“I know, I know, not the smartest move. But the last time I saw her, she complained about feeling suffocated. I gave her the card, thinking she would do whatever teenage girls do.”
“And what’s that?” I can’t keep the laughter from my voice.
“Shopping, or some shit.”
“You’re an idiot.”
I hear him groan in the background.
“Don’t worry, I’ll find her. Let me call you back. I just got here.” I end the call and park in the closest available space.
As I step out and close the door, I catch the stares of onlookers, twisting their necks from all angles to get a glimpse of the car. Everything about the Lamborghini Huracan, from its orange exterior, leather seats, tinted windows, and customized interior, screams loud, obnoxious, and over the top, which is precisely why I bought it. It isn’t my fault women are suckers for height, flashy cars, big dicks, and money. Some of those heads turn from the car to me, lingering. My attention falls on a blonde bombshell with a top so tight her tits are spilling out.
If I wasn’t dealing with a possibly near-suicidal teenager, I would be getting my dick wet or shooting my shot. But after my recent experience with a psycho Instagram model, I’d rather keep my wits about me.
I turn away from the blonde bombshell, pull up my blue hoodie, reach inside my pant pockets, and open the messages from Zayn. I go through the screenshots of her location on the Find My application Zayn sent, trying to match the precise location from where I am.
With my eyes locked on my phone, I shove through an endless sea of bodies, stopping at the Jubilee Gardens, the public park right beside the London Eye.
“Where the hell is she?” I grumble, calling the number Zayn sent me a few minutes prior. The phone rings, but Sofia doesn’t pick up.
Great, just fucking great.
Stepping inside the ample green space, I stop at the children’s play area to my left. From what I can see, the space is empty, even though the app pinpoints her at this precise location. I can make out most of the play area from where I stand. The spot isn’t exactly big. Large logs crisscrossed and bolted together with rope nets and planks fill its center. Walking planks, carousels, and rope swings serve its surrounding area.
I make another attempt to call Sofia again, but I’m sent straight to voicemail this time.
I exhale a frustrated breath and turn away from the play area, allowing my gaze to sweep through the remainder of the green space and walk the path. Location trackers are notorious for not always being accurate. So, if she isn’t here, I know she’s at least within a hundred meters.
As I take a few steps forward, I hear hushed whispers and grumblings coming from the play area. I turn back and step deeper into the space to pinpoint where the sound is coming from.
“I said let go,” a deep voice booms inside the playground, followed by high-pitched grunts and squeals.
An unease settles in my chest. I rush forward, wondering if the voice belongs to Sofia. At this point, it doesn’t even matter. I’m smart enough to know the distress warnings of a woman calling for help.
I stop in my tracks. My jaw falls to the ground.
A hooded male figure is on the ground. A slim-figured woman who looks like she barely weighs 170 lbs or reaches 5ft 4in stands over him.
I slowly step forward, keeping to the shadows of the surrounding trees. I don’t want to do anything that could escalate whatever the hell this is.
“You’re crazy, you hear me? Crazy.” The man grunts as he rolls away from her. He jumps to his feet.
“I’m crazy?” the woman screeches.
The man towers over her.
“You were trying to steal my bag.” She pushes forward the smallest Jacquemus bag I have ever seen. It barely looks like it can contain her phone.
Nothing about her peach-shaped ass, slick hair, and confident stature looks like the scrawny brace-faced teenager I’m on the lookout for.
She steps back and reaches for the handle of a cabin-sized suitcase behind her. The hooded guy steps forward, undeterred by what transpired a few seconds ago. He raises his fists at her.
I immediately see red. Every cell in my body pulses to life.
“Don’t even think about it,” the words rush out as I step from the shadows. I plant myself between them. “What’s going on here?”
“This asshole here was trying to steal my bag.” She raises the small bag.
