Page 41 of The Sound in Silence

“Thank you.” I hang up and tuck the phone away, staring at my cousin until something makes sense in all this. “He’s gone, and that plane better be taking the three of them to Russia and not New York. Fuck, Cal.”

He taps my shoulder. “Look, now you know where they’ve gone. They’re no longer in Vegas, but you know who still is? You. Man, you need to go home to your wife before she thinks you completely despise her.” With a gentle shove, he angles me toward the hotel’s doors. “Let’s go back to New York and keep an eye out for your father. I’ll get men on it, ensuring a black plane makes no appearance anywhere in the state.”

“Thanks.” Because my cousin’s right. As much as a part of me wants to remain in Vegas and avoid Ariella, I can’t. With the meeting and leadership exchange done, and Father and his Bratva drama also presently flying away, there’s no reason to be here. “If he’s headed to Russia, then I want to know why.”

“Easy way to figure it out. Call your mother in a day or so. Ask her if he’s around.”

I scowl. “But that means speaking to her.”

* * *

Once boarded on the plane an hour later, I text Ariella informing her I’m on my way.

After a few minutes, no answer.

I then call, minutes before takeoff, while I still can.

No answer.

“The fuck.”

“Say that louder,” Caladin chimes, extra annoyingly. “Didn’t hear you well enough.”

“Not talking to you.”

“Right.” He grins, kicking one leg over the other. “Because you’re trying to call your wife. Oh, how the tides have changed.”

“It’s not like that,” I deny. It’s not. But after talking with her twice yesterday, and mentioning last night that I’d be home soon, I simply wish to inform her thatsoonis now.

But still no answer…

I bring up another conversation.

Me

Is Ariella around her phone?

Sebastian always responds right away, but after a full tense two minutes, when he still doesn’t, a cold hand grasps my dead heart.

“Fuck.”

“What is it?”

“Sebastian’s not answering. Neither is Ariella. Something’s wrong.”

“Orshe just got tired of waiting for her honeymoon and found someone who’ll give it to her. Literally. Sebastian’s young, man. No doubt, they’ve been fawning over one another.”

The glare I shoot my cousin promises death. Neither would do that, aware of the consequences. Especially Sebastian, since I’d have complete right to order his death. To exact it myself.

Right as a tenseness like I’ve never felt clenches around my nerves, the pilot pokes his head from the cockpit. “All ready to go, sir, if you are?”

“Yes,” I manage through a tight throat, ignoring Caladin’s smirk. “Please. Go. Let’s return to New York.”

Where I’ll get to figure out the exact reason my wife is fucking ignoring me.

And then I’ll show her all the reasons she’s never to pull this shit again.

Ariella

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