Page 23 of The Veiling

She nodded.

“Liam, find out who the fuck is leaking information to the media.”

Without another word, he stormed out of the room.

“I’ll be ready to go first thing,” Tanya assured me before she followed him out and disappeared down the hallway.

Laura took a step back. “Can I get you anything?”

“I need to lay down. I feel sick.”

“Do you want water?” She rested a hand on my shoulder.

“I want Isabelle back.”

She stepped over, rubbing my back in a circle. “I know. She’ll be home soon.”

I remained silent, and empty, staring at the floor. My sister was mothering to everyone, especially my brothers and me. She was the first one there for any problem.

“I’ll be down the hall if you need me.”

As she left the room, I laid on the bed once again, watching the ceiling. “Where are you?” I grumbled. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and I shot back up, grabbing it. It was an unknown number.

Pronto?!I paused for a moment, waiting for a response.Hello?!

I have your fiancée.The distorted, male voice reverberated through the phone.

Where the fuck is she, you sick fuck?! I will fucking murder you!

She’s safe. You better keep the public out of this, or she might end up dead.

Of all the times to receive a call like that, I needed Joseph and Noah so they could track it.

You will get her back as soon as Felipe and Jesse are dead unless you’re feeling brave enough to look for a ghost of your past and a safe house. The blood was never on your hands.

Hello?!

Nothing.

Hello?!

“FUCK!” I bellowed.

“What’s wrong?!” Laura sprinted back into the room.

I threw my shirt over my head as the stranger’s comment repeated in my head.Ghost of my past?

“Valentino.”

What the fuck? Safe house?

“Valentino.”

The blood was never on my hands?

“Valentino!” she finally shouted.

I spun around. “What?!”

---