Chasing His Kickass Luna Back Chapter 363

Karl

The sound of my phone ringing abruptly in the silence night causes me to jump with a mixture of surprise and anticipation. I don’t even give it the chance to ring for a second before I’m lunging over to the table and pressing the phone to my ear.

“Hello?”

The silence on the other end really only stretches on for a few milliseconds, but it feels like a thousand years. I feel as if my heart is pounding so hard in my chest that Abby on the other end can hear it through the phone.

Except it’s not Abby.

“Karl?”

John’s voice crackles through, sounding hoarse and low—as if he’s whispering for some reason. I furrow my brow as recognition washes over me at the sound of his voice.

“John,” I say. “I wasn’t expecting you to call.”

“And I wasn’t expecting to have to call,” John replies quietly. “But Karl, something’s wrong.”

I sit up instantly at his words. My mind begins to flood with horrific images, images that I have to physically shake my head in order to dispel. “What is it?”

“It’s Abby and the others,” John explains. “Karl, we were drinking and hanging out after the gala—nothing crazy, just a couple bottles of wine. But… I think the drinks were spiked. Everyone started getting really drunk really fast, and now they’re all passed out.”

“Everyone?” I breathe. “Where’s Abby?”

“Abby and I were the only ones who didn’t drink,” he replies. “But Prince Damon’s butler came and got Abby, and that was over an hour ago and she hasn’t returned. Karl, I think she might be in trouble.”

I swallow hard. So my suspicions may have been true; Damon is up to something. Thank god John isn’t a drinker, and Damon doesn’t seem to be aware of that.

“Did you call the police?” I ask.

John pauses before answering. “I had to call you first. I don’t know how loyal the local cops are to this prince, or how much help they would be.”

I nod. “Smart choice,” I say. “John, I’m gonna send you the number for Officer Martinez back in the city—the officer who has been helping Abby lately. Can you call her and let her know that something is up? She might know what to do.”

“Of course.” John coughs slightly, then lowers his voice so much that I have to press the phone harder against my ear to hear him. “I opened a window in the kitchen. I think you can get in that way.”

“You’re a genius, John. A genius.”

John laughs, but it’s a wry sound devoid of any real humor. “Not enough of a genius to keep any of this from happening,” he says. “God, Karl, I should’ve known—”

“There’s no way you could have possibly known,” I assure him. “But you’ve done well by calling me. Just call the number I’m sending you, and then get yourself somewhere safe; just in case. Is there anywhere you can hide?”

“I’m locked up in my room back in our private chambers,” he says. “No one has come to check on us; they probably assume we’re all passed out. But I can’t leave the others behind. I have to keep an eye on them.”

“Good call, John.” I’m already standing and grabbing my jacket off of the back of the chair. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Stay safe.”

“I will. And Karl?”

“Yes?”

John swallows so hard I can hear it through the phone. “Please make sure Abby is okay. If anything happens to her… I could never forgive myself. She feels like my daughter sometimes, you know?”

“I know.” I’ve known for a while, and it’s part of why I love John so much. But now is not the time for sentimentality. “I will. Don’t worry, John.”

“Okay. Good luck, Karl.”

With that, the phone goes dead. I draw in a shuddering breath, steeling myself before I bolt out the door.

I never should have left her there. When I saw the look in her eyes earlier, when I saw the way she stiffened and went silent at Damon’s touch, I should have known right away that something was wrong. I should have grabbed her and pulled her away, taken her away from there.

But I didn’t. And now we’re all paying the price.

The entire drive back to Damon’s estate feels like a blur that stretches on into infinity. Each curve in the road feels like I’m delving further and further into a void of panic, and each tick higher on the speed gauge just feels slower, like the car is moving through thick mud.

“I should have taken her with me,” I say out loud, my voice nearly lost under the sound of the car’s engine revving. “I shouldn’t have just left her there with… with him.”

“We still don’t know if she’s in distress.” My wolf’s voice comes through my thoughts clear and strong, but I know he’s bluffing. I know he’s just trying to ease my worries.

And it’s not working—because I know that Abby is in trouble. I can feel it in my bones, settling in like a pit of dread is opening up inside my stomach.

Finally, after what feels like forever, the tall spires and stone balustrades of Damon’s estate comes into view. I feel my gut wrench at the sight of the gaudy castle. Somewhere, in there, Abby needs me.

And I’m coming for her.

I circle around the narrow road that leads in a loop around the estate until I find a good spot to pull off, where I tuck my car in amongst the trees and underbrush. Finally, I put the car in park and climb out.

I’m met with silence aside from the sound of the ocean crashing in the distance. No screams, no disturbances like I somehow imagined in my mind. Just an eerie silence as though the birds and the creatures around the estate are even afraid to come too close.

Taking a deep breath, I pull up my hood and begin making my way toward the estate. There’s a slight break in the tall fence between two corners; a place that’s flanked by woods on either side, where tree roots have caused the wrought iron to bend and split.

I can already imagine how Damon likely told himself, “Ah, I’ll handle that another time. No one will break in, not with all of my security.”

Oh, how wrong he was. I pause for a moment, looking both ways for any sign of guards, but see no one. I don’t know how long it’ll be before I’m potentially seen on CCTV, though, so I need to hurry.

The split in the fence is just wide enough for me to slip through with a bit of effort, and after meandering my way silently through a series of gardens and hedge mazes, the back of the estate comes into view.

And that’s when I see it.

The open window that John cracked for me, with its sheer curtains being sucked through the gap by the wind. I swallow and pull my hood closer around my face as I run up to the window, push it open a little wider, and climb through.

“I’m coming, Abby,” I whisper under my breath. “I’m coming.”