Game of Desire

Chapter 15 - Rafe

A week rolls by in no hurry and Sarah is still nowhere to be found. But then again, I'd be lying if I said she's all I've been focussing on. My mind has been like a rollercoaster since I last saw Lia. I wonder what she's up to. She's probably forgotten about me already. The idea catches me off guard and I feel my blood start to boil. Aurelia is not allowed to forget about me, not when I go to sleep imagining how different scenarios may play out if I met her on different terms. Would I even have paid her any attention?

My phone rings and a new number flashes over the screen.

Clearing my throat, I answer, "Hello?"

"Hi Rafe, it's Savannah. You don't happen to know where Lia is do you?" she squeaks over the phone. I can hear the fear in her tone.

"No. What..." I shake me head "What are you talking about?" I switch the phone to my right ear to hear better.

"I was supposed to meet her at her house, but she's not here. I mean her car is here, but she's nowhere to be seen. I thought she might be sleeping, so I climbed through one of her windows, but she wasn't inside. I'm getting worried. I've been here for like half an hour and there's still no sign of her. I've been calling her non stop with no answer." She rambles over the phone without even taking a breath. Her voice is wobbly.

"I'm on my way." I don't even think before saying the words. "Stay put, I'll be there as soon as I can. Check if she's with one of her neighbours."

I hang up and grab the keys to my Range Rover. I'm out the door without a second thought. I can't even think straight. I ignore my dads imaginary voice invading my head, telling me to stay away from her and that she's fine. Something in my gut is telling me that somethings off. I won't stop until I find her. I need to at least see she's okay, then I'll go back to the plan.

A chill creeps it's way into my bones and it's not just because the sun is getting lower. I have a bad feeling and the fear is eating at me. If someone has touched her, I'll kill them.

Shit. I forgot my gun. It's fine, I'll feel better watching them die at my bare hands. But hopefully it doesn't come down to that. Hopefully Lia just fell asleep somewhere. It's a stupid thought and it reminds me of the odds of that being true.

I tighten my hands around the steering wheel, causing my knuckles to go white. Pushing down on the gas pedal, I pick up speed. The clock is ticking. I need to find her.

♤♤♤♤

The second I arrive, I'm practically out the door before my car is even in park. I briefly speak to a very worried Savannah and find out which window she climbed through to double check every room in the house. My search winds up being no use, I knew she wouldn't be here. 

When I come to terms with it, I start to survey her house for any clues of what could have happened. I stride through the house looking for any signs of struggle. Nothing's broken, scratched, or even knocked over. It's as if she didn't even come inside. 

I rip off her bed covers in frustration as if she'd be hiding under them. Nothing. I grab her pillow and throw it at the wall. Something shiny catches my eye, sliding my eyes over her bed, I notice a pocket knife sitting on the mattress. I flip it over in my hand, before tossing it back. She must keep it under her pillow for safety, considering she lives alone.

Too bad she doesn't keep it on her. Now is a perfect example of why she should. 

With both my hands up against either side of her bedroom window, I stand looking out at her dock while my brain starts calculating with what I have. The doors are still locked. She's not in here. Meaning she didn't lock them from the inside. Which therefore means she didn't make it to her house. She got home and was intercepted before coming inside.