Page 58 of Impure Vows

Marco nods, already moving. He barks orders to the men, and they scatter, the tension in the air thickening.

Luca steps up, his face a mask of calm. “You really think someone took her?”

“Does it fucking matter?” I snap. “She’s missing. Find her.”

Luca nods, heading off to join the search. I turn, scanning the crowd. The guests are uneasy, shifting from foot to foot, their drinks forgotten. Good. They should be scared.

“Listen up!” I shout, silencing the murmurs. “Nobody leaves this room until Aliyah is found. If you know something, you better speak up now.”

Silence. Just as I expected. I grind my teeth, the rage simmering just below the surface. If I find out someone here had a hand in this, they’re dead. Simple as that.

I stalk through the room, eyes scanning for any sign of her. My mind races, running through possibilities again. Did she run off again? Did someone take her to get to me? The thought makes my blood boil even hotter.

I see Marco at the far end, talking to a group of men. He catches my eye and shakes his head. Nothing yet. Damn it.

I keep moving, pushing through clusters of people. Every face I see just adds to my frustration. Where the hell is she?

I reach the back hallway, the same one I checked earlier. I kick open the first door, empty. The second, also empty. My fists clench at my sides. This is insane. She can’t just vanish.

I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Luca. “Any luck?” I growl.

“Not yet,” he says, his voice steady. “We’re still searching.”

“She’s here,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “And I’m gonna find her.”

I storm down the hallway, my mind a blur of rage and determination. Aliyah’s out there, somewhere, and whoever took her is gonna regret it.

“Marco, Luca,” I bark, and they fall in step behind me. “We’re not stopping until she’s found. Got it?”

“Got it, boss,” they reply in unison.

I push open another door, my heart pounding. Aliyah, you better be okay. Because if you’re not, someone’s gonna pay.

And I’ll make damn sure of it.

29

ALIYAH

Carlo's green eyes gleam with malevolence as he steps closer.

My heart pounds in my chest, a frantic drumbeat of fear. "I was just?—"

"Spare me the excuses," Carlo interrupts, smirking. "You’re a Russo pet, aren’t you? Dante must be slipping if he let you wander off."

"Please, I didn’t mean to—" My voice trembles, but I hold his gaze, refusing to look away.

He chuckles, a sound that makes my skin crawl. "Oh, I’m sure you didn’t. But it’s too late for apologies." He snaps his fingers, and two of his men step forward, their grips like iron as they seize my arms.

"Wait, no! Let me go!" I struggle, but their hold is unyielding. One of them pulls out a roll of duct tape, and my eyes widen in panic.

"Make sure she’s quiet," Carlo orders, his eyes never leaving mine. "We wouldn’t want to spoil the party, now would we?"

A strip of tape is pressed over my mouth, silencing my protests. I thrash against their hold, but it’s useless. Carlo’s smirk deepens, enjoying my helplessness.

"Where’s Dante when you need him, huh?" he taunts, leaning in close. "Looks like you’re all alone, sweetheart."

Fuck, Dante, where are you? My mind screams as I’m dragged away, my heart pounding in my ears. The sounds of the party fade as they pull me down a dimly lit corridor, the walls closing in around me.

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