He scratches his head, not seeming to understand the urgency of the situation.
His nonchalance annoys me to the point I grab the collar of his shirt and shake him. “Has she been in here tonight?”
“What the fuck, man?”
The door to the kitchen flaps open, and Luciano comes through. He seems less upset than he should that I’m assaulting his worker.
“What’s the problem?” Luciano puts his hand on my shoulder.
I shrug it off. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
He puts his palms in the air. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”
“Claire. Have you seen Claire?” I don’t mind the eyes of the customers staring in disbelief at the sight of a psychotic man in their presence.
Luciano nods. “Yeah, she was in here. Got two coffees to go. Forgot her wallet. Said she had to get home. Sounded urgent.”
I drop the kid’s collar and pat the fabric down. “How long ago?”
If she was on her way home, I would have passed her on the way, right?
Luciano glances at his watch. “Maybe half an hour ago.”
My shoulders slump. She definitely should have made it back by now. Is it possible she took another route? She’s clueless with direction without her GPS.
Come on, Claire, where are you?
I leave the two of them and the rest of the café behind, popping out the front door and flipping my attention from left to right. I spot the sign for the university ahead. Maybe she went that way because it was familiar.
“Theo, wait,” Luciano calls out.
I ignore him and take off in the direction I think she went. Scattered trash up ahead draws my attention. I run up to it, dropping to my knees when I realize what it is.
Two coffees. Just like Luciano had said.
I clutch my hand to my chest, afraid the world is going to fall out from under me.
“Over here.” Luciano points to the street. “Tire tracks.”
I drag my hands through my short hair. “It was Franklin, it had to have been Franklin,” I mutter out loud, not caring if anyone else hears.
If Franklin has Claire, it might already be too late.
The memory of Griffin gripping Claire at the top of those stairs runs through my mind, the frightened look on her face as he pushed her closer to the edge. If I was only a minute longer, I would have lost Claire.
What if I’ve already waited too long?
I should have never let her walk away. I should have chased after her. Told her the truth right there. Made things right between us and never allowed her to wander off in the dark. Why did I think I should give her space, knowing damn well that Franklin was back in our lives?
“You’re working with Franklin?” Luciano steps in front of me, demanding that I give him my attention.
I shake my head. “No. Well, not anymore.” I pause. “Wait, you know Franklin?”
Luciano’s fist tightens. “If Franklin took her, I know where she is. Come on.”
And for some crazy fucking reason, I go with him, because right now, it’s the only lead I have. It’s foolish to trust this stranger, but he might be the only shot I have at getting to Claire before it’s too late.
I trail him as he sprints back to the café and down the alley. An unnerving feeling trickles over me at the idea of going blindly into such a hauntingly familiar setting. I push it away, Claire being my sole focus. I will risk anything to get to her, to save her from whatever hell she’s going through.