Beneath The Surface

Chapter 34: The Search Begins

--- Marco's POV ---

We drove in tense silence to the club where Raven used to work. The air was thick with unspoken worries, and every second that ticked by felt like an eternity. The city lights blurred as Marco sped through the streets, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

When we pulled up to the club, it was bustling with its usual nightlife. The thumping bass of the music and the chatter of people outside the entrance seemed jarringly out of place given the gravity of our situation. We pushed through the crowd and made our way inside, our eyes scanning the dimly lit interior for any sign of her.

The manager, a rugged man named Jack, was at the bar, overseeing the operations. He looked up as we approached, a mix of curiosity and caution in his eyes. "Marco, Ace," he greeted us, wiping his hands on a towel. "What brings you here?"

"We're looking for Bella," Marco said, his voice strained. "Has she been here? Have you seen her?"

Jack frowned, shaking his head. "Bella? No, she hasn't been here in weeks. Last I heard, she was staying with you guys. Is everything okay?"

A wave of frustration washed over me. "Are you sure?" I pressed. "Maybe she came by and you just didn't notice."

Jack's expression softened with concern. "I'm sure, Ace. She hasn't been back here. What's going on?"

Marco shot me a worried glance before turning back to Jack. "She's missing," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We need to find her."

Jack's eyes widened. "Jesus, I had no idea. Look, if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."

I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Thanks, Jack. If you hear anything, anything at all, you let us know."

We left the club, the weight of the situation pressing down on us even harder. As we stood outside, the cold night air biting at our skin, Marco ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body.

"Where else could she be?" he muttered, more to himself than to me.

I took a deep breath, trying to think clearly. "We need to check her apartment," I said. "Maybe she went back there. It's the only other place she might feel safe."

Marco nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Let's go," he said, heading back to the car.

When we finally arrived at her apartment building, we hurried inside, taking the stairs two at a time. Reaching her floor, we were met with an eerie silence. Marco knocked on her door, calling out her name. No response.

He tried the doorknob, and to our surprise, it was unlocked. We exchanged a worried glance before pushing the door open and stepping inside. The apartment was dark, the only light coming from the streetlamps outside.

"Raven?" I called out, my voice echoing in the empty space.

As we moved further inside, unease settled over us. The entire apartment was turned upside down. Furniture was overturned, broken glass littered the floor, and there were clear signs of a brutal struggle. Blood was splattered across the walls and floor, a chilling indication of the violence that had taken place.

Marco's face paled as he took in the scene. "Dammit," he cursed under his breath, the gravity of the situation hitting him. "What the hell happened here?"

Anger surged through me. "If you hadn't kicked her out, this might not have happened," I snapped, unable to contain my frustration. "She could have still been safe with us."

Marco's jaw tightened, guilt flashing in his eyes. "We need to find her," he said, his voice a mix of determination and regret. "She's in real danger."

Marco pulled out his phone, his face set in a grim mask as he surveyed the destruction in Raven’s apartment. The blood on the floor and walls, the overturned furniture, it all painted a grim picture. He dialed one of the men, barking orders to be on the lookout for Raven.

After he ended the call, we moved back to the car. As soon as we were inside, I couldn’t contain my anger. “This is all your fault, Marco. You kicked her out. If you hadn’t done that, she might still be safe.”

Marco clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. “I know, Ace. But now is not the time for blame. We need to find her.”

Minutes ticked by in tense silence until Marco's phone rang. He answered it quickly, listening intently. “They’ve spotted someone matching Raven’s description heading out of the city.”

A sense of urgency flooded me. “Then let's go. We can argue later. Right now, we need to find her.”

Marco nodded, and we sped off, setting our argument aside for now. Our focus was on finding Raven and ensuring her safety.

"Marco," I said, almost growling with frustration. "I hope we find her in time. You need to put the past with Alexander Knight behind you until we hear her side of the story."

Marco's jaw clenched, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. "You think I can just forget what that bastard did to us?" he snapped. "Alexander Knight is the reason we're in this mess."

"And because of your hatred, you kicked her out," I shot back, my own anger flaring. "She could be in real danger now because of your inability to let go of the past."

Marco's eyes flashed with rage. "Don't you dare lecture me, Ace. I did what I thought was best. I didn't think she'd .. "

"Didn't think she'd end up like this?" I cut him off, my voice rising. "She trusted us, Marco. We were supposed to protect her."

Marco took a deep breath, his face hardening. "I know. And I screwed up. But arguing isn’t going to help us find her."

I shook my head, my anger still simmering. "Just promise me you'll put your feelings aside. We need to find her and get the full story."

Marco nodded, though his expression remained stormy. "Fine. But don't expect me to forgive or forget what her father did."

"One step at a time," I said, my voice grim. "Right now, finding her is all that matters."