Page 79 of Billionaire’s Promise

“I asked you that question first.”

“Right, I don’t know. But it doesn’t make sense.”

“What doesn’t make sense?” I needed to know if he had any clue that could point me to Kai.

“He, um…” I could hear Lincoln’s hesitation.

“Now is not the time for bro code.”

“I wasn’t supposed to tell you this.”

“He’s gone missing for fuck’s sake, whatever it is, you can tell me.” I stopped caring about the way I talked to my big brother. And it apparently didn’t seem to bother him either.

“Right. He might be mad at me for telling you, but I’ll deal with it.” Lincoln said. And I wanted to kick him for wasting another second with that stupid intro.

“Get the fuck on with it.” Said the erratic woman that was me.

“He asked for my blessing to be with you.”

“What did he do that for?”

“Bro code. Of course.”

“Right. Continue.”

“He said he wanted to stay in New York, for good, to be with you. So, it doesn’t make sense for him to be gone.”

“Are you sure he wasn’t kidding?”

“No, I know him. He was dead serious about you.”

“Then how do you explain this? Another disappearing act!”

“What do you mean by another?”

I felt embarrassed about telling Link that it was the second time he ditched me. But I knew he would keep asking if I didn’t.

“Three years ago, he asked me on a date. Then he just up and left.”

“Oh that.”

“Oh what? I know that oh. You know something. You better tell me about it.” I said, though my big brother wasn’t normally one for revealing secrets.

“His father was dying then. Kai went back to say goodbye to his father.”

“He didn’t say.” He should have told me. Did he think I wouldn’t understand? “You didn’t say.”

“It wasn’t my place to say anything.”

“His dad…”

“Still alive. Hung on and got stronger after they made peace with each other.”

“Link, I’m scared.” I took a deep breath in and breathed out the words. “I have a bad feeling.”

“Are you sure he wasn’t planning some kind of surprise?”

“I don’t think so. He’s gone. Everyone’s gone.”