“I read her file too. I saw it. I felt like you do.”
“You don’t. You couldn’t! I-I love her. I’ve never felt like this before.” He paces and rambles, making me wonder how much he’s been drinking. “The need to protect her. To make them pay. It’s so strong, and I don’t know where it’s coming from. I think I’m going insane. It has to be love.”
“It’s the bond talking. It’s all part—”
“Don’t you dare fucking say it’s part of the damn prophecy!” he fires, shoving me back and getting right up in my face. I’ve never seen him this angry, this out of control. His eyes are wild and his breathing is ragged.
“I was going to add, you’ve been drinking. Come at this tomorrow with a clear head. I know it’s—”
“You don’t fucking know, man. You barely fucking know her!”
“Neither do you.”
Wrong thing to say apparently. He lunges at me and his fist cracks my cheekbone with brute force. Fuck. Should have seen that one coming.
“I know her better than you and I’m telling you, prophecy or stupid bond be damned, I love that girl and I won’t rest until the fucking lowlife scum she calls parents have been made to pay for every tear they’ve caused her. I’ll return her suffering on them, tenfold.”
“Okay, okay. I hear you. But you can’t do anything else tonight. Let’s just go home, yeah?”
“Where is she, Reef? Why did she vanish again?” His anger leaves him and he’s back to looking…lost. Broken. It’s not a look I’m used to seeing on Bhodi. Maybe he has had too much to drink, but they say that’s when the truth will come out.
“I don’t know for definite, but I’d put my money on her being back in the hospital for whatever reason.”
“Can’t you find out? You’re the research guy!”
I sigh. I hate being known like this – the guy that can get all the answers.
I take the bike keys from Bhodi, insert them into the ignition and turn. The bike roars to life and I quickly climb on and take the bike off the side stand. Then I pass Bhodi his helmet and nod for him to get on the back.
He grumbles about it but does, opting to hold on to the grab rail at the back, rather than my waist – which is fine by me.
We take off into the night, and I consider Bhodi’s words.
It infuriates me that no matter what strings I pull, favours I call in or connections I manipulate, anything concerning Malia is a mystery. I’m facing dead end after dead end and I can feel it – time’s running out.
“I wish I could find out.” I really wish I could.