Page 31 of Depths of Obsession
Luna nods, then pulls me into a tight hug. “Just promise you’ll call Mia for help.”
“I will,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. Then I turn and head for the stairwell, taking the stairs two at a time. When I reach the bottom, I see the SUV in front of me. I press the button on the fob, and the vehicle chirps in response. Thank God. I jump in, adjust the seat, and pull out onto the road.
I call my mother again, but no answer. My heart is pounding, panic clawing at my chest. I take a corner faster than I should, cursing as I nearly clip another car. I hit the button on my phone, calling Mia, but her phone goes straight to voice mail. She’s probably in a meeting—she always seems to be in meetings these days.
I hit the gas as I merge onto the highway, moving into the left lane. Whatever speeding fines Luca gets, I’ll deal with them later. I’m not slowing down. I know, deep in my bones, that my father has lost his mind. He’s dropped over the edge, and if I can’t get to my mother before he does, he will kill her—and it will be my fault.
I send up a prayer as I push harder on the gas pedal. I will not let that happen.
The drive is taking longer than I thought possible. I’m worried my father will get there before I do. I still haven’t been able to reach Mia or my mother. I have no idea what I will find when I get there but I have no choice. I try Mia and my mother one last time. Neither picks up.
Finally, I come to my parent’s driveway. I stop and park on the side of the road. I’m afraid if I drive up my father will see me coming. The fact that I am terrified of my father is not lost on me. He’s a cold-blooded killer and I do not want to face him alone but what choice do I have?
I can't stop the tremors racing through my body, and my chest feels like it’s collapsing inward. I can’t even create enough spit to swallow my fear. I lean over and check the glove compartment. Nothing. I had been hoping for a gun. I check under the seat as well. Nothing.Shit. Damn. Fuck. Why couldn’t Luca be like the rest of the mobsters I know and keep an extra gun in his vehicle? I let out a breath and then get out of the truck.
The house looms ahead, its silhouette framed by the dying light of dusk as I navigate the winding gravel driveway. The cypress trees lining the path seem to stretch endlessly, their shadows lengthening across the gravel like silent sentinels. As a child, I loved those trees. Now they just seem ominous.
The villa is hidden deep within these rolling hills, shielded from view by acres of countryside that feel more like a fortress than a sanctuary. As I round the curve, the house comes fully into view, a massive, three-story structure of aged stone that exudes power and secrecy. The terracotta roof, weathered by time, sits against the deep greens of the hills, while ivy twists along the walls. The tall arched windows, shrouded by iron bars, seem less elegant now, more like barriers. The scent of the ocean fills my lungs as I try to breathe deeply.
I move swiftly to the front door. I try the handle. It’s unlocked. I push the door open and walk in almost tripping over a body. I bite down so I don’t scream. It’s Rafe, Mia’s old bodyguard. He is sprawled on the floor, a gaping bullet hole in his chest. Mia will be crushed. Rafe had been her bodyguard since we were little. I have no idea why he was here. Did Luna’s father call and ask him to come over? There’s a good possibility. He knew Rafe well because Rafe used to watch out for me and Luna as well as Mia when we were with her, which was all the time.
I hyperventilate until I finally step back and lean against the door to keep myself upright. I know I should check for a pulse but there’s blood. A lot of blood. Rafe didn’t die right away because the pool of blood is large. Last time I checked for a pulse, I ended up in shit so deep I might never emerge from it. My blood pounds in my ears. I have to find my mother. I move around Rafe and take the stairs two at a time. I want to call out, but my mouth is dry and I can’t make a sound.
At the top of the stairs I turn left and head towards my parents’ bedroom. I push open the door and see my mother. She is lying on the bed, unmoving. “Mama?” I say, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears. I cross the room to her. She has been badly beaten. There’s blood spatter on the sheets, the wall, and the ceiling. Her face is a mess, nose broken, both eyes are starting to swell along with her lips. Her jaw is at a funny angle, so I know it’s broken. Her clothing is ripped.
“Mama?” I say again. I lean over and touch her face. She lets out a small moan. “Oh Mama, what has he done to you?” I grab the throw off the bottom of the bed and cover my mother with it. Then I pull out my phone. “Mama, I’m getting help. You’re going to be okay. I’ve got you. I’ll take care of you.”
“Pippa?” she mumbles. “Pippa…get out…he’s crazy,” she breathes.
“I know, Mama. I’m going to get both of us out of here.”
“Pippa…go,” she says.
“I will, Mama. We’re both going to go.” I unlock my phone screen. Mia has to be out of her meetings by now. Or maybe I should call Luca. He will come help me. It’s his job. I hit the button to dial his number and suddenly the phone is yanked from my hand.
My father stands over me, gun in one hand, my phone in the other. “You aren’t calling anyone. You’re just as bad as she is. Disgracing the family name.Puttana. You will pay for your disobedience.”
CHAPTER 10
“Ican’t fucking believe this,” I snarl, my voice filled with frustration as I pace back and forth. “Five more, and this time in Dubai. What the fuck is going on?” The words feel like they’re ripped from my throat, raw and jagged.
Rocco stands there, shaking his head, his brow furrowed. “I wish I had an answer. Abdullah is still with the cops. They took him to the police station to question him further. As the club manager, they want to lay blame for the deaths on him.” His voice is edged with tension, and I can tell he hates not having control of the situation.
“Fuck.” I clench my jaw and run a hand through my hair, tugging slightly as if the pressure might help me think. Everything feels like it’s spiraling, just out of my grasp. “Get him a lawyer. The best one possible.”
“I already did,” Rocco replies, his eyes steady on mine. “The guy is heading to the station now. His name is Zayed Aziz. He’s one of us.”
I frown, my head snapping up. “One of us?”
“He’s from the magick realm. A wizard, but not a powerful one. Just enough to help him win cases, from what I understand. Anyway, he says they’ll question Abdullah and push him for names, but as long as he wasn’t involved, he’ll be fine.”
Fine. I won’t be fine. The anger, the helplessness—it's all bubbling under my skin, and I can’t get my brain around it. Someone is gunning for me, and I have no idea who or why. “Do we have anything? Anything at all to go on?”
Rocco nods. “I asked all the managers to install more cameras, but to keep it quiet—not even tell the staff. Abdullah just put the new cameras in three days ago, and we got lucky. I sent a clip to your email.”
I quickly turn to my computer, my fingers moving with a sense of urgency. I bring up my email and click on the link. Rocco comes to stand beside me, and together we watch the screen flicker to life. The image is grainy but clear enough. A man dressed in a white abaya and a keffiyeh stands in a hallway, talking to someone, his gestures animated. The hallway is dimly lit, shadows lurking in the corners.
The man in white disappears from view, and a minute later, a woman steps into the frame. She’s draped in sequins, shimmering under the dim light, and her long dark hair hangs loose, covering part of her face. She looks like she belongs in a different world, adorned with glittering jewels that catch the light with every movement. She holds out a wad of cash, and from the shadows, a hand emerges. They exchange money for a small packet. I pause the video and zoom in on the packet, my heart sinking as I see the symbol of a black heart printed on it.
