Page 115 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

Exactly where I keep us.

Exactly where I’ve been keeping us for days.

I shutthe van door with a dull thud, standing there for a second, with the keys still in my hand.

I look over at the boxes stacked neatly, and everything is where it should be. Labeled. Sorted. Ready. But I reach in anyway, adjusting a ribbon roll that doesn’t need adjusting, pressing down a lid that’s already closed, my fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary before I pull back.

The morning air drifts warmly against my skin, carrying that faint mix of hope and something tangy from the bakery down the street.

My phone rings, cutting through my distorted thoughts.

I don’t bother with checking the number because I already know.

“Daniel…” I answer, the name halfway out, ready to shut it down before it starts. “I think it’s time to grow the fuck…”

“Hello…” The distorted voice on the other end stops me cold. “You’re hard to reach.”

“What?” My breath stutters, chill dripping down my spine.

The voice sounds wrong, ominous.

“Daniel?” My fingers clench around the phone, my body going still in a way that feels instinctive, like something in me already understands this isn’t what I thought it was.

“Try again.”

“Who is this?” My voice comes out lower than I expect.

“We’ve been watching.” The voice answers instead.

“That’s not funny.” My stomach drops.

“I’m not trying to be.”

My gaze moves, scanning the street, the buildings, the parked cars, the people passing like they have places to be, lives that don’t involve standing here with something clawing into their chest.

Everything looks normal.

“What do you want?” I ask, balling my fist.

“You’ll know soon.”

The line goes dead.

I pull the phone away slowly, staring at the blank screen like it might flicker back to life if I wait.

It doesn’t.

My grip loosens slightly, then folds again.

Because what the hell was that?

“Christine.”

I don’t turn, my mind still looping around the call.

“Christine.” It’s closer now.

A hand waves in front of my face, and fingers snap.