Page 28 of Bride By Initiation

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5

Sean

Every day that goes by, I grow antsier. I've been having dreams about my father. I see his face, and his hand with the skull. He never says anything, and I always wake up sweating.

I've barely spoken to Zara, or anyone for that matter, since Shannon's party.

I've blown off my uncles' and my cousins' text messages, as well as those from my friends. I've only replied to necessary work issues, but I've especially avoided Uncle Finn. He wants to talk to me about what happened at the party between my mother and me.

Dante won't get off my back either. He keeps sending me text messages and leaving me voicemails. But he and my mom are back in New York. So, I'm more worried about Uncle Finn.

I can't be sure, but my gut tells me that the skull needs to stay between myself and Zara. I shouldn't have brought my mother into it, but I was desperate for answers.

I still am.

Every time a text message comes in, my anxiety grows.

Why haven't they sent me any more messages?

When and where is this fight, and who do they want me to beat up?

Who are these people and the Omnipotence?

What is all this talk about a bid?

I search and search for answers, but they're nowhere, and I never receive the text message they warned is coming.

I've been working out every morning in my building, avoiding the family gym where I normally box. I spend my days getting the information I need that Uncle Nolan and Declan request from my job at O'Malley Cybersecurity. Other than that, I'm diving into the Darknet. I'm searching for anything about The Underworld or skull brands. I've searched photos and looked for any chatter about discussions of the Omnipotence.

I've even been searching for John Smiths, which I know is a waste of my time. There are thousands of them on different threads.

Today, I went deeper, even though I shouldn't have. I searched for my name, Zara's, and the rest of our family members. There's nothing besides the typical chatter about our crime family activity. It's a dead end, and it's driving me crazy.

Now, it's Friday night, and I should be out. But I'm obsessed with finding something, so weekend or not, I'm committed.

I get up to make a cup of coffee. I put in the pod and hit the button when my doorbell rings.

I groan. Only a few people have clearance to come up without security notifying me. I consider acting like I'm not here, but my family members would find a way to get in, so I open the door.

My best friend, Brax, says, "Mate. Where the fuck have you been?"

"Oh, it's you."

"Gee, thanks for tossing out the welcome mat," he teases.

"Sorry. Come in," I invite, opening the door wider.

He steps inside and pins his eyebrows together. "Who did you think it was going to be?"

I shrug. "I don't know. Somebody in my family."

"Since you've been hiding out and we're about to put you on the missing posters at the post office?" he offers.

"I've not been missing."

"You might as well be. Why haven't you been in the gym? It's not fun for me to box the old geezers, you know," he whines.

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