Page 139 of Relentless Sinner

“Alright. We’ll be a while, but we’re on our way.”

“I’ll see you when you get there.” I hang up, then rush out the door.

Why would Eric do this? And who the fuck is Pedro de Loza?

With Eric’s new role as my second-in-command, he would have had my implied permission to authorize the guards to go on this mission, but why didn’t he call me first? Or even tell me who this Pedro de Loza guy is.

I head outside and jump in my car then call Eric. There's no answer.

I call again. Still no answer.

I pull onto the road and decide to call my father. But there’s no answer from him, either.

I call Gabriella last. Nothing.

Now I’m worried. They allalwaysanswer the phone to me. Always. Especially her.

I know she’s upset but not that upset that she wouldn’t answer the phone.

I speed up, driving past the speed limit, and reach my father’s house within fifteen minutes.

The first thing I notice that makes me worry even more is that there’s not one single guard in sight. Not even at the gates.

I drive onto the property, get out of the car, and head inside, finding it like a ghost town. Usually at this hour, the house is busy.

When I reach the middle of the hallway, I call Eric again. This time, he answers. I’m relieved to get him, but the fire of rage burns through my skin.

“Eric, what the hell is going on?”

“Calm yourself, my boy.”

“I just got to my father’s house andallthe guards are gone. Where are you? And who the fuck is Pedro de Loza?”

“A small-time drug dealer I sent the men to get.” He speaks in a voice that doesn't sound anything like him.

“Why would you do that?”

“I needed the men off the property so I could take your wife.”

My mouth drops and my stomach plumets, smashing on the floor like delicate china. “What are you talking about? Where's Gabriella?”

“Things have changed.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Oh, don't worry. I'll explain it to you. This is a plan that's been in the making for the last nine years. I've been theobserver, waiting and plotting for the right time to strike. Do you remember what happened to me nine years ago?”

“Of course. Your wife and son were killed.”

“Yes. What I never told you is that it was your father’s fault.”

My lungs twist at this information. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I chose not to tell anyone that I knew the truth, including your father, because I wanted revenge. Imagine I devoted my life to this family and your mother’s, and I raised you like my own. My repayment was having my wife and son gunned down in our home as if they were nothing. All because of a business deal that I did for your father falling through. I confided in him, but he double-crossed me to save himself. Instead, our enemies came aftermy familyto teach me a lesson.”

My God.This is my father all over. His numerous sins have come back to haunt us. But of all the people he could have double-crossed, why Eric? Now look what’s happened.

“Eric, I’m sorry for what he did. You know I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

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