Chapter 204
I just shook my head and began to eat. One way or another, we were going to need our strength.
The sound of silverware clinking against the plates was the only sound in the room as we sat eating in an uncomfortable silence. Swallowing each bite was a chore, but I gulped the food down. Raina was right–we needed our strength. We had no idea what today would entail.
Just as I swallowed another bite, the front door creaked open. I lifted my head, tensing up immediately, as I saw the detective step inside. His beady eyes scanned the room and settled on Raina.
“Who’s she?” He jerked a thumb toward Raina, his tone curt.
Dominic barely looked up from his plate. “My sister.” Flat, uninterested. “What’re you here for?”
The detective took a further step inside, his eyes sweeping over all three of us before fixing on me. “I want to know what you know.”
I dropped my fork and met his gaze straight. “And I told you before, we know nothing.”
His lips thinned. “You expect me to believe that? Faith Graham is still missing, and you three are sitting here like nothing is going on.”
I exhaled through my nose, losing patience already. “We’re doing what we can.”
He snorted. “That so?” His eyes flicked to Raina. “Then maybe she won’t mind answering a few questions.”
I straightened at once, the chair scraping the floor as I came to my feet. “Absolutely not.”
The detective’s eyebrow arched. “Why not?”
“Because she wasn’t even around when everything happened,” I bit out. “She doesn’t know anything.”
He folded his arms across his chest, eyes narrowing slightly. “You sound awfully defensive. Got something you’re hiding, Sullivan?”
I stepped closer, holding his gaze. “No. I just have common sense. Something you seem to be lacking.”
His jaw tightened, and for a second, I thought he might push the issue further. But after a long, tense pause, he exhaled sharply and shook his head.
“Fine,” he grunted. “But don’t think I won’t be back.”
With that, he spun on his heel and walked out, the door slamming shut behind him.
Dominic chuckled low in his chest. “You really have a way with people, don’t you?”
I ignored him and sat back down, rubbing a hand over my jaw. That detective was wasting time, questioning us instead of actually doing his damn job.
I had barely a moment to gather my wits before Dominic’s phone began to ring. He pulled it from his pocket, checking the screen. His face clouded in a
heartbeat.
Nathan.
I braced myself as he answered, switching it to speaker.
“What’s taking so long?” Nathan’s voice came over, smooth and authoritative, but with an edge of annoyance. “I don’t like being kept waiting. I thought I’d made myself pretty clear–I want what’s mine back.”
Before Dominic or I could even answer, Raina snatched the phone from his hand, her fingers closing over it like a vice, her knuckles white.
“Don’t you dare hurt her,” she demanded, her voice shaking. “If you lay a hand on Faith-”
Nathan chuckled darkly. “I forgot how much I missed that fire in your voice,” he mused. “It’s been too long, princess.”
Raina’s eyes blazed with fury. “Let me talk to her. Now.”
Silence.
“Nathan!” she yelled, her voice raw with desperation.
The call cut off.
She stared at the phone in disbelief, her breathing uneven. Then, before I could stop her, she bolted for the door.
“Raina!” I shoved back my chair, nearly knocking it over as I lunged after her.
She flung the door open and ran outside, barefoot.
“Fucking hell!” I hissed as I took off after her, Dominic right behind me.
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Chapter 204
+25 Bonus
“Raina, stop!” I yelled.
She didn’t. She ran straight for the road, her gait frantic, her breathing coming in short gasps.
I picked up my pace, closing the distance between us. Just as she reached the street, a set of headlights cut through, the engine revving as a car hurtled toward her.
Shit.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, and in a split–second decision, I took hold of her arm and jerked her back with every ounce of strength I possessed. She gasped sharply as she stumbled into my chest, her hands clutching at my shirt.
The car whizzed by, the wind from its wake whipping around us.
For a moment, everything was still.
I caught her shoulders then, my grasp firm but not harsh. “Are you insane?” I snapped, voice sharp with anger and fear. “What the hell were you thinking?” Instantly, tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them away.
