Page 3 of Married With Malice

We haven’t found her. No one has found her.

Bypassing the men, I dive into the cab of the vehicle and fumble for the old CB emergency radio. The passenger door creaks open and the three men crowd the opening.

“Luca.” Chase pulls down a red and green scarf. At least I think it’s Chase. The Gentry brothers look a hell of a lot alike when they’re covered in winter gear. “I was able to reach your brother on the radio. He was with the Sleepy Rock PD.”

Creed walks around to the driver’s side to clamp a comforting hand on my shoulder. The windshield is obscured by a layer of snow. The shrieks of the wind fade and I’m only able to hear the noise of my own desperate heart and the sound of Chase Gentry’s kind voice.

“Cale said the road leading down the mountain is impassable. Due to the forecast, it was blocked off to drivers a few hours ago but they checked all the trail cameras to make sure. Cale confirmed for himself that no one has come through. She didn’t make it down there, son.”

Getting stabbed through the middle of the chest would have been less painful than hearing these words. Disjointed scenes careen through my mind. She stars in them all.

Anni twirling her hair with a smile when she thinks I’m not watching.

Anni lifting her chin with a scowl when I’ve pissed her off for the millionth time.

A defiant Anni marching down the aisle in that outrageous wedding dress.

A conquered Anni trembling underneath me and begging to get wrecked even harder.

Every future mafia king deserves a queen.

My uncle said that.

Her father nodded along.

And so we were bound by the laws of the land and the laws of our families. Love was never supposed to be a factor.

Annalisa. My beautiful, tempestuous, passionate queen.

I was so lucky that I ever got to hold her in my arms.

How did I fuck up every chance to keep her?

One of the Gentry brothers speaks my name. I don’t know which one. It makes no difference.

Still, they deserve an explanation. And someone ought to hear the truth before it’s too late.

“It’s my fault she’s out here,” I say.

Chase winces and shakes his head. “No, Luca.”

“You don’t understand. My wife was running away from ME.”

The men exchange looks. In the way of brothers, they can speak without talking.

I wish my own brother was here.

Cale was always my hero so when I had the chance to step up and become his, I didn’t hesitate. I bought his freedom by taking his place at our uncle’s side and I fixed things so he couldn’t reverse that decision.

My brother would understand why I need to shove the Gentry brothers away and sprint into the woods before I can be tackled into submission and dragged back to the resort.

I WILL FIND HER.

I’ll comb through every square inch of this cursed mountain until my blood freezes.

“She didn’t make it.”

Fuck no. That’s not the way our story ends.

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