Page 121 of Trigger Happy Ending

I suck in a deep breath and nod once. “Unfortunately.”

The tension in the room crackles, like it's alive. Carson stands. “Follow me.”

***

Carson drags me down three sets of stairs and into a windowless room. The basement maybe. Rows and rows of screens line the walls, each with a different vantage point of the Golden Claw. Carson’s own private surveillance hub. His personal security stares at me like I’m a wanted criminal, clearly uncomfortable with my presence in Carson’s private residence.

“Show him the footage,” Carson commands.

The man sitting in front of the control panel presses a few buttons. The main screen in the middle flickers, and there she is. Multiple angles capture my worst fucking nightmare. I watch as she’s surrounded, outnumbered, and beaten.

My heart is in my mouth, and I bite the inside of my gum so hard I draw blood.

Her eyes are wild and furious … but not broken. They drag her off the floor and into the elevator, but not before she yells or mouths something to someone.

“Rewind and zoom in on her. She says something here?”

Carson's lackey does what I ask. The screen enlarges her face, and what she says is clear as day. “Lukas.” She mouthed it to one of the other girls, taking cover in a booth.

Lukas.

Me.

She called for me.

"Rewind it. Play it again." I demand.

Carson watches me out of the corner of his eye. “Why is she asking for you?”

I raise my eyes. He’s suspicious as hell and bristling with anger.

“Lukas?” He tilts his head. “Don’t make me ask you twice.”

I barely hear him. All I see is Raine being thrown around like a rag doll and beaten within an inch of her life.

Carson steps in front of me, studying me. “She’s not who she says she is, is she?”

“And if she’s not who she says she is …” Carson’s chin raises. “Then you’re not who you say you are.”

“So.” Carson bundles his hands in front of him. “Just who in the fuck are you?”

I feel Carson’s security tense at the question, readying themselves for possible conflict. I can't afford to lose anymore precious time.

“Help me find her, and I’ll tell you everything.”

Carson squints, weighing up whether to trust me, to take me at my word. Finally, he nods. He’s not completely satisfied; I can see the questions bubbling at his lips, but it is what it is. Carson seems to understand this, too. He is a smart man, and let’s not forget, I’ve recently wired 250 million to him, which makes me a very nice friend to have. And one he sort of needs to trust if he wants to keep his money.

Carson inhales a deep breath and nods to his team. “Find the route they used and get ready to go. They won’t be far ahead of us. Pull their plates, traffic cams. All of it.”

The room empties out as Carson’s team scurries to get what he’s asked for.

“I need to stop by my apartment.”

“What for?”

“Weapons.”

“Not necessary.” Carson nods behind me. I turn towards a black metal cabinet bolted into the opposite wall of security screens. Carson moves to unlatch the giant cabinet to reveal a smorgasbord of firearms, blades, knives, swords, nunchucks, and even goddamn ninja stars.