Page 28 of The Veiling

“Damn right I’m angry as fuck, Isabelle!” I glared down at her. “And you’re taking his fucking side?!”

“No!” she exclaimed furiously. “I mean, kinda but please be nice.” She rubbed my forearm. “He saved me.”

Noah suddenly held up a finger, causing us to all turn our attention to him. He watched all of us for a moment.Yes, I have…him.His eyes swelled.Uh, okay. I’ll see if I can find a TV. I’ll be in touch.

“What?” Marco cocked a brow at Noah. “There’s a TV right there.” He lifted his chin at the wall.

“I know,” he nodded. “I just didn’t want to give up our location, yet. I disabled ours. We need to turn on the news.”

“Cazzo.”

Isabelle took my hand in hers. “We saw it.”

Marco sighed. “You shouldn’t have done that, Valentino.” He stepped over to a table and picked up the remote, switching on the television.

“What the fuck was I supposed to do?!”

Our eyes focused on the screen.

Everyone is on the hunt for the missing fiancée of billionaire, Valentino Greco, after he broadcasted a personal message from an undisclosed location earlier this morning. Traffic is backed up outside VCG International and blocking the building and all neighboring businesses.

More than seven thousand tips have already been called in, in relation to Isabelle Ayala’s whereabouts. Media has been camped out outside on the streets since the news of Miss Ayala’s disappearance was confirmed by her fiancé, as they wait to get any glimpse of the elusive billionaire.

“Turn it off.” I slid my hands in my pockets. “I need to make an announcement that we found her.”

Noah shook his head. “We can use this to our advantage.”

“How?” Marco and I asked in unison.

“Wait until we get everyone back together and I’ll have a plan.”

“I’m in,” Marco chimed in. “I love plans.”

“Last time, you got hurt and I’m not—”

“Losing me again?” Tilting his head, he pouted sarcastically before he rolled his shoulders back, straightening his posture. “Yeah, I don’t care. I’m going. I owe you all, and I never listen to you, anyway.”

Noah dug his phone from his pocket, pressed a button, then put it to his ear. He rolled his eyes back and forth as he waited for someone to pick up.

Get everyone to the mansion. We have Isabelle but tell no one.

It was incredible to be home, though a word so simple did not do the feeling justice. Even though I was blissful to be back, I knew the danger was far from over. Still a bit too weak to walk far, I leaned back on the elevator, taking it to our floor. I could not get out of the oversized attire quick enough. Rushing into the closet, I stepped out of the shoes and removed the scrubs. Scooping it all up, I trekked into the bathroom and tossed it all into the trash can. I would never touch it again; none of it was a memory I wanted to relive.

Reaching into the shower, I turned on the hot water, letting it heat up while I took my jewelry off and positioned it safely where it belonged in my closet jewelry box. I heard movement behind me and turned to see Valentino leaning in the doorway, hands nestled in his pockets as he watched me with a faint smile on his face. Much like he often did.

I had never known a man to admire someone so much the way he admired me. After he revealed himself to me, I often wondered why he constantly watched me. Did I have something on my face? Smile weird? Sometimes I even thought he did not trust me. I was wrong. He observed me because in his words:he craved me, loved me, and had to keep convincing himself I was real. Now, I was used to it, but often found myself blushing, wondering if it was all a dream.

“Is everyone here yet?” I drew my arms into my body, folding them under my breasts.

“Almost.” He took several steps toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I was ready to kill everyone and give up everything to bring you back to me.”

I lifted my arms, draping them over his shoulders. “I’m glad you didn’t have to.”

Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to my neck. “I missed you like crazy. I felt so lost without you, bella.”

“I was terrified at first.”

“Did my brother hurt you?” He stood straight, peering down at me as he rubbed his hands up and down my arms.

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