TIFFIN 3

37

Tears gathered in my eyes, but I knew I needed to be strong. I knew who this was. It had to be the man that we'd been trying to track. He'd found out and had taken Kylie.

With a strained expression, I turned to look at Cole.

"Important call." I clipped.

He stood, a certain look of fear gathering in his eyes.

"Is it serious?"

"I need you to leave," I hissed, "family matters!"

With one last look of concern thrown at me, Cole ran out of the office, closing the door. When I took a moment to gather my bearings, I thought hard about how to approach this.

I wanted more than anything to cuss this guy out but it wouldn't help a thing.

"Please," I begged, allowing a tear to fall down my cheek, "whatever you do... don't hurt her."

Much to my astonishment, the asshole over the line scoffed as if I had offended him.

"Are you shitting me? I would never hurt my woman."

His woman? Umm.

Was this who I suspected it was? He sure came off aggressive as shit.

"Who is this?" I demanded stupidly through a congested nose.

The man sighed. Well, more like groaned.

"I know you don't know me well, but this is Ezekiel."

It took me a moment to recognize the name, but when I did, I nearly gasped. It was the man Kylie had met over that dating app. What the hell was his aim here? She hadn't heard of him in what felt like ages.

I exhaled.

"I know of you. Kylie was absolutely enamored with you."

After a minute of awkward silence, he breathed out a response.

"She... she was?"

It sounded almost hopeful.

"Look," I interrupted impatiently, "Let's not get off track here; you didn't exactly come off as friendly, buddy. Why do you have her phone? What the hell is going on?"

Ezekiel grumbled, but answered me much to his dissatisfaction.

"Kristina... she's clued me in on this situation more than you think. She told me you'd be pissed, but she couldn't not tell me. Look, she's missing."

I felt my stomach bottom out. Nothing about my job or my current issues mattered. No. 

Kylie, my newfound friend, was missing. Fuck.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to believe this.

"How... How can you be sure?"

He took a moment to collect himself. He sounded like he had dropped the phone.

"God, Kristina. You need to know something: I haven't known Kylie for long, but I love her. I don't do relationships, but... I would for her. If something were to happen to her... I wouldn't be able to go on."

This stopped me in my tracks. Damn. This was too much for me to comprehend. I had seen his pictures and seen him in person a few times. He didn't look the type to go beyond one-night stands, but then again, hadn't my dear husband?

Yeah, and then he left you.

Then again, as I listened to all Ezekiel had to say, I knew he was genuine. 

Without having to be persuaded, he went on.

"My parents are both detectives. They taught me to be street smart. Since you told her about that man in the cafe, she hasn't failed to contact me. It's an unwritten rule between us. But I haven't heard much today. Then, when I checked her room at the fraternity... her belongings were in place, but the furniture had been turned over. No one's seen or heard from her."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Something isn't right." He finished.

I bit down on my bottom lip.

"Should we call the cops?"

"No!" Ezekiel all but snapped. "That's a rule of thumb. I have the equipment and means to track her. If that son of a bitch, took her, I want to take him apart with my bare hands. I need to know if you're on board with this."

I didn't hesitate.

"Yes. I am."