Page 159 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle
Then she looks up at me properly, “She was trying to leave because of you.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” She nods. “She started getting threatening messages days ago.” She's trembling harder now. “Unknown numbers calling and texting. Talking about watching her. Warning her to stay away from you.”
The muscle in my body locks, guilt twisting through my guts.
“She didn’t tell me.”
“She thought it was Daniel at first.” Aisha snaps. “Then the messages got worse.”
My pulse starts pounding harder, faster.
“What messages?”
Aisha reaches into her bag with shaking fingers, pulling out Christine’s cracked phone.
I struggle to read the messages on the screen, but I make out the words.
: Leave Robert before you and your child get caught in another fire.
This was not an accident then. It wasn't random or a coincidence.
Somebody knows.
Somebody fucking knows.
My fingers clench around the phone so hard that it almost cracks.
I understand exactly why Christine ran, why she panicked and tried to disappear without telling me.
She believed the same thing I’ve believed for years.
Loving me is lethal.
Time drags,yet somehow hours keep passing anyway.
I keep pacing.
The fluorescent lights overhead buzz faintly, drilling into my skull alongside every possible outcome I’m trying not to picture.
Across the room, Aisha is curled into herself on one of the chairs, her knee bouncing relentlessly. Enzo disappears at some point. I barely notice until he comes back balancing a paper bag and two drink carriers.
“You look miserable,” he tells Aisha as he approaches.
“I am miserable.”
“Good.” He hands her one of the drinks. “Matching energies helps bonding.”
“Are you trying to flirt with me?” She stares at him like she’s considering violence.
“I’m trying to keep morale alive…” He answers, shrugging. “And flirt.” He adds.
“Fuck off.”
“That’s fair.” He nods seriously. “Trauma isn’t everyone’s aphrodisiac.”
I almost tell him to shut the fuck up, but I don’t have enough concentration left to waste on it.
