Beautiful Moves (Shifting Steel Book 3)(49)

“I think I found something.”

Char stood at the kitchen counter holding the box of dog treats in one hand and a letter in the other. Wolf took the letter and read it, then glanced back at Char.

“When I asked Ella if someone died, she said not yet.” Char’s chin quivered.

Wolf couldn’t believe a hospital would send a letter like this.

“This is criminal! How the fuck do they expect anyone to come up with this kind of cash so quickly? I’ve met drug lords that are more forgiving.” Wolf slammed his hand on the counter, cracking the tile.

“But why would she leave town so suddenly?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” Wolf took a picture of the letter then looked up the hospital number and placed a call.

“Sabine Roulant’s room.” The phone rang several times before it was picked up.

“Hello.”

“Sabine Roulant?”

“Yes. Who is this?” the woman asked.

“My name’s Wolf.”

“Oh, uh, hi. Ella mentioned you.” Ella’s sister spoke with a slight slur.

“Have you talked with Ella since Friday night?”

“No. What’s going on?” Sabine’s voice suddenly filled with panic.

Wolf closed his eyes. Sabine obviously didn’t know Ella had left town.

“Is there someone she’d go visit? Someone who might help you out?”

“Help us out? Oh, god she owes you money. That’s why she was doing that job for your motorcycle club. Where’s Ella? What have you done?” Sabine started coughing violently.

“Fuck.” This conversation turned to shit fast.

“I’m sorry but Sabine can’t speak right now,” a nurse said.

Wolf still heard Sabine coughing in the background.

“Alright. Let her know I’ll call back.” The phone clicked before he finished the sentence. “Char I’m real fucking glad we don’t get sick,” Wolf growled.

“Her sister sounds awful, but they’re going to kick her out of there anyway, aren’t they?” Char frowned.

“Not if I can help it,” Wolf replied. He dialed the only person he could think of.

“Hey Wolf. You getting sweet on me?” MD asked when he picked up the phone.

“Funny. MD, I need a big favor. My girl got on a plane and disappeared. I think it’s because of a letter she got in the mail about her sister, Sabine. The fucking hospital is demanding money or they’re going to kick the sister out. I don’t know shit about it, but I need you to go down there and make sure they don’t fuck with my girl’s family.”

“Anything man. Which hospital?”

“University of Chicago Medicine. I’ll send you an image of the letter. Thanks man. Try to calm Sabine down, and let her know we’ll find Ella. Sabine kind of lost it before I could explain much.”

“I’m leaving now.”

Wolf hopped on Ella’s computer. His fingers flew over the keys as he hacked into her bank account, using her internet history and saved passwords. Wolf felt guilty, but in his line of work, following the money trail was the quickest way to locate someone.

“Ah hell,” Wolf exclaimed seeing Ella’s last few transactions.

“What?” Char looked over his shoulder.

“She went to Vegas.”



Ella

Insanity was counting concrete blocks in the small room, and inventing ludicrous names for the color gray, like the paint companies do. Only her names weren’t absurdly cheery for an otherwise dull color.

Acrimonious Drab. Choleric Cloud. Immolation Ash.

Ella was past her initial crippling fear. Not that she wasn’t afraid… she was. She just couldn’t hold that level of dread for so long. The first few days, it made her physically sick. Just the thought of food caused her to retch. It wasn’t till the second full day of her food strike, that Drake threatened to force feed her.

Besides that initial encounter, Drake hadn’t physically hurt her. But Ella was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Drake had yet to show his hand, or make more than the quick occasional visit. Not knowing what he planned for her was maddening. For all she knew he was starting some sort of circus freak show. Except she wasn’t the only freak here.

Now, more than anything, she felt alone, depressed and guilty. Not only had she exposed herself, she let Sabine down.

I have to get out of this place. Maybe there is still time.

Of course, she had tried to force her way out, but the beastly men that guarded her were able to withstand her curse. Granted she hadn’t unleashed everything she had in her. Honestly, Ella wasn’t really sure of the magnitude or reach of her gift. She just knew that when the walls and ceiling trembled, like they were ready to come crashing down, it frightened her. Ella wasn’t quite ready to end it all in a crush of concrete. And she certainly wasn’t about to chance collapsing a part of the hotel, hurting others.