by Bella Jewel
He told me he’s proud of me.
I didn’t realize until this very moment how much I needed to hear that.
* * *
The club we go to is packed. I can tell from the massive line to get in that we are waiting in.
It’s just past nine and Kenai and I are wearing fancy clothes to fit into this place. My dress is short, black, and probably worth more than I make in a week at work. It’s gorgeous, though. A low dip at the front, a beautiful zip up back. Kenai is wearing a suit, and God, it makes him look incredible. It fits him like a glove, hanging on to every muscle and dip of his body.
We have to dress like this, because this place is so flashy. It’s expensive. It’s also seedy. The people scream money and wealth, but there is an undercurrent of illegal money and high-class crime that you can feel radiating from just below the surface.
“This place is sketchy,” I whisper to Kenai as we line up.
“You feel that too, huh?”
“Everyone looks like they’re rich and important, but somehow you just know it isn’t legit.”
Kenai nods. “Yeah, I looked into this place. Man that runs it is as dirty as they come. I have an inclination he runs an underground fighting ring.”
“God, they still do that?” I ask, stepping closer to him.
“Yeah, they still do that.”
“So what does this Chris guy look like?”
Kenai’s eyes scan the crowd. “Tall, blond, scar on his eyebrow that’s quite prominent.”
“Okay,” I say, shifting nervously.
“Stop fidgeting,” Kenai says without looking at me. “Just act normal.”
“That’s a bit hard when there are people staring at me.”
“They’re staring at you because you look fucking beautiful. Own it.”
My cheeks flush as I look over at him. He’s still staring straight ahead.
“Did you just give me a compliment?”
He jerks his head in a nod.
“You can’t even look at me when you do it. Is it really that hard to say, even if it’s a lie?” I say softly.
His head whips around, and his eyes find mine. Then he steps forward, catching me around the waist and hauling me close. My breath catches in my lungs as his lips drop down and his breath tickles my ear. In a low, seductive voice, he says, “It wasn’t a lie. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on, Marlie. So fucking perfect.”
Then he lets me go and I take a wobbly step back.
My heart slams against my rib cage and my cheeks heat with the remembrance of his words. The line moves fast after that, probably because I keep replaying it over and over in my head. Does he really think those things, or does he just know I’m struggling with the way I am after my ordeal, so he’s being kind, giving me the boost I need?
“Stop overanalyzing what I said,” he murmurs when we get to the bouncer at the door. “I meant every word.”
I look over to him and he’s giving me an expression that tells me not to bother arguing. I don’t. I’ll take it. God knows I need the support. I need to feel like I’m still worth it, after everything.
We show our I.D.s and enter the club. It’s gorgeous, decked out in light blues and whites. The bar is clear glass. It has a cool, calm, and elegant feel. People are standing, talking and interacting, but there is no dancing, no grinding, no games, nothing like a normal club. It almost feels like a business function of some sort.
“I’m going to start looking for Chris. Sit at the bar, and don’t move,” Kenai orders, leading me to the bar.
“Can’t I come? I won’t say anything.”
“No.”
He gives me a firm look, but desperation floods my chest. “She’s my sister, Kenai. I know her better than anyone. Please. I won’t say anything, but I might be able to help.”
“Not negotiable, Marlie. I’m not putting you in danger, and if he recognizes you, he might refuse to talk.”
I swallow, push it down, and nod. He has a point, and I promised I wouldn’t interfere.
“Thank you,” he murmurs, appreciatively.
He orders me a drink, then disappears into the crowd. I sit, sipping it and staring around. I don’t notice him at first, because he’s in amongst a group of people right near the back of the club, but when he turns, I can’t help but notice the prominent scar that runs through his eyebrow, which fits the description Kenai gave me of Chris. He’s standing, holding a glass of whiskey. His hair is slicked back and he’s wearing a flashy suit. But there’s a very good chance it’s him. I finish my drink and stand, looking around for Kenai. He’s nowhere to be seen. I move around the club, keeping my eyes on Chris but looking for Kenai.
I can’t find him.
Chris and another man open a door that leads outside and disappear out of it. My heart pounds as I look around frantically for Kenai. If Chris gets away, we might never find Kaity. Does he know who Kenai is? Is he already spooked? I don’t think, I just act. I rush towards the back door and burst out of it.
Chris and the other man are just exchanging a little brown packet. When they hear me, both turn. Chris studies me and his eyes widen. My sister and I share a strong resemblance, and I’m sure he knows who I am. I can see it written all over his face, which confirms that the man in front of me is Chris. But it also confirms that I’m now in danger. Shit. The other man just turns and disappears. He clearly got whatever he came for. My heart slams against my chest as I stare at the man in front of me.
The monster.
The person who ruined my sister’s life.
“Marlie,” Chris says, stepping forward.
“Where is she?” I hiss.
His brows shoot up. “I beg your pardon?”
“Where’s Kaitlyn?”
He shakes his head and smirks. “Probably dead in an alley with some man between her legs.”
Anger bubbles in my chest and I lunge forward. “Where is she? You sick son of a bitch.”
He steps backwards, face scrunching with rage. “What the fuck are you going on about? I haven’t seen Kaitlyn for weeks.”
