Page 13 of Arwen's Rapture (Night's Bliss 2)

The ringing in my ears becomes so loud I can’t focus. That is until everything goes dark, and then I can’t hear anything at all.

* * *

FINLEY

One Hour Later . . .

Taking a seat behind my desk, I open my computer. It’s been a while since I’ve needed to really work at home, but I haven’t felt right the last couple days. I haven’t told Ainslee about this, I didn’t want her to worry. She worries enough as it is.

Ainslee comes in with Dominic on her hip. The two of them are always close by me unless Ainslee’s at school. Even then, our son is with me. If I’m at Night’s Bliss, either Mara-Lee has him, or Scarlett is with him. Either way, he’s always in reaching distance if need be.

I get ready to go through some of the details for the money I’ve loaned out when my phone rings. My gut tightens, and the feeling of needing to throw up becomes nearly overpowering. I glance at the screen to see it’s a number I don’t recognize. I’m about to ignore it when I swipe my finger over the phone icon. I can’t not answer this. Not with our past history.

“Hello,” I answer, lifting the phone to my ear.

“Is this Finley?” A male voice comes through the line.

“This is she, can I help you?” I demand, tensing.

“Yeah, sorry, my name is Eric, and I’m one of the paramedics who responded to an accident involving Cedric Gheata.”

My stomach plummets, and I swallow the bile threatening to come up back down.

“Is he okay? There were two others with him, are they?” I ask, standing to my feet and looking to Ainslee.

“I don’t know about anyone else, but he’s unconscious. I told the nurse upon getting to the ER that I’d call. My brother is Asher, one of your employees,” he explains.

That would explain why Eric would call rather than the hospital itself.

“Right, we’re on the way,” I state, hanging up without waiting for his response.

“Finley?” Ainslee calls.

I hold her gaze and shake my head. “Gotta get to the hospital, Mara-Lee and Arwen are missing, and Cedric’s unconscious.”

Ainslee’s eyes widen as she nods. “Then let’s get going. I’ll drive, and you do what you need to do. Make whatever calls you need.”

I move to her and kiss her, pressing my forehead against hers for a second and take a breath. “This shit has got to end. I can’t lose my family.”

“I know, baby,” she whispers and kisses me once more. “Let’s get going.”

Nodding, I take another breath. Moving to the SUV we use when Dominic is with us, I climb in the passenger seat and wait for Ainslee to get in. I unlock my phone and make the first call.

He answers on the second ring. “Halton.”

“Halt,” I mutter his name and tell him about the accident. “Need you to get all the information you can on who’s behind this and find them. I’m not playing around, and whoever decided to go against me will pay tenfold this time around.”

“On it. Call you back soon as I have something,” he mutters and hangs up. I don’t have to worry about disconnecting without me saying anything. He’ll do his job, then we’ll go after the motherfuckers who’re behind this.

I’ll kill them all if need be.

CHAPTEREIGHT

CEDRIC

Eight Hours Later . . .

Waking up in the hospital is the last place I want to be. Groaning in pain, I roll my head back and forth as I come fully too.

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