Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Pushing my luck, I ask, “How did you know Nolan before he kidnapped you?”
“He was a guard.”
A frown forms on my forehead. “What’s your father’s name?”
She shakes her head and curls into a small ball again.
If her family had guards, it means they were prominent people. The average person doesn’t have a protective detail.
Who of importance has died in the past year?
I stare up at the ceiling, itching to pull out my phone so I can search the internet.
Time passes, and I begin to feel sleepy, but just before I doze off, my body jerks, and my eyes snap open.
The day Dominik and Grace got married, her father, Ian Devlin, was assassinated by the Bratva. They wanted to take over the arms market, but instead, Dominik kept control over it. Right after that, the alliance was formed.
I turn my head to Ciara, my heart speeding up in my chest.
I don’t know much about Grace’s family. I haven’t bothered to ask about them, but she hasn’t mentioned anything about a sister or cousin being missing.
Needing answers right now, I get up and walk out of the bedroom. I pull the door shut behind me and remove my phone from my pocket.
I type in Ian Devlin and go to photos. A second later, I stare at a picture of Devlin, Grace, and Ciara.
Ciara is smiling, her arms hooked through Grace’s, and I’m struck speechless by the happiness and innocence on her face.
I tap on the photo and read the article, learning that Ciara is, in fact, Devlin’s youngest daughter.
Grace never fucking mentioned her. Neither did Dominik. Are they looking for her?
Lifting a hand, I push my fingers through my hair.
We’ve had many meetings on the island where we’ve discussed problems we were dealing with, and not once did Dominik inform us that his sister-in-law is missing.
What the fuck is going on here?
Opening the chat with Dominik, I think for a moment before I type a message.
Santiago: How are things on the island? Getting any sleep?
I watch as he reads it before replying.
Dominik: I’m running on two hours of sleep. Come babysit.
Santiago: A little busy right now. I just got back from Ireland, and while I was there, Ian Devlin popped into my mind. What happened to his estate?
Dominik: It was split between his brother, Grace, and his other daughter.
Santiago: Grace has a sister?
Dominik: Yeah.
Santiago: You never mentioned her.
Dominik: Didn’t think I had to. What’s with all the questions?
Santiago: Just bored and curious.
The next moment, my phone rings, and seeing Dominik’s name, I let out a sigh.
“Hey,” I answer.
“What’s going on?” his voice rumbles over the line.
I move away from the door and lean against the banister, looking at the foyer below.
Dominik has never given me any reason not to trust him, but because it involves Ciara, I hesitate.
“Santiago?”
I twirl the ring around my finger, weighing my options before I say, “Nothing. I’m just having a shit night.”
“We’re lying to each other now?” he asks.
“Okay.” I glance at the shut door. “I’m going to tell you something, but you can’t lose your shit. You have to let me deal with it.”
“What the fuck is going on?”
“I found Ciara.”
“What?” He pauses for a moment. “What do you mean you found her?”
“I fucking found her running for her life in Ireland. She was held captive since the day before Ian was killed.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he hisses. “Are you sure it’s Ciara Devlin?”
“Yes.” I close my eyes. “Why didn’t you look for her?”
“I didn’t know she was fucking missing. The last time Grace spoke to her, Ciara said she was traveling somewhere in Europe.”
My eyes snap open. “They talked to each other?”
“Yes, but it’s been a while. I think Grace tried to contact Ciara after we found out she was pregnant, but Ciara didn’t reply.”
Anger pours into my chest, and I bite the words out through clenched teeth, “And you didn’t think to look for her?”
I hear Dominik sigh. “Grace thought Ciara made a new life for herself in Europe. She didn’t want to get in the way of that. I did offer to track Ciara down, but Grace didn’t want that. She was hurt that her sister turned cold toward her.”
“Turned cold toward her,” I mutter. “She was being fucking tortured. She was conditioned. She’s fucking broken!”
I suck in a few breaths in an attempt to calm down, and it gives Dominik time to say, “She never gave us the impression she was in trouble, Santiago. I can send you the messages she and Grace exchanged.”
“The fucker could’ve typed anything to make you think Ciara was safe!” I snap.
“Grace spoke on the phone with Ciara.”
I pause, my frown darkening. “Fuck.”
“Let’s calm down and think clearly. We need to decide what to do next.”
“There’s nothing to decide,” I mutter.
“Grace will want to see Ciara. Bring her to the island.”