Sinners' Playground (The Harlequin Crew #1) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,83

through me. “She’s mine. And if her presence upsets you, then you don’t have to stay here, Chase. But she is staying either way.”

His lips parted indignantly, but I didn’t hang around for his response, storming downstairs while JJ murmured something to Chase which soon got him following me. I strode outside again where the music had been turned up and people were grinding against one another by the pool.

I stuck two fingers in my mouth and whistled, causing everyone to look my way and stop mid-fucking dance as they realised who wanted their attention.

“Who’s seen my girl?” I demanded and several people shook their heads in answer.

But one shirtless guy with a joint in the corner of his mouth pointed to the wall, seeming nervous.

“The rainbow haired chick, right?” he asked in a drawling surfer way and I nodded, my hands curling into fists. “She scaled that wall about an hour ago, boss. Jumped right up from the barbeque and I was like woah, that rainbow chick can fly.”

Fireworks burst through my skull and I grabbed the nearest sun lounger, tossing it into the pool with a bellow of rage. “The party’s over, get the fuck out of my house!” I roared, taking my gun from my waistband and firing a shot into the sky. People screamed and ran like they were under attack as they grabbed their clothes and sprinted for the exits.

Chase and JJ shared a look that said they were fucking concerned, and they should have been.

An hour. She’d been gone for one whole hour. She couldn’t have gotten that far on foot, but what if she’d jacked a car again? Or hitch-hiked? Or-

I rounded on JJ and Chase. “Split up. JJ, search the beach. Chase, head to the west side of town, I’m going south. Call me if you find her.”

I stalked into the house, a possessiveness filling me that wouldn’t quit. Losing her wasn’t optional. I wouldn’t sleep until I found her. She’d walked back into my life and hell if I was going to let her run from me again. She might have hated me, but I didn’t give a fuck. I’d figure that out just as soon as I got her back. I couldn’t think beyond that. I just needed Rogue Easton in my home, in my life. She had to stay here or I’d fucking break. And I will not break for her again.

I fetched my keys from upstairs then unlocked the door that led into the garage and ran down to it, jumping into my truck. I started her up and tore out of the garage, racing along the drive and flashing my lights at the men on the gate to let me out. There were plenty of party goers walking on foot in flip flops, wearing bikinis and shorts with drinks still in hand. I beeped my horn and they scattered faster than fucking ants as my headlights lit them up.

I tore through the middle of them and the wheels of my truck bounced as they hit the road and I burned up the tarmac as I turned south, speeding along the streets. I took the backroads, sure she’d try and outsmart me if she was out here looking for somewhere to hide for the night. But there was nowhere in Sunset Cove that she could hide from me. This was my domain. I knew every shadowy corner, every darkened door, every fucking back alley. But the size of the town was against me. Especially if she had a vehicle, she could be anywhere. She could be on the fucking highway to the next city by now, in any direction.

“Fuck!” I roared, punching the steering wheel, my pulse pounding too loudly in my ears.

I pulled up the display on my car dash, tapping on JJ’s number and hitting call. He answered after one ring. “Anything?” I demanded, speaking before he could.

“Nothing yet. Just relax, brother. We’ll find her.”

I hung up on him, calling Chase instead.

“Give me good news,” I growled down the line and he sighed.

“Look, man. She’s gone. Face it, we’re all better off without her. Don’t you remember the fucking dark days after she left? Better we deal with it now than go through that again.”

“How can you say that?” I hissed. “You know why she left. Because of us. And I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.”

“It’s her fucking choice. She doesn’t want us anymore. She wants our cash, or our keys, or all