Laya glanced at me as though to ask whether I thought that was a good idea.
To the best of the men's knowledge, the Vitalis and Xenos forces were a unified group. No one was informed about the recent developments in my relationship with Elias.
I was confident that if the men had contacted my husband and reached him before me, he would have stepped in to help. I was confident he would do everything possible to locate Cali.
My soul said he’d help.
Was I a fool to believe this?
My arms and legs ached with the restrained anger building inside me. I wanted to lash out and rip into the soldier for failing at his one fucking duty.
But he was the last of my priorities. Calista came first.
Every bit of the chaotic, raging energy churning inside me needed to focus on finding Cali.
Laya’s eyes locked with mine. Anger boiled within them, matching mine. She stood at my side, speechless and brimming with the urgency to do something. She kneaded her fingers in a clawing rub on the back of her neck.
“Contact Vik right now, and don’t you dare stop searching. Your life depends on it.” I hung up.
Not a second later, my cell vibrated with an incoming call flashing Eli’s number.
“Eli,” I said with every emotion rushing around me.
“Avra. Are you home? Are you safe?”
I hesitated, desperate to tell him about Calista, needing him so much.
He spoke before I could. “Calista was taken.”
I shut my mouth so hard my teeth rattled. He knew? How?—
“Ozias is behind it,” he finished without me asking, reading my mind somehow.
“No.” I swallowed hard, wishing it was just a fluke—a coincidence. I truly believed that Elias would prevent anything from happening.
“I promise you, I will do everything I can to get her back. I swear it.”
How can I believe you?I thought he had gone over there to do this very thing and stop his father.
“Where is Ozias?”
He didn’t hesitate to reply. The deep growl of his car sounded in the background as he revved to drive faster. “Locked in a secure room. Guards are monitoring his every move. He’s not going anywhere.”
“What does this mean?”
“There is no figurehead anymore. I am one hundred percent in power now.”
Those words gave me a kernel of hope.
With Eli in charge, Ozias couldn’t continue his plot against me and my sisters.
It still wouldn’t make any difference to Cali.
“I will be home in a few minutes. Please, wait for me before you do anything.”
Please. It wasn’t an order but a request.
“Okay. I’ll wait.” I nodded, not caring if he could see the gesture or not.