Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 76

CAINE’S P.O.V

Within seconds, the entire bunker was awake and assembled in the common area.

Anxiety was not a feeling I was well acquainted with but right now, it was a constant companion, hanging off my back and feeding off me. I stayed by a corner, my hands crossed over my chest knowing I could be anywhere but here, doing something productive to find Nadine.

Joshua walked up to me, taking the spot next to me. "Do you know what he has planned?"

I shook my head. "Is this really necessary?"

"It’s better than asking people individually."

I didn’t agree but I stayed silent as the General stood on the podium. He had his hands clasped behind him, a somber expression on his face. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. He didn’t care about Nadine, at least, not the way he was pretending to. He was only doing this because I agreed to be in his debt.

"I am sorry to call you all out here like this, but we need your help."

"Hey," Amy walked over to me, her son sleeping in her arms. He looked like her, from his nose to his small face. "How are you feeling?"

I just shrugged and turned back to Trent who had continued speaking.

"Nadine Tyler went missing today. She hasn’t been seen since this morning. If there is anyone who has any ideas as to where she may be. This is the time to speak. It might be a matter of life and death."

For a long moment, no one spoke. I bit back a sassy retort. I knew no one would speak. Who would dare risk being the last person to see Mr. Tyler’s daughter alive? The chances were that whoever that was would be blamed for her disappearance. It was all about self-preservation.

"Why not ask her boyfriend?" someone asked. "They live together, don’t they?"

"Do you think if I knew where she was I’d be standing here?" I drawled, unable to keep the annoyance out of my tone. "The last time she was seen was at the nursery."

"She never came to the nursery."

I turned to the person speaking, a young woman with short cropped hair and dark eyes. She had her hands crossed over her chest and she glowered at me.

"That’s not true," Amy cut in. "I saw her there. You didn’t let her in and I told you she was with me. Why are you lying?"

"Look, you can check the cameras. I already showed them to her father. She wasn’t there."

Amy turned to me, helpless. I knew she wasn’t lying, she had no reason to lie, but then again, what reason did the other woman have to lie as well?

Murmurs went through the crowd as everyone began to come up with their theories as to what was going on.

"Quiet!" Trent ordered and slowly, the whispers faded into silence. "If she wasn’t in the library, then you were the last person to see her alive, Caine."

It was at that moment I realized exactly what his plan was. I bit back a curse, wondering how I could’ve been so stupid. I should’ve gone to find her myself instead of enlisting his help because he was about to turn it all on me.

"He was late for patrol today," a voice spoke up and I turned to find Matt- one of the men I patrolled with. "He came a few hours after and he asked me to cover for him."

"That’s fucking absurd. I was the first one out there and you know it."

"Matt is telling the truth," his brother added. "He fell asleep while we were supposed to be on guard. I heard him say something. He said ’no one will ever find you’. I didn’t realize what he was talking about at the-"

I didn’t even realize when I moved.

One second, I was standing with Amy and Joshua, and the next I was in front of him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and slamming him hard against the nearest surface. I heard a few screams behind me but I ignored them.

"You better think carefully before you utter your next words," I spat. "I will not hesitate to rip your tongue right out of your fucking mouth."

"See how violent he is!" he exclaimed. "I’m sure he hurt her."

"You’re insane." I slammed him once more into the wall for good measure before letting go. "All of you are fucking crazy. Why the hell would I hurt her?"

"Because she’s pregnant."

I turned to Trent who had now taken a step back from the podium. Everyone went silent, the entire room quiet as people held their breaths, waiting to hear what he would say next. I didn’t know what game he was playing at and that worried me.

"She came to me a few days ago. She said she wanted to keep the baby and she was scared that you wouldn’t let her."

"What the fuck? That never happened. You called her, she never went to you."

"It was our plan. She was scared of you."

"You bastard," I hissed out but he ignored me, making his way closer to me. "I’m not doing this with you. I’m done."

I turned to leave when a shock ran through me.

The shock sent me through my knees, a groan leaving my lips as my limbs spasmed. Pain ricocheted through my side as someone kicked me hard in my ribs. I didn’t bother fighting back, I knew I couldn’t win. There were so many guards here, I couldn’t win against them all.

A pair of hands grabbed me, pulling me to my feet and keeping my arms trapped behind me. I came face to face with Mr. Tyler, his eyes hard and filled with disgust as he glowered at me.

"The time you’re wasting on me could be used to find your daughter," I told him. "She could be hurt right now."

"The only person hurting my daughter is you." He nodded at the guards behind me. "Lock him in his room. Keep an eye on him. Don’t let him leave."

"Caine!" Amy screamed, making her way over to me, but I shook my head.

She pursed her lips, her eyes filled with tears and burning bright. I couldn’t risk her letting them know that she was on my side. As it was, she seemed to be the only ally I had left and I needed that.

I glanced up at Joshua, but his face was blank and devoid of all emotion.

Was he one of them or could I count on him to help me?

"I’d never hurt her," I mouthed but his expression didn’t crack. "Find her."

He turned away, refusing to meet my eyes as I was led out.