fine."

Dialing Eve's number again, I listen for the ring.I hear it.It's inside the apartment.

"She doesn't have her phone, you stupid mother fucker!STOP!CALLING!"

I close my eyes and turn my face skyward, trying to gather all of the self-control that I can manage.I am ready to rage.I'm ready to burn this city to the fucking ground.I want her back.How dare she think she can leave me?I will get her back and when I do, I'll teach her that there is no escaping me.I will chase her, I will catch her, and I will make her regret running.

"Do you have any idea where she might go?"

"No.Not really.Trust me, I'm already kicking myself, but I really don't know that much about her."

"Let's go."

We start walking toward my car.My car which is NOT a little dick guy car.

"Are we giving up?"

"No.I have to have her back.We'll find her.We just have to think."

"You have to have her back?Last Thursday, you didn't even know her name.What the hell, Adam?"

"We'll find her.You'll see.You'll get to know her, and you'll see."

"Oooookay.Well, what do we know about her?She's obviously a badass volleyball player.I can admit that now."

"She's brilliant.Genius-level math skills.She volunteers at the juvenile detention center tutoring troubled teens, she doesn't have many friends, and she doesn't like a lot of attention-"

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