Chapter 95 Ch. 65
The moment Dylan dropped the phone, he was grabbing his keys and coat and stepping out of the house. It was around twelve-thirty when he got into his car, turning on the radio the moment he turned the key in the ignition.
The radio spoke of the same news that Marcus had gone to attend to and what Ethan had talked to him about.
He didn’t have to be told that Lorenzo wasn’t behind it. Lorenzo wasn’t rash with his decisions, and he definitely would not have taken Zara in the middle of a race, especially with the police circling theories about the Moreaus.
He turned and wondered if Lorenzo was even aware of that, or if it was something only Marcus and other cops knew about.
But who else would have wanted to take Zara and for what reason?
He had several questions to ask Ethan — like if there was any inhuman scent he picked up from the site of the kidnapping.
He parked at the edge of the road and stepped out. The sun was harsh against his skin, so he was all too grateful to enter the shade of trees. He walked down a path that was not well defined until he got to the cottage.
It was the same way he always met it — dilapidated and looking unlived in.
“I don’t remember inviting you,” a voice called from behind him. He whipped around sharply and gave a sigh.
“Imogen, it is something of urgent matters unfortunately.”
“She still doesn’t want to see you,” Imogen said with the roll of her eyes. “I must say I’m quite tired of babysitting. You two should settle and be on your way from me.”
“Her hysteria…”
“Had to do with finding it hard to reconcile with what she is.”
“But I think we both know that’s not what I’m here for,” Dylan said, studying her for a bit.
Imogen raised her brows and walked further in. With a snap of her fingers they were in her living room. “If that’s not why you’re here, then I’m not sure why.”
“A student might be dead because of your actions.”
She looked at him sharply, then her brows met together, her forehead creasing in confusion.
“Zara. The girl — where is she?”
Imogen blinked a few times. “I am afraid I’m lost.”
Dylan watched Imogen carefully, waiting for her to say something. She only stared back, her expression unreadable, and from that he could tell that she was innocent.
“You really have no idea?” he asked again, folding his arms.
Imogen frowned, the confusion on her face deepening. “I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about. What student? What girl?”
“Zara,” Dylan said slowly. “You didn’t have anything to do with her kidnapping, did you?”
Imogen’s eyes widened a little. “Zara?” she repeated. Then her voice grew quiet. “Wait — Zara, as in the girl, the blood catalyst who gave you her blood for Ivanna?”
“Yes,” Dylan said. “She was taken today, during her race. There were shots. Chaos was everywhere or so I heard. I just got off the phone with Ethan, and he said she’s missing.”
Imogen blinked, her mouth parting slightly. She turned and started pacing across the small living room, muttering something under her breath. “That doesn’t make sense,” she said finally. “No one outside us should even know what she is.”
“I’m beginning to think someone does,” Dylan said quietly. “Someone’s after her, and it isn’t Lorenzo this time.”
Before Imogen could answer, a voice came from the doorway. “What’s going on?”
They both turned. Ivanna stood there, one hand holding the doorframe. She looked pale, her eyes still carrying that tired, wary look that hadn’t left her since the night she came back.
Dylan froze for a moment. “Oh wow,” he said softly. “I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”
“I don’t,” Ivanna said, her tone flat. She stepped forward a little, her gaze flicking between him and Imogen. “But you’re here, so you might as well explain what you’re talking about.”
“Zara’s missing,” Dylan said simply.
Ivanna’s eyebrows pulled together. “Zara?”
“The girl who saved you,” Imogen said quietly. “She gave her blood for you, remember?”
Ivanna’s lips parted, and she looked down for a second. “She’s… gone?”
“Taken,” Dylan said. “We don’t know by who yet. A student was shot too.”
For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Imogen crossed her arms and leaned against the table. “So what are you going to do about it?” she asked, looking at Dylan.
“I don’t have much choice,” Dylan said, letting out a breath. “I have to work with my nephew, Ethan. His father wants Zara too, and if he gets to her before anyone else, he’ll use her for his own benefit. You know how Lorenzo operates.”
Imogen tilted her head slightly. “And you think working with Ethan is a better idea?”
“I don’t know,” Dylan said, shaking his head. “But at least he wants to find her. That’s more than I can say for anyone else right now.”
Ivanna stayed quiet, her arms wrapped around herself. “Guess who’d be working on the case if I wasn’t uprooted from my life.”
“I’m sorry,” Dylan said with a sigh.
“When are you meeting him?” Imogen asked.
“This evening,” Dylan replied. “After Officer Marcus comes back to talk to me.”
At that, Ivanna looked up quickly. “Marcus?” she asked. “The police guy?”
Dylan turned toward her. “Yeah. Do you know him?”
Ivanna nodded slowly. “Yeah.”
There was a small smile tugging at her lips, and Dylan felt jealousy in his chest. The smile she had on her face was soft, almost relieved, and for a second he hated that it wasn’t for him.
“How do you know him?” he asked, trying to keep his tone light.
“He’s my brother,” she said, still smiling faintly. “From the orphanage.”
“Oh.” Dylan nodded, but he didn’t say anything else. He just looked away.
Imogen noticed, of course. “Don’t start, Dylan,” she said. “You don’t get to be jealous right now.”
“I’m not,” Dylan said, though his voice came out a little too fast. He rubbed his hands together and cleared his throat. “Anyway, Marcus was at my place earlier, asking about Ivanna. He said something strange before he left. A phone call… something about a school shooting and a kidnapping.”
“Maybe he’ll have more information when he comes back,” Imogen said.
“Maybe,” Dylan said, though he didn’t sound convinced. “Either way, I’ll have to talk to him first, then meet Ethan. I’ll text you once I have things sorted out.”
Ivanna looked at him again, her voice quieter now. “Do you think Zara’s still alive?”
Dylan hesitated. “I don’t know,” he said. “But I think so. Whoever took her knew what they were doing. They wanted her alive for a reason.”
Ivanna looked torn between wanting to say something and keeping silent. Her fingers brushed the edge of the doorframe, restless.
“If she’s the girl who saved me,” Ivanna said finally, “then I want to help.”
Dylan looked at her, surprised. “You want to help?”
She nodded once. “I don’t want to see her hurt because of me.”
“You don’t have to,” Dylan said gently. “It’s dangerous.”
“I’ve seen dangerous,” Ivanna said. “I mean, look at where stubbornness got me.”
Dylan managed a small smile. “Fine. But you stay out of sight. The less people know you’re around, the better.”
Ivanna rolled her eyes. “You owe me, Dylan. And if you think I’m going to go back out to the real world just to hide, you’re mistaken.”
“Ivanna, you’re supposed to be dead.”
“Well, Ivanna is dead, isn’t she?” Ivanna asked, a small smile forming on her lips. “I don’t have to be Ivanna.”