Hell And Back(59)

“What about school? Any leads there? Did she start hanging with a different crowd?” I ask, looking over at all her details. Five foot seven, one hundred seven pounds.

“Nada, best friend said she met this new guy at the mall when she went shopping. Got smitten, started texting like crazy. From that moment on, all her time was spent with him. All Jessica told her was that he was older, drove a car and ‘was hot as fuck,’ which, by the way, was a direct quote in case you’re wondering.”

“Any connection with Lori?” I ask.

“Just the fact they both met a mystery guy no one else has met.”

I spend the rest of the day going through the database, running different parameters, searching different names to see if maybe someone else is also working on the case. I call up the gang unit to see if maybe this is gang related. I come up empty.

After sitting and staring at the computer for more than seven hours, I look over at Mick. “Maybe we’re looking at this the wrong way.”

He looks up at me. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe they didn’t run away at all. What if they were taken?”

He shrugs. “At this point it could be anything. We have nothing, not even a fucking description of what the guy—or guys—looks like. It’s like we’re chasing a fucking ghost.”

I nod my head, thinking the exact thing. “What about the cameras from the mall? I know it’s a long shot, but maybe we can catch a glimpse of him so we have a visual of who we’re looking for.”

“Good idea. I’ll contact the security office in the morning. I know the exact date they met because she sent a text to her best friend going apeshit over him.”

“Sounds like a plan. Any leads on Adam?” I ask, knowing I’m not supposed to, but I do anyway.

He looks around, making sure no one is in earshot before he speaks quietly. “Nothing. He’s gone. I doubt he’s going to come back.”

“I still want to know where he’s living.”

“I know.”

I close down my computer as I pick up my phone, noticing a couple of messages came in while I was in my own world.

The first one is from Brenda. It’s a picture of Bella and Lilah sitting outside, the sun on their faces, their smiles big and bright. I save it to my pictures, making it my home screen.

The second is from my mother asking if she can come over for a visit. I pass over that one, looking at the next one from Bella asking what I want to eat. I think it’s too soon to reply that I would love to eat her.

So my answer is a simple. Whatever you want.

I tell Mick to call me if anything comes up, and I head out to get home. I don’t go over to Bella’s house right away, instead going to mine.

Grabbing the mail at the door, I make my way into the kitchen, tossing it on the table, and grabbing a beer from the fridge. I pop it open and take a long pull.

I’m here maybe ten minutes, sorting through the mail, chucking a good portion of the junk. Taking another pull off my beer, I hear a knock on the door.

Going to the door, I open it to find Bella on the other side, all by herself.

“Hey.” I grab her by the waist, pulling her inside. I close the door behind her, pinning her against it. Her surprised gasp gives me the opening I need.

My mouth crashes down on hers with a need I haven’t felt before. I knew I missed her today, but I didn’t realize how much until I saw her standing there.

My tongue slides into her mouth, and I taste strawberries as her tongue softly moves with mine.

My hand roams down to her ass. A light squeeze there communicates my intent, and she responds by wrapping her legs around my waist as I lift her up. Her casted arm lies over my shoulder while the other hand snakes into my hair, pulling on it.

“Missed you so much,” I tell her as I break the kiss, slowly moving to her chin as I work my way down to her neck. She moves her head to the side, giving me complete access.

“Missed you, too. I came to ask if you are eating dinner with us.”

“Mmm-hmm.” I continue working her neck, biting it gently, and then I move back to kissing her.

Cradled right against her heat, my cock is rock hard and ready. I press further into her, and I feel her shudder in my arms. She pulls on my hair to look into my eyes. “I want you,” she whispers and leans forward to kiss my lips. She kisses her way down my chin to my neck, mimicking what I just did to her.

Right as I’m about to attack her mouth again, there is another knock on the door. “I swear to God, I am going to shoot whoever is knocking on this door,” I tell her while I set her down on her feet.

“Maybe it’s Brenda and Lilah. I did say I was just coming over for a minute and would be right back,” she tells me while I turn the knob and open the door, coming face to face with someone I’m not ready to see yet.