Page 45 of Gin & Jewels
I furrowed my brows. “What? No, I’m not a cop.”
“Then why do you care?”
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. “Because I’m worried about Cassie. Can I go look in her room?”
“Yeah, sure, whatever.”
Oh, thank God.“Which one is it?”
I passed her as she spoke. “Top of the stairs on the left.”
“Thanks.” I took the stairs two at a time and entered the room. Immediately, I noticed Cassie’s purse on her dresser and her cell phone beside it. I picked up the phone and saw that she had several missed calls and text messages on her lock screen. I opened her purse and noted that her wallet was still inside. There was money inside of it—another red flag.
Something was wrong. Something was seriously wrong.
When shit had gone down with Tessa, I’d felt bad for Vinny, but at least he knew where she was, though the circumstances weren’t good. Cat had been kidnapped, and no one knew until she was almost sold, but thankfully, Seth, Paul, and Joss were there. But I had no clue where Cassie was or where she would go. Was she being trafficked like Cat almost was?
I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Seth:Can I stop by?
I took one final look around the room, not sure what I was looking for but trying to remember everything just in case. By the time I got to my truck, Seth had texted me back:Yes, of course.
My mind was racing as I drove over to Seth’s. I honestly didn’t know what to think or why Cassie was missing. What if I’d never come into her life? Would anyone care that she was gone? Her employer thought she’d quit without telling them, and her roommates obviously didn’t care.
I rang the doorbell to Seth and Cat’s house, and Seth answered. “Hey, come in.” I didn’t hesitate. “Beer or something?”
I gave him a look. He knew gin was my alcohol of choice. “I’m good.”
“Well, what’s up? I just saw you at lunch.”
I sat on his couch. “You remember the girl I brought to the wedding?”
“Yeah.” He nodded and sat across from me. “The cocktail waitress.”
I took a deep breath. “She actually doesn’t work there anymore.”
“Oh?”
“She works at The Velvet Box.”
Seth tilted his head slightly in question. “The jewelry store where you were shot?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. The only person who knew Cassie worked at the jewelry store was Mark. I had yet to tell the guys because I didn’t want them to read into it more than they already were. If they knew of that connection, they’d know that Ididhave a sweet spot for her, and the less they knew the better, untilIknew what was going on.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I never thought that I would need to have this conversation with you.”
“What conversation?”
I sighed again. “I think she’s missing.”
We made it to Nashville.
The outskirts, to be exact, because we drove about thirty minutes more once we hit the city limits. I was still pissed at Keith for kidnapping me even if his intentions were good—or were they? I knew he cared more about himself than me, and making sure I went with him would assure him that I wouldn’t turn him in because now it looked as though I was in on the robbery.
I found out what he’d done at the pawnshop in Albuquerque because I’d hounded him until he told me. It was how he had money for gas, motels, and food all of a sudden. He did the same in multiple cities, including Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, and Memphis. I didn’t like that he was pawning the jewelry he’d stolen, but it was better than getting caught with it, and it gave us money. But he made me an accomplice without me doing anything.
I’d originally thought that when we got to Nashville, I would somehow get enough money for a bus ticket back to Vegas, but now that he screwed me again, I felt as though I had to start a new life.
