He nodded. “He was a little friendlier yesterday. I think you made him uncomfortable.”
“Really?”
“You are kinda intimidating. All tall, silent, and brooding.”
I chuckled. “I see.”
“I think our presence did that. I also think he doesn’t like the fact that we found a weakness.”
That made sense. “Agreed.”
“Maybe we’ll find something now. Or he will.”
“Do you think he’ll share?”
Egan scratched his chin. “I think so. I think he also feels badly, which is why he was so nervous.”
He was probably right.
Egan clapped me on the shoulder. “Now you can buy me lunch.”
“Okay.”
* * *
I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening worried, pissed off, and anxious. I failed at finding any trace of Andy on another site, here or in any other province. I even dug into the dark web, finding nothing. He was like a ghost.
When Raven texted, saying she was ready to come home, I was already in the car, on my way to get her. I had internally shaken my head at my behavior.
She was right. I was as obsessed with her as Andy. But in an entirely different way.
I was pleased to find a spot, and I parked outside the bar and went in, surprised to see her alone at the bar, sipping from a tall glass. Beside her, a man was talking to her, and she seemed to be ignoring him. He crowded into her space, and she frowned. I headed over, calling her name. She looked over her shoulder, surprise etched on her face. Reaching her, I slid my arm around her waist, tugging her close possessively. I bent and kissed her. “Hey, baby,” I breathed out. “Sorry I’m late.”
She blinked, then smiled. “You’re forgiven.”
I lifted my gaze to the man beside her, meeting his eyes with a glare. He shook his head and mumbled something under his breath before moving toward the end of the bar and his pack of friends waiting for him. They all made jokes about his failure, slapping him on the back and offering him another beer to “douse the flames.”
“That’s right, asshole,” I muttered. “Keep moving.”
Raven followed my gaze. “He was harmless. He asked me if I was lost.”
“Lost?”
She picked up her glass and took another sip. “He said he assumed I’d fallen from heaven and was looking for a way to get back.” She winked. “He offered to help.”
“Motherfucker,” I swore, turning in his direction.
“Oh, stop it, Damien. He was just looking for a bit of fun. I have been propositioned in bars before, you know. I can handle myself.”
“Oh yeah?” I took her glass and drained it, grateful it was just water. I leaned on the bar, resting my hands on either side of her stool, caging her in.
“How was your night?”
“Productive.”
“Good.”
“I met the infamous Stew. He was leaving with a group of businessmen when we sat down. She introduced us.”