Destroy Me Gently:Ex-Enemy Becomes My Lover!-Chapter 147: Lost Boy

**OLIVER WEST**

The drive to Kieran’s house felt endless even though it was only ten minutes.

"What are you going to say to him?" William asked.

"I don’t know." I twisted my hands together in my lap. "Honestly, I feel a bit worried, I mean, he could have sent me the money before, why now?"

William said nothing, I sighed to myself. I had no idea what I was doing either.

Kieran’s car wasn’t in the driveway when we pulled up.

My stomach sank but I got out anyway, William following behind me.

Instead of knocking and waking whoever might be sleeping, I punched in the passcode and the door opened.

Everywhere was silent, and I suddenly felt like a thief walking on the tip of my toes.

William’s footsteps echoed behind me as I entered Kieran’s room.

It was empty, but the sight of it crushed my heart. The familiar scent made my eyes sting.

Much to my surprise, the presents were still there. Exactly where they’d been that night.

The signed comic book and concert tickets. All of them.

Why didn’t Kieran put them away? He just left them sitting there like a shrine to a birthday party that went wrong.

And why did my stupid heart feel heavier now? My throat felt weird and tight.

"Oliver?" William’s voice was too gentle.

"I’m fine." I turned away quickly, blinking even faster. "He’s not here."

A sound came from down the hall and I froze mid-step. Footsteps.

Oh god, I really was a burglar. I was breaking and entering.

Mrs Morrison appeared from her room and jumped when she saw us.

"Oliver?" She pressed a hand to her chest. "I heard someone and thought it might be Kieran—what are you doing here?"

A guilty flush crept up my neck.

For some reason, my brain decided to replay every promise I’d made to her, about staying with Kieran and being there for him forever.

Promises I’d broken.

"I’m looking for Kieran. Is he— not at home?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

"Did you try calling him? He left and hasn’t returned since that day."

What?

My heart sank at those words. So Kieran hadn’t been home all along. This explained why those presents were still on his bed and the stillness of his room.

"After the news of his father, he just walked out and he won’t answer his phone."

That morning after my fight with Kieran, his mother had come with the news. Kieran’s father had suffered a major surgery complication and had fallen into a coma. The doctors didn’t know when he would wake up, or if he ever would. The chances of him awaking were slight to impossible. I’d left Kieran despite knowing this tragedy, I packed my bag and walked out while Kieran’s world was falling apart. Did it make me a horrible person?

Then should I have stayed after what he did to me?

What was even the right thing to do?

"When he left, did he say where he was going?" I asked.

She shook her head. "He just said that he needed to be alone. I tried calling but his phone goes straight to voicemail."

"I’ll find him," I said, already moving toward the stairs with William right behind me. "Don’t worry. I’ll bring him back."

Wait. Why did I say that? I was only here about the money.

"Where are we going?" William asked as we got back in his car.

"Sol’s club." It was the only place I could think of. "Maybe someone there has seen him."

The drive felt even longer. My knee bounced anxiously and my fingers drummed against the door handle. Surely, Kieran had to be alright, it hadn’t been that long since he made the transfer.

Sol’s bar looked different when it wasn’t privately booked by Kieran. There were people everywhere and the sound of music vibrating the surrounding air.

We pushed through the entrance and walked straight to find Sol. But it was just Vince at the counter. William halted beside me, his expression becoming tight.

"I think I’ll just wait for you outside," he said.

Vince had already spotted us, he left the counter and was approaching us. William dashed outside.

"What are you both doing here?" Vince asked me, his eyes focused on the door where William had just disappeared.

"Have you seen Kieran? Do you know where he is?"

Vince looked at me, and something flickered across his face. "He was in a pretty bad shape, he left my house this morning, and I haven’t seen him since then,"

"What? Where did he go?" I couldn’t push the anxiety out of my voice.

"I honestly don’t know..."

"How could you not know? Aren’t you his family? If he’s about to do something reckless, you should stop him!"

I was yelling not because I was angry at the person who broke my heart, no how could I be concerned about him? I was only screaming because now, I had no idea how to return his stupid money.

I walked outside, inhaling and exhaling too rapidly.

Kieran, where are you? If this is one of your pranks, then stop it. I don’t find it funny.

"He’s not here. Will, Heath and Claude haven’t seen him either, where could he go?" I grabbed William’s hand. "What if something bad happens? Where should I look for him?"

"Oliver, take a deep breath. Just think, where is somewhere you think he might go?"

I paused to think. Vince came outside then, and he moved and crossed the space between me and William to grab William’s arm.

"We need to talk. Now."

"We? But I don’t feel like talking to you." William gritted.

"We are going to talk today," Vince dragged William toward the back of the bar despite William’s protests. I was still lost in thought.

Where would Kieran go? When everything fell apart and he wanted to disappear, where would he—

My breath caught.

There was only one place left. One place I hadn’t checked.

That’s when it hit me, Vince had just stolen my driver!