Heartbreaker

by Romy Lockhart

  “What’s happening?” I ask the moment I lock eyes on Logan.

  He shakes his head. “Get inside the car. We can talk about this once you’re back at the hotel.”

  I know that tone. There’s no arguing against it. This really must be serious.

  Getting into the car, I try to calm the panic that’s rising inside me. It doesn’t even begin to subside until my men are surrounding me and the car is moving. I can’t wait to get to the hotel to find out what’s going on.

  “Okay, I’m safe now so...”

  “The hotel,” Logan says firmly.

  His jaw is tense. He’s still on high alert. What the hell?

  Nick shrugs at me when I lock eyes with him. Eli is regarding Logan carefully, as if he expects him to do something unpredictable. I know when his dark eyes meet mine that he’ll do whatever it takes, if Logan comes unhinged. It does nothing to put my mind at ease.

  My nerves are going to be shredded by the time we get back to Logan’s designated safe place. Whatever happened, it has to be big, and it has to be bad. I can’t think of anything other than the return of the Goddess who tried to take Logan from me. But that doesn’t make any sense.

  I clear my throat and Logan draws me a warning glance. He’s not happy that I’m ignoring his order. Too bad. He’s treating me like I’m his job right now, and that’s starting to piss me off.

  “If we’re running from a Goddess, we shouldn’t be,” I tell him. “I can’t make someone mortal from a distance, and it would have been helpful to at least catch a glimpse of her new body even if there is some genuine reason why we can’t come into close contact with her right at this moment.”

  Logan sighs softly. “It wasn’t a Goddess.”

  “Then what was it?”

  “Someone with a gun threatened to shoot you.”

  A serious situation for any normal person and the words do raise my pulse the moment he utters them. Then I remind myself, I’m not a normal person. Not anymore. Logan’s reveal feels a little anti-climactic now. I try to put myself in his shoes and figure out how he came to the conclusion that we had to get the hell out of that nightclub.

  “I’m immortal, Logan.”

  He frowns at me. “I know that.”

  “Then you know it doesn’t really matter if someone shoots me.” I mean, I’m sure it would hurt, and I wouldn’t exactly be thrilled, but all the same... “It’s not going to kill me.”

  “She sounded like she had a grudge. We can’t...” He breaks off with a long sigh, leaning back in his seat and shaking his head. “Maybe I was being overly cautious. I’m just... I’m not used to this. I don’t take risks when it comes to your safety, Eden.”

  Thank heavens for that. Seeing the tension drain from him lessens the nervous energy amongst us all. I’m able to actually relax. Well, kind of. This dress is driving me a little crazy now that I’m calmer.

  “It’s okay,” I tell him. “Just, next time, I need an explanation first.”

  He nods, his gaze far away. Something’s still troubling him, but I’m not going to push it. He’s always been the type to need time to get past things that have changed. And there’s been a lot of change going around recently.

  “Honestly, I’m glad we’re heading back to the hotel.”

  I shake off the bad feeling. There have been too many of those lately. I need to focus on the positives. I have one last night in L.A. with three of my men. I can’t wait to find out what we get up to.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Asher

  The flight home was bitter-sweet. Leaving Eden was always going to be difficult, but I was beginning to accept how inevitable it was always going to be. The next time we saw each other would be incredible, and I could live with that even if it meant a painful wait. Patience has never really been my strong suit and today was no different.

  I’d decided what I was going to do once I got back to Rapture already. The flight would get me into the airport in the late afternoon. Leaving me plenty of time to take a long drive and be back in Rapture before midnight.

  Once I’d decided I was going back out to the ravine where my parents disappeared, I became agitated with how long every step took at the airport in L.A. The private flight Eden had insisted on booking for me was faster than commercial, but it still felt as if it was taking forever to get through security and board the plane.

  I tried to read on the way home, using an e-reader app on my phone but I couldn’t focus no matter which book I attempted to immerse myself in. My thoughts kept wandering to the mystery of my parents. The police had questioned half the little town were their car had been found. No-one had recognised them. I couldn’t help wondering if someone had lied about that.

  Maybe I was clutching at straws, but I guess I’m going to find out.

  I finally get off the flight in Rapture and make my way to my car. The tank is half-full so I’ll probably need to stop for gas on the way back from the ravine. That’s hours away. I start the car and gun the engine, moving fast once I get out of the car park.

  The first hour on the road goes by in an eye-blink. Little traffic, and little noise. I flip on the radio after that, a little background noise to keep me from getting tired. It was a long night sleeping on the couch in Eden’s fancy hotel suite. I’d been wired, wondering how Eden was doing since finding out about Hunter and wishing I could stay longer to be there for her at the gig. I didn’t like the thought of her having to confront that sorry excuse for a man. At least I knew Logan hated him with as much vehemence as I did. I’d seen his anger acted out with his fists when he punched him the night Eden found out Hunter had cheated on her.

  The goddess light I’d been gifted with since Eden saved my life had allowed me glimpses inside several people. It was going to come in handy when I got to my current target destination.

