Page 17 of Stained In Sin (The Twisted Trilogy #1)

Dante

“Why the fuck did you let them go out?” I’m screaming at Lucien on the phone.

“Astra was inside the club with her the whole time, man. She didn’t see her leave. I stayed out front the entire time. She never came out.” He rushes out.

“You mean to tell me she just vanished,” I challenge.

“She obviously didn’t just vanish, but we have no lead. She’s gone. I’ve been looking for her for four days.”

I hang up the phone before I lose my goddamn mind. I call Silas.

“Hey man, what’s up?”

“Silas, I need you to pull all surveillance footage from The Midori Nightclub last night. Watch from 8 o’clock on. See if Evelyn did anything unusual.”

“Is she okay?”

“No, she’s not okay dammit, she’s fucking missing.” I hang up the phone, unable to see straight.

I’m going to peel the skin off of whoever took her, and I am going to make sure she watches. As long as I’m not too fucking late. You were too late for your mother and sister. The voice inside my head reminds me of my failures. I won’t be too late this time.

I’m headed back to the airport to board the private jet.

I knew I shouldn’t have left her. I should have shown her what happens in my world.

She has no fucking idea the amount of danger she is in because of me— but that’s where this is all fucking weird.

I haven’t told anyone about her, except for Lucien and my father.

Someone ran their fucking mouth, and I can already guess who.

He wants me to marry that cunt and he will do anything to get rid of Evelyn.

He will have to try harder to get me to give up on her. Evelyn will be my fucking wife.

I finished my job in Texas a day early, but I was held up late due to some other tasks that my father insisted I complete.

Fuck him. It’s been sixteen days since I dropped her off at home.

I’ve been tracking her whereabouts religiously for the last 4 days.

All she did was sit in her room and occasionally attend class.

Sergio was driving her everywhere. There were no threats.

I board the jet knowing damn well I’m going to have to get my hands dirty again later. I take my seat and begin working, thinking of any possible targets. Who would my father have told?

* * *

The jet lands, and I hurry to my car that’s parked out front waiting for me.

There is only one person my father could have told.

Lacey. She loves to spread gossip and will do anything to benefit herself.

Marrying me would benefit her greatly. She thinks that she can eliminate Evelyn and keep me in return.

She is mistaken. I would take anyone over her.

I start driving to Lacey’s apartment. She is about to find out what happens when you piss me the fuck off. The only problem is that I can’t kill her. Her father is close with mine, and that would cause all Hell to break loose— but that doesn’t mean I can’t teach the bitch a lesson .

I arrive at her apartment in record time. I sprint up the stairs and bang on the door. She doesn’t answer right away, so I bang louder, harder. The door opens, and she stands before me in what looks like yesterday’s clothes. Nasty bitch.

“You could have just come in. You know I don’t lock my doors.”

I storm past her into her apartment, and she closes the door and turns around. I rush her, grabbing her throat and pinning her against the wall. A smile forms on her pathetic face. I squeeze tighter, letting her know this isn’t a fucking joke.

“Who told you?” I demand harshly.

“I- I don’t kn-”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP! WHO TOLD YOU!”

“Your father,” she chokes out. Her face turns red and her eyes water.

“Who did you tell?” My voice is low and controlled.

“Tristan Cross. He told me that he could remove her. That way, you have no choice but to marry me.”

I spit in her fucking face. Lifting her off the wall slightly, to shove her back against it harshly.

“I will never fucking marry you. Touch her again, and I will fucking kill you.” I drop my hand and storm out the door, ignoring what else she has to say.

I make my way down to the lot, and all of a sudden, Silas appears on my phone as I slide into my car.

“Took you long enough, tell me what you got.”

“Dante… it looks like she willingly walked out the back entrance with someone.”

“Willingly? What the fuck do you mean willingly?” Anger courses through my veins.

“She took his hand and walked to the back of the club. I did notice something suspicious, though; it appears that her drink was spiked. It wasn ’t from the man she left with. It was from the bartender.”

“Who the fuck are you hiring Silas? You let just anyone work behind your bar, don’t you?”

“I don’t recognize the man behind the bar. That’s what’s fucked up. He doesn’t work here.”

“WHO DID SHE LEAVE WITH?” I start shouting so loud that my ears are ringing.

“Tristan Cross…” He says quietly.

“MOTHERFUCKER.” I throw the phone across the car.

I’m going to skin their entire family alive. Tristan Cross is Bastian Cross’s younger brother. They are all fucking snakes. This lets me know my job isn’t done. Lacey was telling the truth. Tristan knows I was going after his brother, so he took an opportunity to strike.

Why the fuck would she willingly go with him? She would never leave with someone. She fucked up, but I’ll have to deal with that later. Right now, I need to make sure she is alive.

I step on the gas and know where I have to go to find her. I just hope I’m not too late.