Page 76 of Haven

She sighed. “When I was looking for Rory’s file, I had two FBI agents show up. I didn’t know who they were. They asked about Ella and her sister. I told them the case was closed and a child predator was dead. They kept asking questions about Aurora the most.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, but I didn’t tell them much. She was rescued and taken back home with her sister. That was it. How is she? And Cinder?”

“Rory is alive, safe for now. Cinder…Cinder is missing and we don’t know if she is alive or dead.”

“I’m sorry. She seemed upset when she reached out. Do you need anything from me?

“Not yet. I do have one question. Was there a report of a boy the same age, maybe a year older than Rory, who was found with signs of abuse?”

She shuffled like she was looking through some papers. “I don’t know if it is relevant, but a few weeks after Rory was found, we got a report of a teen breaking into a pharmacy. When police showed up, he had bruises and ripped clothes. He kept talking about a princess, but when he was in the hospital, he managed to escape and no one found him again.”

Princess.

“Do you know his name?”

“I’ll have to look, but as soon as I get something, I will call you.”

I was getting tired of dealing with this already, but I would keep searching if it meant making Rory happy again.

Sixty-Five

Widow

Rory stepped into my office with her arms wrapped around her front. She was in one of Cinder’s old band T-shirts that she DIYed, and it hung off her shoulders. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were still red from her hours of crying. I let everything Cinder told me fly out the window recently because Rory needed me. Rory had Vesper, and to my dismay, she had Hades, too.

I pulled her into my arms and she sank into me. She found comfort in me, and that made me crack. I knew I needed to listen to everything that Cinder said because I would hurt Rory. Hurting her once was already painful, and I couldn’t live with myself if I did it again. I was toxic, destroying everything I touched. Rory would slowly decay with my venomous touch.

“I miss her,” she mumbled against my chest. “I want her back.”

“I know, phoenix. I miss her too.” There was a sliver of hope that she was still alive. This sadist wanted revenge, and he was getting that while hurting Rory.

She pulled back and wiped her eyes. “I’m going with Hades to Crestview.”

My back stiffened. I knew she wouldn’t listen to my protests because she was dating Haven. “Rory…”

She shook her head. “I already know what you are going to say. I am going with her. She’ll keep me safe, and if you forgot, I got trained by all three of you. I’m not defenseless and I need to get away.” I could see how close she was to breaking down. Rory wore a shield of glass, and it was shattering.

As much as I hated it, I couldn’t stop her. She would go. I wished she would take one of my pistols with her. She had her switchblade and brass knuckles, but if someone had a gun against her, she would lose.

“And how is she going to protect you?”

“She lives in Crestview, and her dad is Axel.” I already knew how she would protect her, but I wanted her to stay regardless. “We’ll be at her house. I’m going to meet her friend at a cafe and we might go to the beach, but I won’t go anywhere dangerous.”

“Are you going to meet Axel?” I asked, my voice heavy with concern.

“Maybe if she wants me to, but it’s not high on my priority list. I need a break, Widow.” Her voice caught on my name, and I felt my heart break just a little more.

I watched as they left, my body coiling with tension. Ever since I learned about Haven fucking Morningstar, I’d been paranoid that Rory would get hurt. I hated the thought of them together, of Rory loving a Devil. Hades would hurt her, and I would have to break Rory’s heart again when I put a bullet in Hades’s skull.

The way my phoenix looked at her, how quickly she fell for her, it made my blood boil. She wasn’t mine, and even if she was, I couldn’t control her feelings. I hated the connection and fire I saw between them. I wanted to scream, but she wouldn’t listen and I wouldn’t hold her back. She looked…happy. And I took that look away from her once. I couldn’t do it again when I broke her once. The pain in her eyes when I broke her heart was a guilt I would never get rid of.

Two days.

I had the best night of my life with the woman I loved, and now, I had to break her heart. Rory knew something was wrong, but I avoided her. I saw the pain on her face, but I needed to gather my composure and paint on my game face. This would be the hardest thing I ever did, but I needed to make sure Rory had her sister. And if Cinder killed me, her heart would shatter even more.

“Widow.” She chased me outside and stopped me. The scene shouldn’t look this beautiful with her breathtaking smile and a burnt-orange sky. My chest felt tight as she grabbed my hand and pulled me towards her. “You haven’t talked to me since that night. Are you okay?” I shouldn’t be seeing her naked body curled into me, her lips on my collarbone or those words…I never felt this way before…safe. I made her feel safe and now I had to break her heart.