  My stomach begins to grumble when I’m almost there. I see the sign for a gas station up ahead and decide filling my engine would be a smart idea before I become consumed with speaking to people who may or may not know something about my parent’s disappearance.

  I get to the station and fill my tank, then move into the shop and pick up some junk food and water to keep me going until I get the chance to eat proper food. When I get back into the car I check my wallet and find the folded photograph of my parents. It’s a good one, reasonably current and clear. Just as well considering it’s all I brought with me to use to ask the people who told the police they’d never seen my parents.

  I sigh as I realise I’m banking on finding a liar. It’s probably a lost cause, but I can’t let go of the idea. This is the chance of a lifetime. It’s not every day a guy finds the abilities necessary to get to the truth in this kind of way. I can’t walk away without at least trying.

  I open a bag of chips and eat a few before I belt up and get moving again. In less than an hour, I’ll be back where my parents went missing. Here’s hoping this time I find the answer I’ve been looking for.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Nick

  The drive from The Snake Pit is tense, even after Eden clears the air with Logan. Everyone’s still on edge. Eden might not be overly worried that someone was trying to kill her, but just the thought of that makes me uneasy. The only way I can find to let go of the worry is to believe whoever threatened her was all talk. That Logan overreacted.

  When the text comes in from Tanya, I consider ignoring it. I can still see Elise’s clothes scattered around my bedroom when I think about my apartment. How long had she been crashing at my place? I wasn’t so sure I wanted to know the answer.

  Things start clicking into place, and it all makes sense. She’d guilt-tripped me to stop me from leaving Tanya’s place the other night. Must have thought I’d find her out. Tanya had taken her to rehab. I thought that would be the end of it. Maybe this text is the explanation. Elise using her sister to apologise for breaking into my apartment. I wanted to believe that. I don’t know when I’m ever going to learn.

  E
lise left the rehab facility. Snuck out hours ago and hasn’t been seen. Tanya’s freaking out because she only found out when she went to pick up the credit card I apparently left there by mistake.

  Tanya can’t know she’s been sleeping in my bed then. If she did, I’m sure Elise would have made sure they got rid of the evidence on the way to rehab. I don’t know why exactly that makes it ten times worse, but it does.

  I glance around to find Eden gazing into space, as if she’s looking out the window. Something’s on her mind but I’m not going to get the chance to find out what. I hesitate. I’ve been running off after Elise a lot lately. It’s been becoming a priority. I muse on that for a few seconds, before realising that what I’m contemplating doing will likely resolve the issue of Elise taking up all my time after tonight.

  “Okay if I jump out at the club?” I ask Eden, breaking her daydream and capturing her attention.

  “The club?” She sounds a little faraway, before her gaze focuses and she nods. “Sure.”

  I turn and move the partition down to ask the driver to make the stop. When I sit back down properly and lock gazes with Eden, her expression is more concerned than questioning. A little distracted too, but I’m hardly focused myself right now so I can hardly blame her.

  “I just want to get some clothes gathered up for taking back to Rapture.” I pick the words out of thin air but I realise as I’m doing it that they work. I hadn’t even thought about bringing more clothes back with me, but it would make sense to all but clear out my closet.

  I glance around. The pathetic excuse seems to be going down pretty well with everyone in the car. Logan doesn’t look like he gives a shit. I could probably say I’m running away to join the circus and he wouldn’t bat an eyelid. Eden’s already going back to staring through the window, lost in thought. Eli eyes me a little suspiciously as I settle back into my seat and try not to make it too obvious I’m anxious to get to my place. I curse inwardly, but keep my posture relaxed.

  Eli would just have to realise something’s off, wouldn’t he? He has the brain of a cop. Of course he’s the one who sees it when I’m acting weird. I try to think of something scandalous to say to take the heat off, but my mind is blank for once so I keep my mouth shut.

  Luckily, Eli doesn’t ask. If he does later, I might spill. Right now I don’t want to. I barely want to think about it, much less actually confront a woman who’s been through hell and back already.

  I don’t understand what’s going on with Elise, but I need to find out and I get the feeling it’s not going to be pleasant.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Asher

  I drive past the ravine and park at the motel closest to where their car was found. It’s not the first time I’ve visited this place. As soon as their car was found, I came out here and asked around about them myself, knowing the cops had already tried. I’d gotten nowhere and that had been a bitter disappointment. I know I might just be repeating that mistake all over again. I’ve steeled myself for another round of that hopeless feeling, but I have to go through the motions.

  Getting out of the car, I stretch my legs and look around. The sky’s beginning to darken and the motel looks as old and depressing as it did the first time around. The swimming pool I can see through the rusted gates has been drained and is full of browned leaves from last fall.

  I walk toward the reception and push the door open. The dimly lit room hasn’t changed one little bit. The brown and gold wallpaper is old-fashioned and incredibly ugly. The wood of the desk looks mahogany, but it’s a cheap veneer which is made obvious by a chipped corner.

  I approach, not recognising the young woman standing behind it.

  “Hi, I was hoping the owner might be around.”

  She looks me over and rolls her eyes. “Wallace is on vacation this week.”

