Chapter 15
1054 Words
“s**t,” Declan cursed, his voice rising slightly.
Then, as if catching himself, he immediately lowered it and glanced toward Victoria.
His only lead to finding Elysia.
Dead.
Just like that.
Why did it feel like it wasn't a coincidence?
And what do you think would happen if he finds out?
His uncle's words from earlier echoed in his mind.
Did Daniel know something about this?
But then again, his uncle and the St. Laurent family's former gardener, Javier Santiago, shouldn't have had any connection to each other.
As far as Declan knew, they had never even met.
Daniel Windsor moved in circles far above men like Javier.
One belonged among powerful businessmen and politicians.
The other had spent most of his life working for a single family.
So who would want Javier Santiago dead badly enough to silence him?
It couldn't be a coincidence.
Not now. At this particular time?
Not after learning he had been at the house before the fire.
And what reason would Javier have for setting fire to his home in the first place?
The only connection Javier had to him was through Elysia.
He had worked for her family for more than ten years.
Which was exactly why Declan couldn't shake the feeling that Javier's death and Elysia's disappearance were somehow connected.
His best option now was to hire a private investigator.
“Keep me updated,” Declan said before ending the call.
He glanced at Victoria, then walked over and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“Keep an eye on her,” he told Mrs. Whitmore. “Call me the moment she wakes up.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Declan turned and hurried out of the room.
As soon as he stepped out of the hospital, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
“Meet me at Hedges,” he said the moment the call connected.
The drive to Hedges didn't take long.
Just as he pulled into the club's parking lot, lightning split the sky.
A second later, the rain came pouring down.
Declan stepped out of the car and headed straight inside.
The bouncers at the entrance recognised him immediately.
He had been there enough times.
Sometimes with Victoria. Sometimes alone.
The club was packed.
Bodies glistened beneath the flashing lights as people moved across the dance floor.
Waiters weaved through the crowd with trays balanced in their hands, while women danced around the poles to the pounding music.
Declan made his way toward their usual VIP section when someone raised a hand, waving him over.
He walked over, dropped into the seat with a sigh, and reached for the glass that had already been poured for him.
“That was fast.”
“Well, it's the weekend. I was already here,” the man replied.
Asher Bennett.
Declan's best friend since high school.
He was dressed in a black leather jacket, a pair of sunglasses still resting on his face despite being indoors.
“I need your help,” Declan said, wasting no time.
Asher Bennett was one of the city's best private investigators.
Declan told him everything.
By the time he finished, Asher let out a long sigh.
“Shouldn't you be happy Elysia's gone?” he asked, completely serious. “I mean, isn't this the perfect chance for you to finally marry Victoria?”
It sounded selfish.
But wasn't that what Declan had wanted all along? To get rid of Elysia and be with Victoria.
Declan drained the rest of his drink.
“I don't know,” he admitted after a long moment. “I just want to know she's safe.”
Silence settled between them.
Then Declan spoke again.
“She's carrying my child, man.”
Asher's eyes widened.
“What?”
Declan opened his mouth to say something. Then something caught his eye.
No.
Someone.
“Elysia?” he frowned.
He set his glass down on the table and shot to his feet.
“What is it?” Asher asked.
“I…” Declan started, but the words died in his throat.
Without another word, he hurried toward the hallway leading to the club's private rooms.
He pushed through the sea of bodies, trying to catch up to the figure he had just seen. The flashing lights made his head throb, but he didn't stop.
“Elysia!” he called.
Asher hurried after him.
He hadn't seen what Declan had seen—or who he was chasing—but something was wrong. Declan was swaying.
Declan pushed farther down the hallway.
The figure disappeared around the corner, and he quickened his pace.
His head spun violently and he reached out and caught himself against the wall.
“Elysia…” he called again, her name fading from his lips.
The hallway tilted around him and he staggered.
“Deke!” Asher shouted, breaking into a run.
This wasn't right.
Why did Declan keep calling Elysia's name? Had he really seen her?
But Elysia wasn't the type to come to places like this.
They had always thought Victoria was the outgoing one. Elysia had always been the quiet, stay-at-home wife.
Declan's knees finally gave out. He crumpled to the floor just as Asher reached him.
He could hear Asher calling his name.
But the voice sounded faint and distant.
He looked up one last time. At the end of the hallway...
He saw Elysia.
Before the darkness swallowed him whole.
Asher hurriedly pulled out his phone as a small crowd of staff began gathering around them.
He started to dial 911, but one of the staff members had already made the call.
Looking at Declan now, Asher noticed things he hadn't before.
How pale he was.
The dark circles beneath his eyes.
The unmistakable signs of someone who hadn't slept in days.
He crouched beside him and gave his shoulder a firm shake.
“Deke.”
No response.
Asher quickly checked his pulse. It was weak but steady. It was probably exhaustion. It had to be.
His eyes drifted toward the hallway Declan had been chasing someone down moments earlier.
At the far end, he caught sight of a figure in a white satin dress.
Long, wavy black hair flowed down her back as she disappeared around the corner.
From behind...
She looked unmistakably like Elysia.
- Writer
