Page 53 of Contract of a Billionaire

Ignoring the black spots in my vision, I rushed down the stairs to Branka and Autumn’s floor. The whole elevator ride down, blind panic slithered through my veins like poison. All kinds of scenarios played in my mind.

Did they get my woman? Did they get my sister?

I banged on the hotel door. “Autumn!” Nothing. Branka’s door was right next to it. “Branka!”

Still nothing.

I banged again. “Open the fucking door!”

Because the alternative was unimaginable.

Branka’s door swung open. My eyes roamed over my sister’s short frame. She stared at me suspiciously, but she was unharmed. Relief slammed into me. She was safe.

“What are you doing, Alessio?” Branka hissed. “We were supposed to have lunch, not fucking dinner! You stood me up. Your own sister.”

The fog in my brain had to go. Lunch with Branka. That was tomorrow. Tonight was supposed to be my night with Autumn.

“Our lunch is tomorrow.” My voice came out calmer than I felt.

As my sister’s eyes roamed over my state, I could feel it all. My tie was crooked. My hair was a rumpled mess. No jacket. My shirt was half out of my pants.

The worried look on my little sister’s face didn’t bode well. “No, Alessio. That was today.”

My jaw flexed. “Where is your friend?”

Branka flicked a glance at the door next to her own room. “She checked out today. She went to stay with our crew.”

“Where?”

Branka’s delicate brows furrowed. “It doesn’t really matter,” she said. “She took an extra assignment and flew out today.”

My stomach tightened. What the fuck happened yesterday?

I let stillness wash over me. It wouldn’t do Branka any good if I lost my shit. “You want to grab dinner together?” I offered, hoping she’d say no.

Dinners in Abu Dhabi were later due to the extreme heat. We still had another two hours before they’d start serving dinner.

“Sure.”

“Downstairs restaurant,” I clipped. “Two hours.”

I turned around to leave when Branka’s hand closed around my wrist. Or half of it. “Alessio, what happened?” My sister studied me with a worried expression. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

Because she was still a baby the last time someone drugged me.

“I’ll see you downstairs,” I said.

The moment I was back in my hotel room, I dialed Autumn’s cell number.

No answer.

I had to hear her voice. Then I’d know she was safe. Know she was fine. Desperation to hear her voice settled heavy in my chest. Almost as if someone sat on my chest with the intent to end my lungs.

I dialed her again. Then again. And again. And again.

“What do you want, Alessio?” I froze at the sound of her voice. It was different from before. Her voice wavered on my name.

“Are you okay?” She was my rock. I’d been obsessed with Autumn Corbin for four years and fear knotted in my chest with the thoughts of losing her now.