Page 163 of Mafia Obsession

Ares’s hands slide to my stomach in a protective gesture that still steals my breath every time. “Mine. Both of you.”

Our future.

“I should go back in,” I say after a cleansingbreath of salt and sea. “Try to sleep a little more.”

“Weshould,” he agrees.

We.

The word tingles me.

His thumb traces a slow path along my neck until the phone vibrates in his pocket.

Growling, he says, “Go on. I’ll join you in a minute.”

I nod and slip from his hold, casting one last look at the horizon before heading back into the state room.

“Zervas.” His voice is low, controlled, but I can hear the edge beneath it.

I don’t get a few feet away when I catch Ares go still in the glass door’s reflection.

“What do you mean she never came back?” he asks.

I tilt my head in curiosity. Who never came back? Where?

Lucia? Lola?

Ares listens, jaw tightening, and when his eyes cut to me, my stomach drops.

“It’s seven p.m. your time.” Ares’s expression darkens.

Seven p.m. I glance at the clock on the nightstand.

That’s…Arizona’s time.

“No,” I whisper, the word barely making it past my lips.

“An associate of mine, Daria Franklin, will be in touch with your head of security for more details. My wife and I will be there as soon as we can.” Ares ends the call without another word.

“What happened?” I demand, my voice breaking before I can stop it.

“Your sister never returned to the facility.” He doesn’t soften the blow. Doesn’t ease me into it. “Elodie took her out for a doctor’s appointment. Never brought her back.”

“That makes no sense.” Shaking, I grab my phone to call Elodie.

It rings.

Once.

Twice.

Then goes to voicemail.

“No.” I hang up and call again. “Come on, El, pick up.”

Bile rises in my throat when it goesrightto voicemail this time.

The silence that follows is deafening, drowning out the yacht’s engines and the lapping of the water against the skin.