Page 67 of Virtue & Vengeance

My feelings were confusing me.

What did it mean?

Fear wasn’t something I felt often, but when it came to her, it was all I seemed to feel.

I drove past the impound lot once more, finding that Jerome had done as I asked and picked up the Oldsmobile to have it taken back to Empire Sevens.

After parking for a while, and after seeing no signs whatsoever of Eden, I started back toward Empire. When I pulled up, I climbed out of my car and handed my keys over to the valet.

It was late, but instead of going to my penthouse, I went into my office. No sooner than I sat in my chair, Jerome peeked his head into the door.

“The car is secure, sir. Is there anything else you need?”

“Yes. Keep your eyes out for Eden. She’s definitely missing.”

Jerome’s face cleared, and his lips tightened.

He nodded. “Yes, sir. Do you think she ran away?”

I shook my head.

“I don’t think she ran away. I think she’s been taken. I’ll find her, and when I do whoever took her is as good as dead.”

Without another word, Jerome nodded and left my office.

Eden had been taken, and someone was pulling her strings. I knew that someone was the shady fucker I’d seen in the lobby of Empire Sevens.

He had no idea the wrath that was coming his way, and luckily for me, I knew where he was staying. I was never so glad that I followed someone. If he was still at the Magic Eight Motel, I had an inkling that Eden was there with him. It wasn’t going to end well for him.

Once when I was eighteen, one of the guys I’d been fucking with stole a hundred dollars from me. I could still feel the sensation of his jaw breaking against my fist.

Eden was no hundred-dollar bill.

She had somehow become priceless to me. And the things that were going through my mind when I thought of any person who harmed her, scared even me.

I was going to kill again, and I had a feeling it would be sooner rather than later.

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