“Bullshit!” I yell, clenching my fists. “I know she’s with you. I know she is. What have you done with her?”
He shakes his head, taking another step back. “You’re fucking whacked. I haven’t seen your damned sister.”
“Marlie!”
Kenai’s voice comes like a whip from behind me. My hands shake as I turn around and face him. He’s storming towards us, anger flooding his features. He takes me by the arm and jerks me to his side. Then his eyes find Chris.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
“Kenai Michelson.” Chris grins. “How’d she afford you? Does she suck dick as good as her sister?”
Kenai flinches and steps forward, grabbing Chris by the collar and hauling him closer as if he weighs nothing. “You tell me where Kaitlyn is or I swear to fuck”—he gets right in his face—“I’ll make you wish you were never born.”
Chris pales a little. “Like I told your girlfriend here, I haven’t seen her for weeks. She disappeared on me; figured she found someone else.”
Kenai studies him. “You’re a fucking liar.”
“I haven’t seen her,” Chris snarls, shoving Kenai’s chest to no avail.
“I have it on good authority you have seen her.”
“Whoever told you that is a liar. I didn’t even like the bitch, I was just fucking her. Wasn’t even worth that. Terrible lay.”
Kenai’s fist flies back and he hits Chris so hard a loud crack radiates through the night. I press a hand to my mouth to stop my scream, and tears well in my eyes. Chris bellows and Kenai drops him on the ground, driving a boot into his ribs before reaching down and hauling him back up, slamming him against the wall.
“Where is she?”
“I haven’t fucking seen her, you goddamned lunatic.”
“She’s been missing. We have multiple sources who say she’s with you.”
<
br /> “She’s not with me,” Chris bellows as blood runs down his face. “That bitch isn’t worth five minutes of my time.”
“Then where the fuck is she?” Kenai roars into his face.
“Last time I saw Kaity she was looking at leaving because of her.” He jerks a finger in my direction, and my chest clenches. “She couldn’t take the entire town constantly talking about her goddamned sister, so she wanted to leave. She wanted to be free of it. So if you want to ask anyone, ask that bitch where she is. She’s the reason her sister ran. Ever think she doesn’t want to be found?”
My knees start to shake. Is he right? Is Kaity running because of me?
“Kaitlyn might have been struggling, but not one single person has heard from her. I don’t believe she’s just hiding,” Kenai hisses.
“Then you’re following the wrong fucking trail coming to me. I haven’t seen her, and don’t intend to.”
“Then where the hell is she?” Kenai roars.
“I don’t know!” Chris roars back.
Kenai lets him go and he leans forward, coughing a few times.
“Get the hell out of here before I put a bullet in you,” Kenai growls.
“What?” I cry, rushing forward, but Kenai’s arm goes out, catching me around the waist and stopping me.
“When you find the bitch,” Chris growls, swiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand, “tell her she owes me fucking money.”
Then he disappears inside.
“You’re letting him go!” I cry, squirming in Kenai’s arms.
“He’s telling the truth, Marlie,” he says, his voice still hard and laced with anger.
“What if he’s lying? Dammit, he was our only chance.”
Kenai spins me around and forces me to face him. When he speaks, his voice is surprisingly gentle. “Marlie, calm down and listen to me.”
“You just let him walk away, Kenai,” I cry, slapping his chest with my hands. “She could be out there, scared and alone, and you just let him go.”
“He’s not lying,” he says, taking my shoulders in his hands and looking into my eyes.
“How do you know?” I say.
“It’s my job to know. He doesn’t know where she is.”
“He could be a good liar. You’re relying on your intuition to know if my sister is in his horrible little hands or not. We should have held him for the cops, let them check him out instead of just taking him at his word.”
“Stop fighting me for a second and think about it. Stop letting your emotions get in the way. Do you truly believe he has her? Because if not, continuing to pursue him would be an incredible waste of everyone’s time, and we don’t have time to spare.”
I stop fighting and look up at him.
“You’ve felt off about this from the start, and so have I.”
My skin starts crawling.
“He doesn’t have her, Marlie.”
“Y-Y-Y-You don’t know that.”
He reaches down and cups my cheek. “I do know that.”
My bottom lip trembles. “Then where is she?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”
“It’s him, isn’t it? The Watcher. This is somehow linked to him and—”
“Hey,” Kenai says, stopping me mid-sentence. “No. I never said that. Just because it isn’t Chris doesn’t mean it isn’t something involved in his world and the problems Kaitlyn tangled herself up in before she left.”
“It’s never been about drugs, I just know, Kenai … it’s to do with him.”
“You’re freaking out, which is understandable, but you need to trust that I’ll find out who it is. And don’t jump to any kind of conclusions. Can you do that for me?”
I nod. “Yes, but on one condition.”
“What?”
“You tell me everything you know.”
His jaw twitches, and for a moment I think he’s going to deny me. Then he nods once, and begins to lay out the facts.
FOURTEEN
“Where are we going?” I ask Kenai as we head to the freeway out of LA.
