Page 84 of About Love and Revenge

I smile, wishing he was here.

I kick off my shoes and walk to the closet, when my cell phone rings. I answer automatically, and ice spreads inside me when I hear that hateful voice.

"Elina? Are you having fun there? Enjoy it while you can. When I get my hands on you, I will make you regret your rebelliousness and disrespect."

Naim.

I start to feel sick, and a sudden dizziness almost makes me lose consciousness.

How did he get this new number?

I go back into the bedroom and make sure the door is locked.

I should hang up, but I'm held captive by his threats, and as he continues talking, I sit on the floor. My legs are wobbly.

Odin

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

GREECE

The daynever seems to end.

Although I love my home country, now that Milena has departed, there is nothing keeping me here anymore. The desire to go home occupies my thoughts, but I never run away from obligations.

I'm meeting with one of the island's oldest residents, Dario. From what he’s told me, his family has lived here for generations.

I had already intended to investigate Ciro's death, especially after Grigori said that it must have been the work of some islander at the behest of Leandros, but I was surprised that the initiative to contact me came from one of them.

“What are you telling me exactly? I can't stay here all day.”I don't have the patience for people who prefer to stall instead of saying what they need to.

"Will Mister Leandros be coming back?"

“No.”

"Can you guarantee me that?"

“What is this conversation about?”

The man looks troubled. I have a feeling he doesn't want to be here.

“You are Aristeu's nephew. He was one of us,” he says without looking at me. “Your uncle was a good man.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “I'm not my uncle.”

“Yes, I know, but you’re not Dr. Leandros either.”

“What does that mean?”

“All these years we've had problems here on the island and on those around ours.”

“What kind of problems? I'll give you five more minutes to tell me what you want, and then this conversation will be over.”

“Yes, sir. You must forgive me for that. It's about the girls...the girls who live on this island and on the others.”

“What about them?”

The man looks at me, very embarrassed. I know how to recognize shame when I see it. “There is a high number of missing girls on several islands. On ours too.”

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