Page 72 of Rekindling Desire

“Told me what?”

“When we arrived, she said to come back tomorrow.”

My grip of the phone tightened as I pulled it from my ear and hit the speaker button. “Anthony, there’s a problem. Ms. Crystal left her house this morning about seven thirty. What time did your men arrive?”

“Mr. Sinclair, I have the notes right here.”

Ella’s eyes were growing wider with each passing second. Her hand was near her mouth as if she wanted to cry out.

“What time?” I asked louder than before.

“Right here. The notes say Ms. Crystal was home and asked us to return tomorrow. The time is 9:20 a.m.”

“Call the police,” Ella said.

“Your people never came in the condo?” I asked for confirmation.

“No, sir.”

“Can your men describe the woman they saw?”

“I’ll call my guys and call you back.”

“Hurry,” I said, disconnecting the call.

My gaze met Ella’s. “You should call the police. Someone was here.”

“Who hurts a cat?”

“Duchess is fine. She probably got scared and ran out. We can call the humane society. I know, go on your neighborhood app and post a picture.”

My phone buzzed.

It was a text message from Anthony.

“Still talking to them. Blond woman. Tall. I’ll call soon.”

Fuck.

Gabriella

“What does it say?” I asked as a vein in Damien’s forehead pulsated.

His gaze came my way, the shade darker than I’d ever seen. “It wasn’t you.”

“Was it…?” I couldn’t bring myself to say her name.

She wouldn’t.

“Amber,” I finally said.

Damien nodded as he reached for my shoulders. “She’s a bitch, but she wouldn’t hurt Duchess. That’s psychopath level.” He looked around. “Why was she here?”

“Why?” My thoughts were racing. “What did Amber do? Did she take Duchess somewhere? Is Duchess abandoned on some country road or worse, by a busy street?”

“Wait, the humane society chipped her, right?” Damien asked.

“Yes, but it’s a chip that needs to be read. It’s not like she has an Apple watch that we can track.”

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