CHAPTER 68: HUNTING SHADOW

Rowan arrived at the hospital and waited for Lyra, but she didn’t show up. He checked the time, more than thirty minutes had passed since her shift ended. He called her, but there was no answer.

Unease creeping in, he went inside the hospital and asked the staff at the front desk. They told him she had already left earlier.

From a distance, Jane and Nora saw Rowan pacing, ready to leave. They quickened their pace to catch up.

"Mr. Pierce... are you waiting for Lyra?" Jane called out.

Her voice made Rowan stop and turn around.

"Yes," he said. "Did she tell you where she went?"

"I’m pretty sure she went to her father’s office in the block over there," Nora said, pointing toward the building across the way.

"Ask the security guard which floor Alex’s office is on."

When Rowan reached the other building, the security guard told him he had seen Lyra go upstairs and offered to call Alex’s office and ask her to come down.

Just five minutes later, Lyra came running out of the elevator.

"I’m sorry. I forgot," she said breathlessly. "My phone died."

Rowan was about to scold her. But when she reached him and wrapped her arms around his waist, the way she clung to him softened him instantly.

"Did something happen?" he asked as leaned down, and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, relieved that nothing had happened to her.

"It’s Nick. Something’s troubling him at school," she said as they held each other and walked toward the car.

Rowan opened the door for her and waited until Lyra settled in before closing it gently. Only then did he move around to the driver’s seat.

After shutting his own door, he leaned across, drew the seat belt over her, and fastened it securely.

"What’s troubling him?" Rowan asked, one hand on the steering wheel as he pressed the gas and headed toward Arlington.

Lyra looked puzzled. "We’re not going back to the Pierce estate tonight?"

"Of course not. You’re the one who insisted on going back to work. If we go back to the Pierce estate, the drive will be much longer."

He reached over and pinched her cheek lightly.

Lyra rubbed her cheek, remembering that she had been the one who insisted on returning to work earlier than he had suggested.

And then answered his question about Nick.

"Nick said he saw a ghost who looked like Mama. But think about it, maybe someone is trying to scare him... or lure him out of the school. Maybe even attempt a kidnapping. God forbid."

"You mean someone who looked like your mother?" Rowan asked, making sure he’d heard her correctly.

"Yes, that’s what he told us. He’s not someone who lies, and this is the first trouble he’s ever had at school."

She shrugged lightly and added, "We can’t take this lightly."

Rowan rubbed his chin in thought. "You should ask Martin to look into it."

Her eyes sparkled as Rowan’s brilliant idea sank in. "Yeah, why didn’t I think of that?" she said.

She suddenly turned toward him, about to pull him into a hug and a kiss, but Rowan gently pushed her back.

"I’m driving, honey. Save it for when we get home."

...

It was late at night when Lyra sent Martin a message. He was staying in a nearby condo only because of the job Lyra had given him. One that included protecting her.

He stepped out of the bathroom, a towel slung low around his firm waist. Droplets of water trailed slowly down his skin as he worked a smaller towel through his damp hair.

His phone lit up as it buzzed on the bedside table, a new message chiming in.

He didn’t rush to it. Taking his time, slowly dragged the towel over his body until every part was dry, only then did he stroll over to pick up his phone.

As he swiped his thumb over the screen, Lyra’s message came into view.

He chuckled softly. "What is this?"

He thought she was joking about asking him to look for a ghost. Then he decided to call her.

"Martin," a soft voice came through the line. "I guess you called because of my message. How about that? Can you do it?"

Martin smiled. She had barely said hello before getting straight to the point and she sound wasn’t joking.

"Yeah. I guess I need to save the princess from a ghost."

"What princess? It’s my brother," Lyra grumbled at the other end of the line, followed by a tired yawn.

"If you’re not up for it, I’ll get someone else."

"Okay, okay. Just send me the details. I’ll look into it."

They hung up. He pulled on a pair of boxers, staying shirtless as he usually did.

Then he lay back on the bed, reading through the details Lyra had sent, including a photo of her brother.

The boy had the same blue eyes and blond hair as his sister. He looked just like Lyra in a smaller, younger version.

Martin spread his fingers across the screen, enlarging the image until Dominic’s blue eyes filled his view.

"He faced the same threat," he sighed.

Martin believed their beautiful eyes invited danger, drawing the wrong kind of attention.

The next day, Martin arrived at the school grounds and carefully surveyed the area, watching for anything suspicious.

From a distance, he spotted Dominic on the field, absorbed in a game with his classmates.

Martin remained there until the final bell rang, watching as Dominic was picked up by his driver and driven away safely.

Then he called Lyra.

"Martin? Did you find anything?" she asked.

"Nothing today. Everything looked normal. I’ll keep watching tomorrow."

He took one last drag before stamping the cigarette out.

"Alright. Let me know immediately if something feels off."

Lyra was about to end the call when Martin stopped her.

"Wait..." Martin said, remembering something.

"Is there anything else?"

"Your brother, when he goes home, who does he stay with?"

Martin pulled the car door open and slipped inside.

"A maid and a driver. My father doesn’t like big houses, so their home is fairly modest," Lyra explained. "Why?"

"You mean there’s no security guard at your father’s house?"

"Yeah... you’re right," she confirmed.

"Send me the address. I’m heading there now."

It didn’t take long before the message with the address came in. Martin immediately hit the gas and headed for the location she’d sent.