Page 51 of Queen of Vice

“Had I been looking at this all wrong?” I interrupted her, the pieces slowly starting to come together in a way I didn’t want them to. “Did my uncle have something to do with Eva’s disappearance?”

Peyton shook his head, but the uncertainty was clear in his eyes. “I don’t know, El. But it’s looking more and more like this isn’t just about money. If your uncle was desperate enough to involve Mateo and gamble away the estate, who knows what else he might have done—or who he might have involved.”

A cold dread settled over me as I considered the possibility. My uncle had always been controlling, but was it possible he was desperate enough to betray his own family to cover his tracks? To save his own skin?

“I need to find out what he knows,” I murmured, my mind racing. “If he hadanything to do with Eva’s disappearance, I have to know. I can’t just let this go.”

Peyton glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his expression somber. “El, whatever you decide to do, we’re with you. But you need to be careful. Mateo’s not the only dangerous one in this mess.”

I ran a hand over my face, trying to clear my mind. "I can't jump to conclusions. None of this explains Mateo's vested interest in me, especially if he already has the only thing of value my parents left behind."

Melody exchanged a glance with Peyton before speaking, her voice gentle but firm. "I agree to a fault, El. There are too many moving pieces right now, and we still don’t know where your sister fits into all of this. But the house? That’s not the most valuable thing your parents left behind."

I frowned, confusion knitting my brows together. "What do you mean?"

Melody leaned forward, her gaze locking with mine. "You and Eva. You two are the most valuable things your parents left behind."

The weight of her words hung in the air, pressing down on me. It was a truth I hadn’t fully considered, but it made sense. If Mateo wanted something more than just the house, something that would tie me to him indefinitely, what better way than to involve me—and by extension, my sister—directly in his life?

Peyton nodded, his voice carrying the same gravity. "You’re not just a pawn in this, El. You’re a key player, whether you want to be or not. Mateo’s interest in you isn’t just about the estate. It’s about control, influence, and maybe even more. He’s not someone who does anything without a reason."

I swallowed hard, the implications of what they were saying settling in. Mateo wasn’t just after material possessions—he was aftercontrol, and somehow, I had become central to his plans.

"But why?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why me? And why now?"

Melody shook her head. "That’s what we need to figure out. But whatever the reason, it’s clear that you and Eva are crucial to whatever game Mateo’s playing. And that means we need to tread carefully, especially if your uncle’s involved in this too."

I leaned my head against the cool leather of the car seat, staring out the window as we drove through the heart of the city. The cityscape outside blurred, a neon jungle that never seemed to sleep. It was a place that thrived on excess, a playground for the rich and powerful. Towering skyscrapers, their facades glittering like gemstones, rose against the darkening sky. Below, the streets were alive with a sea of people and cars, a constant pulse of movement.

Bright neon signs flickered on every corner, offering everything from designer drugs to underground fights, as if the city itself was a living entity, breathing sin and temptation. It was a place where the lines between right and wrong blurred, where power was the ultimate currency, and where people like Mateo thrived. A place where my sister had been swallowed whole.

I sighed, the weight of it all pressing down on me as we moved deeper into the city. The vibrant colors, the relentless energy—it was all just a façade, hiding the rot underneath. A place where people like Eva could disappear without a trace, where secrets were buried beneath layers of glitter and grime.

And ever present, like a shadow that clung to me, was the lingering feeling of Mateo—his hands rough on my body, the way he took complete dominion over it, claiming every inch of me as his own.

The memory of his touch sent shivers down my spine, a mix of fear and something else I didn’t want to name.

His presence was inescapable, even now. It was as if he had left an indelible mark on me, something I couldn’t scrub away no matter how hard I tried. His control extended far beyond the physical—it was mental, and emotional, a hold that gripped me tightly and refused to let go. The city outside might have been a vibrant, chaotic mess, but inside, my thoughts were consumed by him—the dangerous stranger who now knew my body inside and out.

We reached Mateo's home all too soon.

The gates to his estate were already wide open when we arrived as if expecting us. As soon as Peyton’s car made it through, the gates closed behind us with a large SUV that had been following us for some time pulling in right after.

“What the hell is that?” Melody leaned forward from the backseat, her voice tense with curiosity.

I hesitated before answering, “It’s my… it’s my car—or pieces of it.”

“Your car?!” Peyton exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up. “Wow, babe, it was really rough over there.”

“Peyton,” Melody scolded, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice.

I managed a weak laugh, appreciating his attempt at levity, but it didn’t last long. The sight before me was too surreal. My old PT Cruiser, or what was left of it, was stripped barren—door panels, seats, and even the steering console were gone.

It was the skeleton of a car, and I had no idea why or when Mateo had retrieved it. I had never thought I’d see it again.

To do this here, in plain view, was a statement. Men were still working on it, their expressions impassive as they went about their task.

Before Peyton could bring the car to a full stop, I had the door open. “Elena—” he started, but I cut him off.

---