the table and steals one of Juliette’s bags of tea from the box. “Maybe she couldn’t sleep. Happens to me all the time.”
I run my hands through my hair and shake my head. “Sh—she wouldn’t,” I try to say. My thoughts are moving too fast. I turn around instead, ignoring them since they are no help, and try the basement. Maybe she was in pain and wanted Doc to give her more medicine.
Not caring about how quiet I am, I thud down the steps and flip on the light, but the beds are empty. “No.” I hold a hand over my heart. Denial sinks its fangs into me, snaking venom through my veins. That sensation in my stomach, the one that’s knotted and makes me feel sick, gets worse.
She’s gone.
When I get to the top step, I trip, but Slingshot is there at the door to catch me by the arm, so I don’t fall backward. He looks exhausted too. It seems the entire clubhouse is awake now, no thanks to me. Slingshot tugs me forward and shuts the door. His hair is wild. The man always has crazy bedhead. He grips my shoulders and tilts his chin down, lifting his eyes through his lashes. “Buddy, I need you to start taking some deep breaths. You’re freaking out. We can’t get anything done if you’re panicking. Deep breaths,” he reminds me. He inhales through his nose, lungs expanding, then exhales.
I follow his lead. I didn’t realize how much I needed to calm down and focus. The short breaths were making me lightheaded.
The kitchen chairs grind against the floor as he pulls two out. One for me and one for him. I sit down and tug at stands of my hair. I can’t do this. I can’t focus. What if she’s hurt? I grab the sides of my head and rock back and forth.
No one will ever be able to love you. You’re a fucking idiot. You’re nothing but a tight ass for my cock, Wayne. Nothing more, nothing less, and everyone will know that when they look at you.
My uncle’s words run through my head. Is that what happened? Did she finally see who I am?
A backhand to my face has my cheek flaming and my anger snapping to Slingshot. His steely gaze is on mine and he points at a finger at me. “Get it the fuck together right now. You’re fucking Wayne goddamn Hendrix. You cut people’s tongue’s out of their mouths and feed them to your swamp kitty.”
“What’s going on?” Reaper questions and everyone in the room sits up a little bit straighter.
Not me, though.
He doesn’t give a fuck about Daphne.
“Nothing. I’ll handle this on my own,” I say as I get up from the chair. No one is taking me seriously, and I’m too tired to fight with them. I’ll get more done on my own.
“Tongue, sit down, and tell us what is on your mind.” Reaper turns on the faucet and fills the coffee pot. “Please.”
“Hey, Tongue. How’s Daphne doing?” Mercy comes through the hallway next, wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. “I know. You’re shocked I’m here, but I couldn’t leave.” He falls silent, having me connect the dots, which means he hasn’t told Reaper the truth. “Reaper let me stay.”
I fling the chair across the room and haul ass toward him, throwing my arm against his neck. “This is your fault. She left because of you! I should kill you. Right here. I’ll fucking gut you, right where you stand. Where is she? Where is my Comet?” I roar, smashing my forearm against his windpipe. “She left me in the middle of the night, and I have a feeling it has to do with you paying a little visit and saying you were her fucking father!”
“What the fuck?”
“Shit.”
“Holy fucking hell. The world cannot be that small…” Reaper grumbles under his breath just as he turns the coffee pot on.
“You want to know what’s wrong with me?” I turn to them. “She’s gone! You know better than to think she’d take a midnight stroll alone. She wouldn’t leave me. She wouldn’t.” I know I sound like I’m convincing myself and maybe I am, but I’m desperate. “She was fine until Mercy came in to talk to her about how he knew her mother. We all know how fragile of a mind Daphne has. God.” I let go of his throat and lace my hands behind my head. “What if she’s in the middle of an