Page 105 of Brutal Truths

He’s right.

“Fine.” I don’t like this. “But please try not to give him another heart attack.”

“I make no promises.” He pulls me along as he steps into the hall.

Lane is there waiting for us. “He’s not here.”

“You’re sure?” Aiden doesn’t sound convinced.

“Yes. But I think I know where he might be heading.” Lane moves with us as we make our way toward Trent’s private room.

“Where?” I ask, needing to know. “And is Grams with him?”

“We still don’t know that.”

“How on earth did he leave without anyone noticing?”

Lane’s face darkens, anger rising fast. “Don’t fucking know. He waited until I took Bear with me. Must’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity. I still can’t figure out how he got loose. Didn’t know he could pick a lock.”

“What if he didn’t?” I stop mid-step, the thought locking down everything else in place. “What if there were others? Rurik wouldn’t come alone.”

“He didn’t. We took out the others,” Lane adds.

“You’re sure you got them all?” I raise an eyebrow. “Trent and Drake snuck past you without anyone noticing. Don’t you think it’s possible someone else did too?”

“I suppose.” Lane’s jaw tightens as he says it, like the admission costs him something.

“I’m not calling you out,” I want to make that clear. “I’m looking at the gaps. Do you think it was another of Trent’s men or someone from Rurik’s side? Would he have trusted one of Rurik’s?”

The words barely leave my mouth before Lane’s phone rings. He pulls it out and sets it to speaker. “Talk.”

“We found a body,” Pauly says. “One we know we didn’t kill.”

The silence that follows stretches, heavy and expectant.

“We also found the sweater Alma was wearing. Her phone too.”

The floor feels less steady beneath me. That can only mean one thing.

“We plan to speak with Trent. Keep looking. Maybe we’ll get lucky.” Aiden turns to Lane. “Just in case we’re wrong, stay here and keep watch. We won’t be long.”

When we enter Trent’s room, a nurse is there checking on him. She looks up at us and frowns. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be here. Not after that little stunt in A&E.”

“What little stunt?” Trent asks, beating me to it.

I flick a look at Aiden, hoping he’ll explain, but all I get is an eye roll.

Paying no attention to either of us, he addresses the nurse. “You can go. We need to talk to him alone.”

The nurse doesn’t budge, folding her arms tighter. “You plan pulling a gun on me if I refuse?”

I step in before this goes sideways. “No, he will not. Not unless he wants me to take it from him and shove it up his arse.”

That earns a smile. “I like you.”

“Can you please give us a few minutes? We won’t be long.” I point my thumb at Aiden. “I’ll make sure this one behaves.”

She wraps up what she was doing and grabs her cart. “I’ll be back in twenty. Don’t get his heart rate up. He needs his rest to make a full recovery.”