wars, murders, and drug overdoses I’d witnessed on the streets of Detroit paled in comparison to the sick, twisted shit Zattman had inflicted on so many poor, defenseless women. Knowing that Caris had been victimized, terrorized, and abused by the sick fuck gutted me in ways I hadn’t thought possible.
As I poured the photos out into my hand, my stomach clutched and my blood boiled.
“Oh, god, no!” I barked, dropping the photos as if they were snakes. “This girl is dead. She’s dead and that cocksucker’s fucking her.”
Burk blanched as he glanced at the photos by my feet, then quickly looked away. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
I wanted to puke, as well, and frantically swallowed the saliva pooling in my mouth.
“H-how?” he stammered. “How can someone do shit like that? What’s so fucking twisted in their brain that they have to…”
“He’s insane or possessed by evil.” I sighed.
Burk warily eyed the stack of envelopes still left to open, then issued a muffled curse. Then he tossed back another gulp of whiskey, emptying his glass. The man rarely drank, and watching him down shot after shot told me he wasn’t dealing with our task well. I wasn’t, either, but I knew the images would haunt him deeper and longer.
“Look, why don’t I take the rest of these back to my room and finish going through them.”
“I’m good,” Burk answered, coughing on the booze’s burn.
“Yeah, but you’re gonna be shit-faced in another ten minutes. I don’t need Sofia shoving a skewer through my balls and roasting them over an open fire.”
“She knows what we’re doing. She’s the one who set out the liquid fortification.”
“I know, but…”
“You just want to go back and check on Caris.”
There was no sense lying. I’d made it clear she was special to me. “Yeah. I’m gonna try and talk her into coming to New York with us.”
“You want her joining us on the road?”
“At least until she’s healed.”
“I think it’s a great idea. Caris needs friends now. I know Mia will bend over backward to help her work through the shit Zattman did to her. Those two have a whole lot more in common than the spawn of Satan.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, they’re both in love with my band brothers.”
“You’re drunk,” I drawled.
“Am not. I see the way Caris looks at you.”
“What look? You mean the sneer and glare that screams she’d love to cut off my junk with a dull butter knife?”
“Think what you want, man, but Caris looks at you the same way Sofia did me before I swept her off her feet and stole her heart.”
“Man, you are way drunker than I thought,” I scoffed. “Caris hates my guts.”
“Does not.”
“Does too.”
“Not.”
I flipped him off as I called down the hallway, “Sofia? Sorry honey, but your man is shit-faced.”
“Shhh,” Burk hissed loudly. “You’ll wake her.”
“Good. I hope she comes out and rips you a new asshole, ’cause that shit would be so fun to watch.”
“And you would watch, you slimy cockbag.” Burk grinned, then sobered as he glanced back at the envelopes. “Go on, take ’em. But if they get to be more than you can handle, text me. I’ll come to your room this time.”
“Deal.” I nodded.
After retrieving the photos from the floor, I gathered the envelopes and returned to my suite. The minute I walked through the door, I knew something was wrong. Tossing the photos on the coffee table, I rushed down the hall. The second I saw Caris’s door hanging open, my heart began thundering in my chest. Praying she was in the bathroom, I dashed into her room. Nothing. I then raced to the balcony, but she wasn’t outside.
Please let her be in my bed.
Turning on my heel, I sprinted to my room. As soon as I rounded the corner and saw a note on my pillow, denial screamed in my brain and exploded from my chest in a desolate howl.
I should have known she’d run, but like a fool, I thought she’d stick around and let me try to make things right. I never should have believed the doctor when he said Caris would sleep all night. Either she had one hell of a tolerance for sedatives or the little vixen hadn’t taken the meds.
I stormed to the bed and snatched up the note.
Syd,
I’m sorry to run out like this, but I have to get home. Thank you for all you’ve done for me tonight. I would be dead by now if not for you. I was