  I’m almost entirely sure this teenager can’t help. She’d have been twelve or thirteen when my parents came to this town. I doubt she’d remember seeing them. Still, leaving any stone unturned seems foolish.

  “Then maybe you can help.”

  She glances me over. “Help?”

  “I’m a private detective on a missing person’s case.”

  Her eyes light up suddenly. “Is this about Grace Summers?”

  “Grace Summers?” I shouldn’t ask, but my curiosity is piqued.

  “Everyone’s saying Brent West killed her in the woods up at Parker’s Point, but the police haven’t found a body yet.” She starts twirling her hair. “I haven’t seen you around before.”

  “I’m from out of town. Do you know anything else about the missing girl?”

  She nods. “She was hanging around this older guy before she went missing. I don’t know who he is, but she blew Brent off to spend the night with him. A week later, she just doesn’t show up to school and the whole town is looking for her.”

  It was probably all gossip, and nothing to worry about, but an uneasy feeling settles over me as I stand there listening to a high school kid’s version of events leading to a young girl’s disappearance.

  “Do a lot of people go missing in this town?” I have to ask, because it seems odd that I’d come here looking for a trace of where my parents might have gone and walk into the middle of another investigation like this.

  She frowns at me, before shaking her head. “No. She’s the first.”

  I smile tightly. “Thanks for your help.”

  She shrugs. “No problem.”

  I leave, heading back to my car to consider my next move. The motel owner had been my first port of call because he’d seemed a little bit shady, a little tight-lipped. The Sheriff had seemed new, but he’d been honest to an awkward degree, embarrassed that he didn’t have any answers. Then there was a diner in town that might still be open, with an older couple in charge who had claimed to know everything there was to know in this place. I head for the diner. It was a likely place to run into the Sheriff too.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Asher

  I’m on my way into the diner when my phone starts to ring. Sasha’s number flashes up on the screen and I decide not to answer. If she asked where I was, and I’m certain she would, I’d feel weird about lying. I definitely couldn’t tell her what I was up to. She wouldn’t understand. She hadn’t the first time I’d come out here. Told me if the police couldn’t find them, what hope did I have?

  I put the phone onto silent, knowing full well she’ll call again when I don’t pick up. She knows I don’t listen when she leaves me messages. I should probably start. It’d be less annoying than being called fifteen times in a row.

  The night is eerily quiet as I park up and move toward the diner’s front doors. The background music from the restaurant bleeds out into the air as I get closer. It’s barely a whisper on the wind until I open one of the doors. I step inside and the door closes with a slight jingle.

  There are a few half-filled tables, but their occupants don’t fill me with much in the way of hope. They’re all teenagers, of a similar age to the girl I already spoke to. My parents’ disappearance won’t hold any significance to them. They won’t remember it.

  I listen in carefully to their conversations as I pass, moving towards the counter. They’re talking about different things; football, girls, a party. None of it seems unusual.

  “Hi there, what can I get for ya?” The middle-aged woman behind the counter asks the moment I sit down on one of their high stools.

  She’s aged a little bit more than I would have expected, but it’s the same woman I questioned about my mother and father a few years ago. The blank stare she gives me shows that she doesn’t remember me. I didn’t think I’d changed much, but I suppose it wouldn’t have been such a big deal to her as it was to me.

  “I’ll take a coffee. You don’t remember me, do you?”

  She blinks and looks me over slowly, before shaking her head. “I’m afraid I had a bit of a fall a couple years back, hon. Never quite been right ever since.”

>   “I’m sorry to hear that.” I wonder if questioning her is even worth it, but it is what I came for. No use driving all this way to come away without even trying. I clear my throat. “My parents went missing a few years back. Their car was found out this way. I come out here sometimes, just to remember them, really.”

  She gives me a sympathetic smile. “It’s the ravine, it seems to attract out of towners for some reason. We’ve had more than a few suicides there. It’s just under Parker’s Point which is the highest drop in town. I still think they should close that road right off.”

  I listen to her rambling, wondering why she went straight to talking about the ravine and suicides if she doesn’t remember me. I wait for my moment to touch and get my answer, taking it when she passes me my coffee. The three second touch of her rough fingers tells me everything.

  She remembers me, she just doesn’t want to. She doesn’t want to think about what she did that day. To lure an unsuspecting couple to a spooky house with a very commanding occupant.

  I can barely believe my luck. I catch a glimpse of the house from her memories, but its occupant is cast in shadows. She can’t remember what that person looked like. At all. But she knows they made her afraid. They demanded she bring them the couple, that they were important.

  That’s all she knows. I get the feeling if I try to poke further, she’ll collapse under the mental strain.

  I drink my coffee and wait for another moment, while I try to piece together what’s going on.

  As far as I know, Gods and Goddesses are the only people who can command others to obey them. So if there aren’t any other supernatural creatures to worry about, that means the person who owns the spooky house is one of them. My guts twist up at that realisation, though I’m not sure what else I really expected. Dark forces deities seem to exist all over the world. They probably cause all kinds of chaos that gets blamed on other things.