Ignite (The Disciples #4) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,65

remind him I told them to stay home. But everything happens for a reason and I’m too tired to get into it today.

“I’m out.” I don’t wait to hear anything else. Blade’s getting drunk and I’m ready to put a fist in either David’s or Edge’s face. I’m about to get on my bike when my fucking phone rings.

“What?” I snarl.

“I’m at the Pussycat,” Ox’s voice blasts into my ear. Music plays loud in the background. “Hold on, let me go into the office.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to yell that he should have waited until he was in the office to call me but whatever.

“Okay, so I…” The music fades as he comes in clear.

“Everything okay?” I ask, interrupting him. It’s a dick move, but I’m already on my bike and ready to roll.

Ox laughs. “Axel, it’s good to have you back. I’ll be quick since you seem like you’re busy.”

“What?” I growl, putting the key in my bike.

“Blade had Snipe run a background check on Antoinette, and Snipe says he can’t get ahold of you.” I stop and sit up, my body instantly on alert.

I had thought about doing this early on. Because I know she has secrets, but pulling the trigger and having Snipe do it seemed to make her special.

“I’ve been busy dealing with the security break-in.”

“Call Snipe.”

I hang up and stare at my phone. Antoinette is the worst liar, which is another reason I haven’t dug into her past. It would have been nice had Blade told me he was doing this, but as I only now got back into town, I’ll let it slide. My finger hovers over Snipe’s number while dread slithers down my neck landing in the pit of my stomach. Trying my best to ignore it, I push call.

“Axel,” Snipe answers almost immediately.

“What did Blade ask you to find out?”

He’s silent then responds, “He said find out the basics, and the rest is up to you.”

“Run everything on her. Find out her entire past—more than the basics.” I should have done this earlier. Had it been anyone but Antoinette, I would have run one without thinking twice. The fact that I didn’t is a red flag in itself and Blade knows it.

“Will do, boss.”

Blade is smart and being safe. She has a past, and even though my gut says all the stuff that’s been happening has nothing to do with her, it was irresponsible of me not to have her checked out.

She’s new, and she’s hiding something. I need this for my own peace of mind.

I start up my bike and sit for a second in the parking lot, watching the valet roll out his sign. Does a ballerina seriously walk off the street and into a strip club? I guess we’ll find out. I mean, I didn’t believe she was a virgin either.

It takes me thirty minutes to get from the Dolly to Out Takes Diner and my phone has already vibrated. Backing into a spot, I pull out my phone knowing it’s Snipe with the information.

For a second, I wait, letting myself still have that moment of not knowing. I’m completely invading her privacy, and what I find could change everything.

As much as I tell myself she means nothing…

It’s a lie.

I want her and haven’t been able to stop wanting her. I like that she’s mine and mean that in every sense. She wants to be mine and she wants me to take care of her. But I can’t trust her. I’m not that kind of man and don’t live that kind of life.

I take out my cigarettes and light one up. “What you got, man?”

He sighs. Instantly I know it’s bad. The sweat on my neck drips down my back as I wait for her secrets. I take a deep drag, needing it to calm me.

“Let’s hear it.”

“All right, Antoinette Diana Van Doran, born the twenty-ninth of August in 2001 in Manhattan, New York. Her father was Matthew Donald Van Doran and mother Gabriella Diana Van Doran. The father owned several businesses and came from old money. Antoinette was homeschooled with private tutors as she was in dance almost from the age of three and was accepted into the New York City Ballet at age fourteen.”

“So, she’s nineteen?”

“Yes, almost twenty.” He takes a deep breath and exhales. “So, at age sixteen, she found both parents dead from gunshot wounds. The father was bankrupt and was being sued for numerous Ponzi schemes. Apparently he shot his