“We need breathing room, time to get our heads together and look back over this case. We’re both tired. We’re both confused. I’m sick of being in the city. So I booked us a cabin in the woods.”
“In the woods?” I ask, blinking.
He nods. “Easer to stay anonymous. And I’m tired of traffic. Need to clear my head and look at this case with fresh eyes.”
He makes a good point, and I won’t lie and say I’m not excited to be back in nature. I miss my little house in Colorado Springs. I miss the quiet. I miss the peace. I miss just being left alone.
“Sounds good to me,” I say softly, tucking my knees up to my chest.
“We’ll find her, Marlie. I give you my word.”
I nod, but my throat is too tight to answer. Kenai doesn’t say any more, but he does reach over and take my hand, squeezing it tightly in his big one. I’m so grateful in that moment, not realizing just how much I need some type of comfort. It’s been so long since I’ve allowed comfort in my life. I forgot just how good it feels, to know someone is there for you, that they’ll support you. A simple squeeze of his hand has my chest easing just slightly.
We drive in silence, him holding my hand the entire time. We get out of town, head back towards Las Vegas, and eventually turn onto a dirt road and follow it down a few miles before arriving at a gorgeous little cabin, surrounded by thick trees and absolutely no people. I sigh with relief and climb out of the car, breathing in the fresh air. I don’t even know what state I’m in but I’m already breathing a sigh of relief.
“Oh. This is perfect.”
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Kenai murmurs, looking around.
“Did you rent it for the night?”
“It belongs to a friend of mine. He said we could stay as long as we needed.”
“That’s a good friend,” I say, walking towards the little cabin.
It’s beautiful, set amongst the trees and patches of wildflowers. When I step up onto the porch a rustle to my left catches my attention, but when I look nothing is there. Probably some crazy woodland animal. I smile for the first time in days and push the door open. The interior of the cabin is perfect, rustic and well taken care of. It’s all mostly an open plan, with the kitchen and living areas blending into one. The furniture is warm and comfortable and there are beautiful rugs thrown down on the floor.
“This is amazing,” I say as I walk in and take in the place.
“Yeah,” Kenai says, coming up behind me. I can feel the brush of his body against mine as he moves past with our bags.
“Hey, Kenai?” I ask when he puts them down.
“Yeah?”
“Whoever is doing this, they’re smart. So smart.”
He looks to me. “Yeah, they are. But we are smarter, Marlie. I promise you we’ll get to the bottom of this. Together.”
Together.
My heart warms. He’s letting me in. Against all his rules and regulations, he’s letting me in because he respects me.
“Do you trust me?” I ask.
He looks confused for a second, then nods. “Of course I do. I don’t divulge this kind of information to anyone. I respect the hell out of you.”
My heart gets warmer.
“I can’t stop thinking about it, you know? It goes over and over in my mind, and I try really hard to figure out what we’re missing.”
“We will figure it out,” he says, crossing his arms—not in a defensive way, but instead in a comfortable way.
“What if we don’t?”
“Don’t start doubting now, you have to stick by me with this one. We’re going to work this out. We know it’s not Chris, we know it’s most likely been set up to look like that, we know we’re on the right path now. We will find whoever is doing this, and we will get your sister back.”
He’s so confident in himself, in his skills, in our skills, but I just can�
��t wrap my head around it.
“You know what I find helps,” he says, walking over and taking my hand, pulling me to the sofa and sitting us both down.
“What’s that?”
“Laying out what we know.”
I swallow, shift a little, and nod. “Okay.”
“So what do we know, Marlie?”
I’m confused for a second, wondering what it is exactly he wants me to say? Does he want me to tell him that my sister is missing and it seems we’re no closer to finding out what happened to her? Or does he want me to go detective and tell him what I think?
“I’m not sure what you’re asking,” I admit.
“I want you to just tell me the facts. Exactly what we know about this entire case so far.”
Oh. Right. I take a deep breath. “You want me to list it all?”
He nods, eyes holding mine. “Lay out the facts. Say them out loud. It’ll ease the pressure going on inside your mind and it’ll make it clearer.”
“Okay,” I say softly. “We know Chris doesn’t have Kaitlyn.”
“Before that, Marlie,” he encourages.
Before that. God. Going back before that hurts. It hurts because thinking of Kaity, and thinking of all the time we’ve spent looking for her, makes my heart ache. But I do as Kenai asks, I answer the question.
“We know we’ve seemingly been led on a road trip to look for a man, that, by the sounds of it, has been set up to look like the problem.”
Kenai nods.
“And you believe Chris is telling the truth, that he honestly doesn’t have Kaity.”
Kenai nods again.
“Which means someone else does,” I say and my chest clenches. “And that person wanted us to believe that he had Kaity, and send us on a road trip for … what?”
“You tell me,” he urges.
My mind spins with thoughts. There are so many theories, so many things I’ve thought, so many times I’ve gone back to my own situation and wondered if it all ties in. But I decide to stick with the first thing that pops into my mind, because honestly, it seems like the most logical answer. And possibly the right one.
“To distract us?”
“Why do you think someone would want to distract us?”
My stomach twists at that thought. Why would someone want to distract us? To get us away? To have longer with Kaity? To torment her more?