Page 89 of Tragic Empire

You’ve gone too far.

The air is knocked out of me in an instant. Cassio grabs my phone, reading the messages rapidly, eyes narrowed at the screen.

“Go get Armani and Colton,” he instructs rigidly. “Quickly, Ana. I need to call Remo to have him try and trace these texts.”

Not one to be told twice, I jump out of bed and rush toward the door. Sirius perks up from his fluffy bed on the floor, and follows behind me without needing to be told.

“Colton!” I call out, climbing the stairs two at a time. “Armani!”

I reach Killian’s floor just as they both emerge from their bedrooms, eyes wild. Armani’s hair is disheveled, and Colton is tugging a T-shirt over his head like he’s just put it on.

“What’s going on? Is everyone okay?” Armani is the first to ask, eyes scanning my wrinkled pajamas for any signs of distress.

“Cassio said to get you,” I pant, winded from racing up here so quickly. “My phone… someone’s been watching us. I got these awful texts.”

“Fuck, come on,” he grunts, rushing past me to descend the stairs to my room.

Colton, Sirius and I follow in a dash, feet thumping down the steps. When I get back to the room, my lights are on and Cassio is pacing back and forth, speaking hurriedly on his own phone. Pausing to address Armani, he gestures to the space surrounding us.

“There has to be a camera in here,” he reports, eyes dark and fierce. “Look at this shit.”

My phone is thrust into Armani’s open palm, and Colton immediately moves to look over his shoulder. Both men stiffen as they read, anger stirring around them like a storm beginning to brew.

“Tear this place apart,” Armani snaps, looking like he might crush my phone in his meaty fist. “We should have looked harder before.”

Colton practically growls, beginning to scan my space like it’s a vile enemy. My phone is passed to me as Armani begins to look as well, pulling open drawers and looking behind paintings and mirrors.

A dreaded cluster of vibration draws my eye to the device once more.

Unknown number

I don’t need the cameras in your room to keep an eye on you, Ana. I’m always watching.

Unknown number

You’re not his to touch.

Unknown number

Behave, or else.

Cameras. Plural.

My stomach roils with nausea, and bile burns the back of my throat. Shoving my phone back into Cassio’s hand, I rush into my bathroom, slamming the door shut. I barely make it to the toilet in time before vomit spews from my lips.

I was so happy a few minutes ago, and now it feels like everything is coming crashing down around me. It’s so frustrating and confusing that I want to scream.

Why is this happening to me?

ChapterTwenty-Nine

Ana

After I finish tossing my cookies in the bathroom, I scrub my teeth for a full five minutes. As soon as I return to my room, I find it in utter disarray. Armani and Colton have already found two hidden cameras, tiny and meticulously hidden to deceive the eye. Cassio is fuming, but pushes his anger aside to comfort me without prompting.

“Don’t let the messages get to you,forza.No one can touch you while I’m here. Whoever this is, they’re taunting you over text because they know they don’t stand a chance against all of us.”

“They threatened you,” I croak. “They killed Cole because of me. That’s what those messages meant.”