Page 60 of Ice-Cold Obsession

“What if they don’t believe it? What if they go after my parents?”

“Gabriel—”

“I can’t contact them. I don’t know if they’re okay or if the mafia hurt them because I disappeared.” My voice cracks.

The not knowing is the worst part. I’ve spent a long time protecting my parents and doing everything the mafia asked, and now I can’t even check on them. If I call them, the mafia will know my kidnapping was fake. They’ll know I’m free, and then they’ll hurt my parents to punish me.

“What if something already happened and I don’t know?” I ask.

Scarlett gets up and crosses the room to me. She wraps her arms around me, and I lean into her. The warmth of her body against mine makes it a little easier to breathe.

“Everything’s going to be okay. Your mafia guys now have bigger than problems than you, me, and your parents.”

I want to believe her and think that there’s a way out of this that doesn’t end with someone I love getting hurt. But I’ve been in this life long enough to know that’s not how it works. The mafia doesn’t just let you go or forget.

A few hours later, there’s another message. This time from Cory.

My uncle is a cop in the town where your parents are. I asked him to check on them. They’re okay. No incidents reported.

Relief overcomes me so fast that I feel dizzy. I show the message to Scarlett, and she smiles.

“See? They’re okay.”

I nod, but the worry doesn’t completely leave me. What if something happens tomorrow? What if the mafia decides to punish them anyway? What if Cory’s uncle doesn’t know everything?

But for now, they’re safe, and that’s all that matters.

Scarlett holds me again, and this time I let myself relax a little. I rest my head against her chest and close my eyes.

THE NEXT DAY, SCARLETTgoes to an important class that she can’t miss, and my teammates promise to protect her. I stay in her dorm, keeping away from the windows.

Zyair texts again.

Coach is asking about you. I told him you’re dealing with a family thing. He wants you to call him.

I stare at the message. Coach has always been good to me, but I can’t call him. I can’t talk to anyone who might accidentally give away that I’m still on campus.

Tell him I’ll call when I can. Need a few more days.

Zyair responds immediately.

Got it. Stay safe, man.

SCARLETT IS ON THEbed with her laptop open, watching the local news, and I’m glad she came back safely.

“Anything interesting?” I ask.

“Yeah. There was a clash downtown last night. Gang violence. Multiple casualties.”

My stomach twists. “When?”

“I just told you. Last night.”

“Right.” All the stress is making my brain sluggish.

I move to sit next to her and look at the screen. Then I click on the article and start reading. It says the police responded to reports of gunfire in an industrial area. When they arrived, they found several bodies and evidence of a large confrontation. The article doesn’t name any organizations, but it mentions that the authorities believe it’s connected to organized crime.

“Do you think that was Niccolò?” Scarlett asks.