Page 137 of Shattered Veil

“Shane, did you track this other car’s license plate?” Eoghan snaps.

After more glaring, Shane says, “Stolen car.”

My phone rings, and I lunge for it. Seeing the caller, fury floods my veins.

Why isshecalling me when...

I swipe to answer. “What?”

“Some thanks I get,” Petra huffs.

“Thanks for what?” I bark.

“When are you coming over? I got rid of that little girl for you, like you asked.”

“What?”

“Your text!” she cries out. “You said you were forwarding her calls to me. When she called, I did as you asked. Said you were in the shower and we just fucked and that you don’t want anything to do with her.”

I stagger into my seat. “Petra, I never sent that text.”

“It came from your number.” Her breath hitches. “You aren’t coming over?”

My stomach twists painfully. “Petra. No. In fact...”

Something hits me, and I snap my fingers. “Shane, do a scan on this phone number. Petra got a text ghosted from my number. Get one of the guys to see where the fuck that text came from. It’s also looking like my calls from Ella only are being forwarded to her.”

“Got it.” Shane reaches for the phone, but I speak into it one last time.

“Listen to me carefully, Petra. Do not hang up, or it will be the last thing you do.”

Shane takes my phone and leaves the room.

“What’s going on?” Eoghan crouches in front of me. “Talk to me.”

His wedding celebration with Jillian is on Saturday. He’s completely and utterly obsessed with his bride. Barely leaves her side. But he’s been here all day, every day.

“Someone ghosted a text to Petra from me that said if Ella calls, to say I’m in the shower.” I shift in my seat. “My calls from Ella are being forwarded to her.”

Eoghan’s jaw drops. “You can do that? All that? Ghost texts? Deep-fake call forwarding? How the fuck do we trust anything we ever see, Balor?”

“I’m going to have to re-program our phones to entercodes, two-step verifications. Just us. Family. Until we know...”

Family...

Corvin Snow.

I shoot up from my seat. “Where the fuck is Ella’s father?”

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

Ella

Pain. Blood. Fury.

My skin burns from the laser. All I do is cry.

Wes and this so-called doctor argued over giving me the topical anesthetic. Wes told him I cheated on him and was carrying bastard twins. I didn’t get any.