Page 56 of My Sweetest Obsession

A strangled sound tore from Malik’s chest. “I watched him beat her,” he forced out.

Alphonse’s hands trembled as he reached out, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. He shook his head sadly. “We can’t leave her here.”

I pressed my finger to my earpiece, trying to maintain focus. “Miguel, send a few men to drive down to our location and meet me in the cellblock.”

“Understood, boss,” Miguel replied.

I turned to Liam. “Go inform Lo and Luca that Miguel will arrive shortly.”

Liam nodded and sprinted down the darkened hall.

My heart shattered at the thought of what they had endured. The knowledge that Malik was forced to witness such horror was a slow poison gnawing at my insides. I could only imagine what he was feeling.

A few minutes later, the muffled sounds of hurried footsteps outside the cell echoed through the stone corridors, growing louder as my men raced toward us.

“Alphonse,” I called, but he didn’t look up from Valarie.

“My men are here and will take care of her,” I said firmly. “But we need to find Gigi.”

He finally met my gaze and gave me a determined single nod.

I gestured to my men. “Take her to the hospital.”

My gaze shifted to Malik, who was barely hanging on. “And make sure he gets there, too.”

Two of my men stepped forward and carefully lifted Valarie’s limp body from the cold, dirty ground and out of the cell.

“Alphonse, let’s go,” I urged.

Alphonse rose to his feet, following closely as my men carried her toward the exit.

“Malik, where is Gigi?” I repeated.

“I don’t know. They knocked me out, and by the time I came to, she was gone.”

My heart sank like a stone, rage boiling in my veins that demanded justice for my angel. My hands clenched into fists, and I had the desire to burn the world down, to unleash my fury like a tsunami.

What game was this fucker playing at?

Dante turned to Malik. “Are you good to move?” he asked.

“Yeah, I can walk.” Malik grunted, pushing himself up despite the obvious pain etched across his features. “Let’s get out of here.”

Then the phone that had been beside Lana’s remains suddenly rang.

We all turned to Matteo, who hesitated for a moment before retrieving the device from his pocket. “It’s a message.”

“Read it.” I felt like I was standing atop a land mine, ready to detonate this suffocating anxiety.

Matteo's expression went blank, his brow furrowing in concentration. “It’s new coordinates.” His eyes slammed shut, which only amplified my anxiety and fear. “Cemetery,” he uttered.

“Motherfucker!” I roared, the word tearing from my throat as I bolted out of the hole.

I could barely breathe.

The thought of her buried alive, trapped in a box thinking I abandoned her, the asshole who walked away because I believed the lies that were fed to me.

My soul couldn’t take another minute, hour, or day without her by my side.