Page 82 of Devious Obsession
“That’s not a horrible idea. She has friends there and some family that she doesn’t hate.”
“Are you serious?” Ivan deadpans, looking up from his phone. “You’d leave Chicago?”
“We have our own fucking Jet, Ivan. I can be home in a matter of hours at any time.” Kaz makes a face, one I’m sure he made million times while they were growing up.
“There’re still a few DeAngelos that might get ideas to restart what we’ve ended there,” Alexander sounds like he’s considering the idea as a good one.
“Elana wouldn’t be happy to see you move so far away,” I speak up. She’s always been closest to Kaz. If he leaves, even with an easy way to get to him, she will feel it as a loss.
“She can come visit as much as she wants. She’ll always have a room in my home.” Kaz’s eyes harden. “I suppose you’ll be welcome, too.”
“Thanks. Very generous of you.” I mock with a salute.
“Did you set a date yet?” Ivan turns the conversation to our upcoming marriage. “We’ll need time to plan. Venues to book. A priest willing to marry a man like you to an angel such as our sister.”
“Hmph.” I grunt at the teasing. “The one that married Alexander to Megan will do fine. He was able to look over that whole situation; he’ll be more than happy to watch your sister glide down the aisle to marry me with a satisfied smile on her face. Unlike the three of you, my wife will be looking forward to our wedding day.”
Alexander’s eyebrow peaks. “All the more reason to make it a large affair.”
“She won’t like that.” Kaz grins. “She’ll hate being the center of attention.”
“You shouldn’t look so pleased at her discomfort.” I shoot at him. “If she doesn’t want a big wedding, there won’t be a big wedding.”
“Ah, she leads then,” Ivan teases.
“No more than your women do you.” I pull out my phone, now annoyed that I haven’t heard from her since the funeral. Still nothing.
The car pulls up to the hotel, and we all pour out onto the street. Several of my team are nearby as we make our way inside and through the lobby.
The plan was to leave in the morning, but leaving tonight would be better. I could get Elana back in our bed before she falls asleep. Hotels have ears. And having her scream my name over and over again might not be what her brothers want to hear.
“The girls are all in my suite.” Alexander types on his phone as the elevator takes us up to the top floor. “We’ll leave here in the morning at seven and be home by eleven.”
He turns his stare on me. “If you can get Elana up and ready that early. I know she likes to sleep in.”
“She’ll be ready.” I promise. I have plenty of ideas on how to get her to wake in the morning and a few more on how to keep her awake on the plane.
“I thought you said all the girls were in your room.” I gesture to the security guard standing outside our room.
I don’t wait for him to answer.
“Is Elana inside?” I ask once I’m close enough.
“Yes. For the last hour,” he acknowledges with a nod.
I dig out my key and swipe it across the sensor, shoving the door open the moment the light flickers green. Something is wrong. I can sense it the moment I see the empty living room.
“Elana!” I bark, charging through the space and into the bedroom. Empty.
“Elana!” I bellow from the empty bathroom. I find a shirt in the trash can wearing a bright red stain. Knowing it’s not, but still needing to be sure, I sniff the shirt.
Wine.
I tell myself to calm down. It’s wine. She spilled wine. It’s not her blood.
But where the hell is she?
“Elana!”
