Page 57 of Impure Love

I continue my search, shoving people aside without a second thought. The more I look, the more my anger grows. How could she disappear like this?

Fuck, where is she?

Ten minutes later, I’ve scoured this damn party twice now, and there’s no sign of Aliyah. The unsettling feeling gnaws at me, a sensation I’m not accustomed to. My gut tells me something’s really fucking wrong. I growl under my breath, trying not to let panic creep in. She has to be here somewhere.

“Marco!” I bark, my voice cutting through the chatter and laughter of the party.

He appears almost instantly, his expression calm but alert. “Yeah, boss?”

“I can’t find her. I’ve checked everywhere,” I say, my voice low and dangerous.

Marco’s eyes narrow, and he nods. “I’ll get the men to start searching. We’ll find her.”

He turns to leave, but I grab his arm. “And Marco, if anyone lays a hand on her…”

He nods, understanding the unspoken threat. “Got it, Dante. We’ll handle it.”

As Marco moves off to organize the search, I scan the room again. My heart pounds in my chest, but I force myself to stay calm. Losing control won’t help Aliyah. I stride through the crowd, my eyes sharp, looking for any sign of her.

I push through a group of men laughing too loudly, their cigars leaving a thick, acrid cloud in the air. The scent mixes with the clinking of glasses and the murmur of voices, but all I hear is the rush of blood in my ears. She has to be here.

I catch Luca’s eye across the room. He nods and starts moving in my direction, cutting through the crowd with purpose.

“Luca,” I say as he approaches, “Aliyah’s missing. Start searching. Now.”

He nods, his face hardening. “On it.”

I turn and head towards the back of the house, my mind racing. Where could she be? Every possibility runs through myhead, each one more dire than the last. I reach the hallway and start opening doors, each empty room only fueling my frustration.

“Aliyah!” I shout, my voice echoing down the corridor. No answer.

Fuck.

I run a hand through my hair, pacing. This isn’t like her. She wouldn’t just disappear. Not without a reason. I can feel the rage bubbling up, threatening to spill over. If someone’s taken her…

I force myself to think. She was here, mingling with those women. She couldn’t have gone far. My mind races through the possibilities. Maybe she went to the bathroom. Maybe she stepped outside for some air.

Or maybe someone’s got her.

I head towards the back exit, my pace quickening. The feeling of dread grows stronger with every step. I burst through the door, into the cool night air. The contrast to the stuffy party inside is stark, the silence almost deafening.

“Aliyah!” I shout again, my voice rough.

Still nothing.

That’s it. Enough of this bullshit.

I march back inside, my blood boiling. “Everyone, stop what the fuck you’re doing!” My voice booms through the room, and the party grinds to a halt. Eyes turn towards me, wide and confused. I stride to the center, looking each one of these bastards in the eye.

“We’re on lockdown,” I declare. “Nobody leaves until we find Aliyah.”

The room erupts in murmurs and whispers. I catch snippets—“What’s going on?” “Who’s Aliyah?” “Is he serious?”—but I don’t give a damn. This is fucking ridiculous. People don’t just disappear. But in our line of work, yes, they do. And that’s what pisses me off the most.

“Marco!” I call, and he appears at my side like the right hand man he is.

“Yeah, boss?”

“Lock the doors. Get everyone searching. I want every room, every corner checked. Now.”

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