Page 7 of Shattered Souls
Any piece of information, no matter how small or insignificant. I just need something to go off—a breadcrumb to follow. A little girl doesn’t just disappear into the ether. Aurora is out there somewhere, and you can bet your fucking ass I won’t rest until I find her.
I’m sure she didn’t expect any other answer, yet her face is still crestfallen at my response. I can’t look at it for more than a second before I have to tear my gaze away, nostrils flaring. Despair floods the hall, leaving a tang in the back of my throat that no amount of alcohol or brushing my teeth will erase.
“Go back to Logan, sweetheart.” It takes all of my self-control to keep my voice even. I keep my gaze averted, unable to meet her eyes, but I hear her. Instead of climbing the stairs like she should, she descends the final couple of steps before padding toward me barefoot.
She doesn’t stop until her arms wind around my waist and her face rests on my chest, ear pressed to the staccato rhythm of my heart.
I go still, fingers itching to touch, to lose myself in her. To bury my nose in her hair and inhale her fruity, floral scent that resets me in a way that I’ve only ever been able to achieve by running myself ragged on the field or splitting skin in the ring.
“Hold me, Royce,” she murmurs into my chest. “I need you to hold me. And I think you need me to hold you, too. We’ll keep each other from breaking.”
I cave instantly, my arms coming to wrap her in a hug as I lower my face to the crook of her neck and inhale like I haven’t breathed fresh air in decades. I lean into her comfort as she leans into mine, and together, we hold each other up.
“I don’t deserve your compassion,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her soft skin. “I failed you.” My words are so low I’m not sure if she hears me. I didn’t intend them for her, anyway, so it doesn’t matter. I said them more as a reminder to myself.
Still, her arms only tighten around me as she shifts in my hold so she can tuck her face against my chest. Her forehead rests against my pec while I hide my face in her hair. When she speaks, her voice is soft, her words clear. “You could never fail me, Royce. All you do is lift me higher. You’re my wings in the storm, plucking me from the chaos and carrying me to safety.”
Refusing to believe her beautiful words, which are like arrows piercing directly into my heart, I shake my head. “Ifit hadn’t been for me, Aurora would be here—” I choke up, squeezing my eyes shut against the sting of tears.
My breathing is erratic as I struggle and fail to wrangle myself under control. All the while, Riley runs her fingers through my hair and holds me. The fact that she’s the one comforting me when I should be comfortingheris the only thing that gets me to toughen up, and I force deep breaths into my lungs.
Placing her hands on either side of my face, Riley forces my face away from her shoulder until she can look me in the eye. Despite missing her usual spark of life, a fierceness in her stare has me straightening.
“I don’t want to hear you talk about yourself like that ever again,” she states in a stern voice that only a mother can adopt. “I will say it again, because I get the distinct impression you don’t believe me… You, Royce King, havenever, not once, failed me.” Her features soften, her thumb stroking back and forth along my cheek as she holds my gaze. “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have even known what Lydia was up to. I’d be naively sitting here assuming everything was fine, completely unaware that my daughter…” Emotion chokes her as she glances away to compose herself.
When she looks back at me, her eyes are glassy, but her voice is strong as she continues, “We would have no fucking clue what’s going on. It’s because ofyouthat we have this insight. That we can do everything we’re doing right now to find her.” She releases a long exhale, her hands sliding down to cup the sides of my throat. “Grayson only gave me the gist of it, though I can only imagine what you were subjected to in order to gain Lydia’s trust... The part you were forced to play.” Fresh tears glitter in her eyes, this time of gratitude, of awe, oflove.“The fact that the three of you were willing to pay for the safety of my daughter…” She shakes her head, but her eyes remain onmine as she presses a hand to her heart. “There are no words to express how I feel in here. And even though it didn’t work out the way we wanted, I know you’ll do everything to get Aurora back because that’s the type of person you are, Royce. You don’t stop. You’re not built to fail, so stop beating yourself up. Especially when all you’ve ever done is be there for me, even when I couldn’t see it.”
My hand slides to the back of her neck, giving a quick squeeze. “I’d do all of it a hundred times over if it meant you had Aurora right now,” I rasp. “And you’re right. I won’t stop until that little girl is safe in your arms. She might have slipped through my fingers once, but I learn from my mistakes, and hurting you is a mistake I never intend to repeat.”
Holding me captive with her gaze, Riley slides her hand down to mine, entwining our fingers. “Come to bed, Royce. Aurora needs us to get our rest so we can find her.”
Helpless to this woman’s pleas, I follow as she leads me up the stairs to Logan’s bedroom. At this point in our relationship, I’ve gotten used to sharing a bed with him, so I don’t think twice about his half-naked form sprawled across three-quarters of the bed.
Pulling back the covers, Riley climbs into the middle of the bed, and Logan immediately pulls her against his hard chest without cracking an eyelid.
Stripping down to my boxers, I slide in beside her, and she immediately tangles her legs with mine. Sharing a pillow, our faces are inches apart, and when sleep drags me into the deep beyond, I go with a newfound peace.
3
RILEY
Staring at myself in the mirror, I take in the cheap black dress that stretches across my collarbones, hugs my chest before flaring out at my hips, and falls to just below my knee. It makes my already pale skin appear ghostly, and my bloodshot eyes are like something out of a vampire movie.
My hand rests over my queasy stomach.You can do this. You can do this. You can do this.
Spinning, I clap my hand over my mouth.Nope, maybe I can’t do this.Sweat breaks out along my skin, and I breathe through my mouth to quell the nausea.
Since the morning after I woke up to the reality that my daughter had been sold on the black fucking market, I’ve been numb. Barely existing. I move, eat, shower, and sleep, but it’s all done on autopilot—an automatic action, mostly in response to nudges or orders from one of the guys.
That was until Grayson so painfully reminded me that we have that fucked up dinner with Bertram and Lydia tonight. In the midst of everything I’m dealing with, it’s the absolute last thing that I need, but we’ve all agreed we are better off playing this game—whatever game this is—for now.
Besides, after Lydia dodged my calls all day today, I’m going to use the opportunity to corner her. She can’t expect me to be dismissed for much longer. What’s her plan, then? Does she think I’ll give up if she keeps fobbing me off? That I’d let my daughter go without a fight? Without flying flags and declaring war? Hell to the motherfucking no!
There’s a soft knock at my bedroom door before Logan’s head pops into sight. He came with me back to my apartment so I could find an outfit and change. Grayson will be here soon to pick me up—if he isn’t already waiting in the living room.
“Just wanted to check on you.” Logan’s gaze doesn’t leave my face, likely reading every twisted emotion eating me alive. Without another word, he strides over and envelops me in one of his perfect Logan hugs. His hand rubs up and down my spine, and I bury my face in his hoodie, wishing I could spend the entire night curled up beside him—much like I have the last four nights since everything went to hell in a handbasket.
I’ve spent my days on campus going about the motions while not hearing a single word my lecturers have said. I don’t care that I’m falling behind. I don’t care about anything anymore. How can I when the only person of importance in my life isn’t here—where she should be?
