I’m not one to generate nervous energy. I don’t fidget or let many things bother me, but I know what’s coming.
It’s been nearly two months since I sent that text to Sylvie, and that’s two months of bad attitudes from her not texting back. Two months of her not showing her face around the clubhouse despite her best friend living here.
I imagine Kincaid as well as the others have had enough of it.
“Listen,” I begin as I approach. “I’m sorry.”
“For?” Kincaid asks in a serious tone despite the grin threatening to form on his lips.
“My attitude. It’s just that—”
“You’re in love with a woman but don’t have the balls to go tell her?”
I glare at him because he’s the fucking hammer and I’m the damn nail he just hit on the head. In other words, he fucking nailed it. All of it. I’m in love. I’m a pussy because I’m scared of what admitting that means. I can only see her rejecting me because she hasn’t even texted back.
“Have you reached out to her?”
“I texted.”
“You texted today?”
“In January.”
“You’re such a fucking idiot.”
I want to growl at him, but somehow manage to keep my calm. Acting like a petulant child won’t get me anywhere but benched because of an attitude problem, and I don’t want to miss out on the next trip. Working has been the only time I’ve managed to lock down at least some of my thoughts.
“You’re fucking miserable.”
“Is that what you needed me for? To tell me I’m useless and stupid and scared and a pussy.”
His grin grows. “So, you’re aware?”
“Very,” I mutter, shoving my hands into my pockets because punching my boss for his happiness over my misery has the power to get me kicked out of Cerberus.
“I have good news.”
I don’t even perk up at his words. What’s good news for him has no ability to be good news for me.
“I need you to go see Sylvie.”
My heart skips a beat in my chest, but then dread settles inside of me. “What’s wrong?”
“That feeling.” He presses a finger to his chest. “The happiness you felt for half a second and then the pain at thinking something has happened to her is love, Spade. It’s fucking special. It doesn’t come along often. I will admit to thinking the two of you were perfect for each other. It’s why I sent you to Telluride with her instead of Aro.”
“You think Aro would’ve fallen for her too?” I ask, admitting that I love the woman for the first time out loud.
“Aro isn’t going to have to go very far to find what he needs in life, but that’s a story for a different day. Nothing bad has happened to Sylvie. I have good news. Max, with the help of Wren from Blackbridge have been able to locate Raelyn’s parents.”
“Raelyn?”
“The little girl from Telluride, and I misspoke. They located her mother. Her father committed suicide not long after she went missing after accusations from law enforcement that he was involved in her disappearance.”
“Was he?”
Kincaid shakes his head. “They haven’t been able to find any proof of that, but their due diligence has delayed her return home. Social services are meeting with the mother today to work out a plan for reunification.”
Sadness fills my gut. If the little girl had been missing for a short time, they wouldn’t hesitate to reunite them. Delaying it means she’s been gone for a while.