Page 177
Chapter 53
Xander
“Oi.”
I’m nudged awake by a rough elbow to the rib, making me hiss out in pain.
“Shit, sorry,” Jac whispers.
I groan, turning over to see him crouching next to the bed, holding Sid under his armpit.
“It’s almost six o’clock,” he urges.
“Shit.” I slide up to sit in bed—careful not to disturb Camila—and rub the sore spot on my rib. Sid brushes his face against Jac’s chest, purring and swishing his tail behind his arm.
“Sorry,” he grimaces. “Nova thinks she has a lead on Luke, but we need to go now.”
He stands, taking a quick glance at the bedside table where Blossom now sits, and all the emotion drains from his face. He looks over at Camila’s sleeping form and his lip curls up. But he doesn’t push for an explanation. He knows about everything that happened, so none is needed.
I place a kiss on her head before slinking out of bed and dressing in yesterday’s clothes. If Nova has a lead on Luke, I don’t want to waste any time watching the life drain from his eyes.
“Don’t you wanna wake her?” Jac asks, standing next to the door with Obsidian still in his arms.
No.
She’s endured enough of his pain, and now it’s my turn to make sure that part of her life doesn’t live in physical form anymore.
I shake my head as I stuff my pistol into the pocket of my slacks.
“He’s not coming with us.” I point to the furry animal.
Jac pouts. “Why not?” He grabs Sid’s paw and waves it at me. “Please, Daddy Xander.”
“You’re insufferable,” I mumble as I push past him and out of the door.
Our shoes echo off the wooden floors as we make our way to the car. Securing our seatbelts in place, I waste no time in pulling out of the gravel driveway and down the winding path, out of the mansion.
“Where was he last?” I ask, pressing my foot to the accelerator, ramping up the speed.
“Wait—” he starts, squinting his eyes at the screen. “Diamond Lounge?”
“What?” I snap.
“Wait, hold on. Cam’s ringing. Ello, luvah.”
Is this guy serious?
“Hello? Cam? Dammit.” Jac throws the phone in the middle console, cursing under his breath.
“What is it?” I ask, my knee bobbing viciously. “Why would she call you instead of me?”
"Something's wrong."
I slam on the brake, making both of us jerk forward as the car screeches to a stop, and I turn the car around in the middle of the country lane.
Fuck Luke.
“Ezra’s not answering his phone,” Jac sighs.
