CHAPTER THIRTY

"Where is he?" scowled Lance at the man in front of him.

"No one knows. He went up to check on everything at the new site, and then that explosion happened. If he was there, there's nothing left. It's nothing but a big hole."

"He would have been careful around that shit," said Lance, pacing back and forth.

"Lance? Lance, I need my meds," said Raelynn. He turned, glaring at the nurse as she lowered her head.

"I told you to keep her in her room."

"She needs to walk around, sir. She's so frail she needs to build her muscles again. I've been making sure she's eating every day. She even gained a pound."

"A pound? A pound?" he yelled. "She needs to gain fifteen pounds at least!"

"I am well aware," said the nurse. "What she's taking is not helping the situation. She's not hungry, and I cannot force-feed her."

"Lance," she cried out. "Where's Bernie?" Despite them being siblings, she never used his real name at his request.

"He's not here," he snapped back. She started crying, and the nurse could tell that his patience was wearing thin. Guiding the girl back toward the kitchen, she thought maybe she could get her to eat a little something else.

"Mr. Stone, I think you have to face facts that he's probably gone," said the man. "There was nothing left. No one was found alive. We needed to send a different kind of message."

"I have to get back to L.A.," he said, pacing the floor of his office. "I thought Raelynn would be there with me, but she can't be seen right now. There's no way. I'll find someone else to accompany me."

"Yes, sir," said the man. He shuffled his feet a bit, then looked up at him. "Sir. We haven't been paid. Your brother was supposed to pay us, and we haven't received anything yet."

"Damnit!" he yelled. "Do I have to do everything myself? First, we lose Dove. Now, I can't find my damn brother." He walked toward the safe and saw the stack of envelopes sitting there. The men at the sites were often paid in drugs, but the men working the house and property were paid in cash. No drug use.

"Here. Make sure everyone gets their envelope."

"I will," he nodded.

"Watch over my sister while I'm gone. Make sure no one comes near her. She'll sing like a canary if someone pushes the right buttons with her."

"Yes, sir." He left his boss alone in the office and moved out to the back, where the men were anxiously awaiting their payday.

Stone took a seat, running his hands through his now thick, full hair transplant. It had cost him a pretty penny and several months of not working for it, but it was worth it. It gave him back the movie star good looks he wanted.

He'd had such big plans for all of it. He wanted a stable of movie stars that he could mentor and earn a killing off of. Of course, he'd still be signing up for his own movies and producing them, as well as his interest in pop stars.

Now, he'd have to do it all without his best friend. His brother. He knew he wouldn't have just left without an explanation. If they were right, his brother was killed, and he would find out who was responsible.