Page 26 of Relentless Sinner
“You need to watch your back, Jaxon,” he adds.
“I know. Can we keep this between ourselves and do a little more digging?”
“Of course. You know I’m always around if you need me. But are you sure you don’t want to ask Virgo Antonov to look into it? He is way better than me.”
Virgo is unrivaled in his investigative abilities but I don’t want to involve another person. “This is about my family’s endless vendetta against me. I don’t want to air out shit like that. Not yet. The asshole who’s responsible for setting up the kidnapping is more than likely Levka. He was my direct competition.”
My father would have been a prime suspect years ago but I think he’s too sick to pull something like this off. He’s also toogreedy. He wants the wealth I stand to get from my marriage to Gabriella.
That said, he could be part of some plan to get her for Levka. He’s promised to marry someone else but promises can be rearranged.
“I think it’s him, too, but don’t rule out Yuri.” Micah raises his shoulders into a shrug.
“Yeah, he lost out, too, because there’s no way I’d pick him to be on the elite.”
“Exactly.” Micah sighs. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you get to the bottom of this and make sure they’re not planning anything else.”
“Thanks. When I find out who it is, I’m removing them from the leadership. There’s no fucking way I’m going to have people on the elite who want to overthrow me.”
“No. You can’t have that. I’ll do some work tonight and we can regroup when we’re in Italy.”
I nod, wishing I weren’t heading out to Italy. I have a few trips before the wedding that I can’t reschedule. That’s one of them. I’ll be meeting with his family who run the business there to sign a multimillion-dollar contract. “Call me if you find anything.”
“Of course. See you later.”
He gives me a brief smile and leaves. Once he’s gone I look back at the house, sensing someone watching me.
I’m too far away to see but I have no doubt my instincts are right.
There’s always some fucking thing to worry about when it comes to my family. But this situation is different. Not just because I have what they want and I’m not willing to let it go.
It’s different because ofher—Gabriella.
If my family doesn’t try to take her, her father will.
And I’m not willing to let go of her, either.
Chapter Six
Gabriella
I grip the edge of the bed, digging my nails into the silky sheet.
With my heart feeling like it’s pounding in my throat, I glance at the clock on the wall for the millionth time.
It’s ten now.
Dad will be here in fifteen minutes.
I’m still experiencing that juxtaposition where I wish he weren’t coming to see me while part of mewantsto see him.
I haven’t been able to balance myself. What’s also strange is that I never saw Jaxon last night. Although I stayed up late anticipating his presence, I can’t complain because not having him in the bed next to me meant I could sleep better. Of course that tension was still clinging to the air in the room and the house still feels like a cage.
My head is being ripped apart and my heart is breaking because I’m stuck witheverything.When I think of having to go through the same painstaking motions as yesterday I want to tear the skin off my body.
Today will be so much worse because it’s not like I can redo some of the things that helped pass the time. Things like the tour of the manor.
Eve showed me around after Jaxon left. Despite my reservations, it was a welcome break because the house is truly stunning. It has that Gothic style I always admire.