“All night?” Colton repeats, eyebrows lifting slightly. “You sure about that?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“And I suppose it’ll be all these upstanding citizens here that will vouch for it?” Colton gestures around the clubhouse, his tone making it clear what he thinks of my brothers.
“They will,” I say evenly. “Now, you want to tell me what this is about?”
He studies me, and I can see him trying to decide how much to reveal. “Where’s your wife, Mr. Sullivan?”
The question takes me by surprise. “At home, I assume.” Even as I say it, a cold feeling settles in my gut. Something’s wrong.
Colton snorts, a sound of pure disbelief. “When did you last speak to your wife?”
I hesitate, the cold feeling spreading. “Last evening. I let her know I’d be staying at the clubhouse.” The lie comes easily. Better than admitting I stood her up on our date night.
“And you haven’t spoken to her since?” Colton presses. “No calls, no texts?”
“My phone died,” I say, the excuse sounding weak even to my ears. “What’s going on? Why are you asking about my wife?”
Colton leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. “This morning, a tow truck driver called us about an abandoned vehicle on County Road 16. Car registered to Kayla Sullivan. Passenger window smashed. Door wide open.” He pauses,watching my face. “Driver’s purse, cell phone, and shoes scattered on the ground. Signs of a struggle.”
The blood drains from my face. “What?”
“We also received a 911 call last night,” Colton continues. “Female caller said someone was trying to get into her car. The call was cut off before she could give her exact location, but the cell tower ping puts it in the same general area where your wife’s car was found.”
I’m on my feet before I realize I’ve moved. “You’re telling me my wife is missing?”
“I was hoping you could tell me where she is,” Colton replies, remaining seated. “Funny timing, isn’t it? You don’t come home and your phone dies the same night your wife disappears?”
The accusation in his tone registers through my shock. He thinks I did something to Kayla. The absurdity of it would be laughable if the situation weren’t so serious.
“If you have any more questions, I want to have my lawyer present,” I snap, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.
Colton rises slowly, tucking his notebook away. “I’ll be in touch, Mr. Sullivan. Don’t go far.” He looks around the clubhouse, his gaze lingering on a few faces. “We’ll be talking to everyone who can vouch for your whereabouts last night.”
I don’t respond, just stare him down until he turns and walks toward the door. Atlas follows, escorting him out like the gracious host he pretends to be when authority comes knocking.
The moment the door closes behind them, I sprint for the stairs, taking them three at a time back to my room. My phone. I need my fucking phone. It’s lying on the bedside table where I left it, dead to the world. I snatch it up and power it on, pacing as I wait for it to boot.
When it finally does, the notifications flood in. Missed calls. Voicemails. Texts. All from Kayla. Dozens of them, startingaround 7 PM last night and continuing until after 10 PM. The last one was sent almost fifteen hours ago.
My hands shake as I press play on the first voicemail.
“Roman, where are you? I’ve ordered wine and appetizers. You promised you’d be here…” Her voice is strained, hurt.
Next message. “I’ve been waiting here for over an hour, Roman….”
Next. “My car broke down on County Road 16. I… I could really use some help. Please call me.”
The last message makes my blood run cold. “Roman,” she whispers, her voice thick with fear. “Roman, please. Someone’s here. I’m scared. Please call me back. Please—” The message cuts off abruptly.
“Fuck!” I slam my fist into the wall, not even feeling the pain as drywall cracks under the impact. Kayla was in trouble. She needed me. And I was out chasing shadows while she was being—
I can’t even finish the thought. I can’t bear imagining what might have happened to her.
I barrel back downstairs, phone clutched in my hand. Atlas is standing near the bar, his face thunderous.
“What the hell, Viper? Now we’re gonna have cops sniffing around—”