Page 78 of Vicious Seduction
“Oh, good. I know she’ll be delighted to see you, and I’ll throw together some cookies. Good thing I got more eggs yesterday!”
I shook my head and smiled. “I’ll see you soon, Mama G. Do me a favor, though. Don’t mention I’m coming. I don’t want to make a big deal of it.”
“I won’t say nothing to nobody. You know I always keep our talks private.”
“Thanks, Gloria.”
“Of course, mija. See you soon.”
I leaned back in my chair, and my stunned gaze drifted to where Cosmo gaped at me.
“Tell me that was about Amelie. Tell me they found her.” He knew she’d gone missing, and I’d done everything I could to find her. He didn’t know all the circumstances but didn’t need to. He knew what she meant to me. He’d been there through my tears and rage and had helped keep my spirits from falling into complete darkness.
“Gloria said she saw Mellie herself. She wasn’t lying. I don’t know how, but my sister’s come home.” I had to fight back a sob that hitched in my lungs.
“No shit.” His tone was total disbelief.
“I need to go. I need to go see her.” I shot to my feet, then froze. I wasn’t used to reporting to anyone, but this was important enough that I needed to tell Oran. I wanted him to know.
He answered on the first ring. “Lina?”
“Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt—”
“You don’t ever have to apologize for calling me.”
Despite the torrent of emotions, he drew a smile from me. “Okay.”
“Now, what’s up?”
“Gloria, my old nanny called. She said Amelie came home. She saw her, Oran. Amelie’s alive, and I’m going to go see her.” Tears blurred my vision. I had to take a slow, deep breath to keep from becoming a blubbering mess.
“Whoa, okay. Let’s slow down,” he said in a calm yet wary tone.
“I know it seems crazy, but Gloria wouldn’t lie to me. She saw Amelie with her own eyes.”
“I hear you, and we can definitely go check it out, but we do it together.”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to come get you. You won’t go without me, right?”
“I’ll wait for you. I promise.”
“Good girl. See you as soon as I can.”
“Thanks, Oran,” I said softly.
I heard a deep rumble over the line. “My girl’s sweet when she’s happy. I’ll have to remember that.”
My teeth grazed over my bottom lip. “Hurry, please.”
“And impatient,” he grunted. “Sit tight and try to keep a clear head. You know what they say when something seems too good to be true.”
“Yeah, I know. I keep trying to tell myself that, but it’s hard. I want it so bad.”
“I know, baby. I want it for you, too.”
“See you in a few.”