Page 75 of Shattered Souls

With the increasing number of missing persons cases in Wraithridge, law enforcement has upped the reward for information of the whereabouts of the suspect to $35,000. Anonymity is being provided to those that step forward. If you have any information regarding the accused, please call xxx-xxx-xxxx.

“Guess we better hurry the fuck up and leave.” Hayze signs, stroking Rayvn’s back as she reads over the article.

“I bet it was the girls.” Her voice is small and scared. “Or Callum after seeing us in the supermarket. Could be the couple that noticed me in the store the other day, though they wouldn’t know my name.”

Hayze sends me a questioning look, and I shake my head at him.

Her eyes glaze over momentarily before flashing back to reality. She shakes off the fear, knowing nothing can be done about this until we leave.

“I left the sweatpants I bought the other day in the car. Could one of you get them for me?” I stand, kiss her forehead and head out to the car.

“Fuck,” I slip on a patch of ice for the fourth time on my way to the car.

The pants are tucked into the crook of the passenger seat and the center console. The fabric is cold from spending the night in the crisp Montana air.

I make a mental note to toss them in the dryer before I let her put them on as I’m walking back, also mentally planning to salt the icy sections in the next few days.

“Seek!” I freeze, almost slipping on the ice. “Seek! I need to talk to you!” Bethany’s storming towards me, her coat tightly wrapped around her arms to combat the icy bite.

“Beth? What are you doing here?” She comes up to me, stopping a breath away from my chest.

“I saw the fucking news, Seek.” Fuck. “That bitch you kicked me out for is wanted.” I need to be smart with my next moves.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” I pinch my brows together, trying to display confusion. She smiles, reaches into her pocket and produces her phone. She flashes the screen at me, the article we just read staring back at me.

“Still want to play dumb?”

“Let’s get out of the cold. We can talk about this, Beth.”

She lets me lead her to the dressing rooms. Once we’re under the covering of the building she spins, pinning me in my spot.

“I’m going to the cops about this, Seek.” My heart stutters, panic looping around every nerve in my body.

“Beth, I can’t let you do that.” I don’t want to kill her, not really. But if it comes between her and Rayvn—well, I don’t need to finish that sentence.

“Then we’re in the market for a trade, Seek.” She places her hands on my chest, right where my woman’s hands were just an hour ago. She leans closer, bringing her mouth too close to my face.

“You’re going to take me inside. I know she’s there. You’re going to take me into your bedroom and fuck me—loud and hard so she hears every second of it.”

“Beth,” She puts a finger to my lips.

“You either do it, or I’ll call the police.” I nod tightly. “This is for the best, Seek. We both want this. I’ve seen the way you look at me, nothing like the way you look at her.”

Vomit clogs my throat as she rubs her hands along my body. How did Hayze put up with this for so long, night after night? I steel the rage swelling in my chest, and place my hands on the small of her back.

“Beth, I’ll make it up to you.”

25

Rayvn

“Fifteen bucks says he busted his ass out there and that’s what’s taking so long.” Hayze massages my shoulders as we await Synn, reaching around my body to sign.

“I don’t have fifteen bucks.” I deadpan. He kisses my ear, reaches around me and signs,

“I’ll lend you the money if I win.” I giggle, feeling his hard length pressed into the small of my back. He reaches around me and palms my breast through my shirt. The door swings open, but that doesn’t stop him.

I let out a small gasp as he pinches my hardened peak. The gasp twists from pleasure to pure horror as I see Synn saunter into the living room with Beth laced onto his arm, a smug smile plastered across her face.