Page 21 of Punishing His Runaway Bride

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"Olivia?" Her voice shook. "Where are you?"

"I just got off work," I said. "What's wrong?"

"Someone was asking about me at school," she said, voice low. "Where we live, where you work, if there's anyone else in our family."

My heart seized. "What do you mean? Who?"

"I don't know. Two guys in black suits. They looked... scary," her voice got smaller. "Olivia, did we do something wrong?"

"No," I said, forcing my voice steady. "Where are you now?"

"Library."

"Stay there. Don't leave. I'm coming to get you."

"But—"

"Listen to me. Don't go anywhere. I'm on my way."

I hung up and flagged a cab.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking in that backseat.

Someone was checking me out.

Someone was watching Sophie.

Someone made me lose my job.

This wasn't Castro's style. He's a local guy, direct—you owe money, he collects. You disrespect him, he hits back. No games, no slow pressure campaigns.

So who?

I couldn't think of anyone. My whole life I'd been nobody important. Never crossed any major players, never got in anyone's way. Just a broke girl working every job she could find to survive.

The cab stopped.

I ran into the school, straight to the library.

Sophie was in the back corner, huddled. When she saw me, her eyes went red instantly.

"Olivia!"

I grabbed her, felt her trembling against me.

"It's okay," I said, rubbing her back. "It's okay. We're going home."

But we didn't make it home.

Walking out the front gates, a black sedan was parked on the curb.

The door opened. Two men in black suits stepped out.

The same ones.

I moved Sophie behind me without thinking, my hand covering my stomach.

"Olivia Adrian?" one of them said, voice flat.

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