Page 54 of Tainted Lie

“She disappeared without leaving a note or telling you where she’s gone.” Liam placed a kiss on Quinn’s shoulder, ignoring the warning growl in my words. “She’s also not answering her phone, judging by the number of times you’ve either furiously typed on your phone and stared at the screen, cursing.”

I felt like a bull ready to charge. And if my sister-in-law hadn’t been in the way, that was exactly what I’d have done.

Dad stepped forward, and every eye in the room snapped to him. He was a man who commanded attention. And while I knew he loved us, he also didn’t allow disobedience. He’d shocked us all when he’d accepted Liam’s decision to step back and let Gabriel take over with little resistance.

But if we thought he’d gotten soft in his old age, we were all mistaken. He was still as sharp as a fox and just as cunning.

“You can sort out your woman troubles when all this is over.”

His words enraged me further. He made my relationship with Ariel seem like it had been insignificant when it was everything to me. And now she and Lenny were out there by themselves. Her connection to me could put her in danger.

If what my brothers said was true and someone could be coming after all of us, they wouldn’t be above using any means necessary. And that included people we were close to.

My brother’s wives were safe in the house, and my sister was secure in her husband’s penthouse. But Ariel was out there, and I wouldn’t stop until I found her.

“She’s important to me. And I won’t leave her out there by herself where she’s vulnerable while I sit on my ass here.”

Finally realizing I was serious, my brothers cast glances at each other. Gabriel was the first to nod. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think she meant so much to you. We’ll get some guys out to look for her.”

“And her little brother. She’ll be with him.”

For the first time tonight, Dad really looked at me. And what he saw must have been enough for him to accept that I was serious. “We’ll find them. And I can’t wait to meet the woman who finally caught your attention.”

My mom took my hand in hers. “I’m so happy for you. And I look forward to getting to know her.”

Suddenly uncomfortable at all the attention, I cleared my throat. “Okay, well, for you to meet her, we have to find her first.”

Everyone jumped into action, Liam making calls, Gabriel sending a photo of Ariel out to everyone, one we’d taken one night we’d been sitting on the roof, watching the sunset. Her cheek was pressed to mine, her smile wide, both our eyes glowing with happiness.

I didn’t know when it had happened, but she’d become a part of my life. And I’d do everything in my power to find her and keep her safe.

19

ARIEL

“The water is too cold.”

Lenny stood in the bathroom, glaring at the running shower. We’d been at the motel for three days, and things had gone from bad to worse.

Sticking my hand under the spray despite knowing it wouldn’t be any warmer than three minutes ago, I released the sigh that seemed to be permanently stuck in my throat. “You haven’t showered since we got here.”

“Why can’t we go back to our apartment yet?”

Because your sister is a naive idiot.If Gladius didn’t end me, then the Olysses family surely would. At this stage, it was only a matter of time until they found out who I was.

“They have to fumigate more.”

He glared at me. “I looked it up, and it doesn’t take that long to spray a small apartment. And because we can’t go back to the apartment yet, I also can’t go to school? Makes no sense.”

I’d run out of excuses on why he couldn’t go to school at the moment either. But if anyone was trying to find us, school would be the first place they’d look.

“Take a shower. When you get out, I’ll have pizza waiting for you.”

He stomped past me. “I don’t want pizza.”

My shoulders folded inward, and I left the bathroom, softly closing the door behind me. Lenny was loudly banging around, making sure I could hear his displeasure. We couldn’t stay here much longer. And the three days Gladius had given me to complete the job were up. I had to finish this tonight.

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