Page 210 of Plunge into Obsession

He scoffed. “I didn’t run anywhere. I have been busy.”

“So I heard.”

I could sense his hesitation on the line. Then, “What did you hear?”

“Lots of things. Why don’t you tell me what you have been up to?”

“Cut the bullshit, Mendez. You’re going to fucking regret not taking my offer when I practically handed it to you on a silver platter.”

I headed to the window and surveyed my property. “You really think so?”

“I know so. How is the missus, by the way? Did you receive my flowers? I wanted to make an appearance at your wedding, but you know, with the Bratva there, it was a bit of an inconvenience. You understand, no?”

My grip tightened around the phone. I still didn’t fucking know how he had found out Bianca’s favorite flower was a white daisy.

My eyes continued to roam my property.

Something was off.

There was no one on the property.

I narrowed my eyes. The quiet seemed to scream in my ear.

What the fuck?

“Are you seeing it now?” Ivan said into my ear, a malicious note to his voice. “Regret.”

A piercing scream rang out in the house.

I dropped the phone and rushed out of my office without a thought, my heart pounding so fucking hard in my chest, it fucking hurt.

Bianca.

29

BIANCA

I staredafter Gabriel as he walked out of the room, still reeling over everything.

I wondered if it was possible to feel this happy and… not.

Lucinda was a dark cloud hanging over my head, and since the day I’d told Gabriel about her and asked him for help, I often found my thoughts drifting to her.

I shouldn’t be happy because she wasn’t, but every day that I spent in Gabriel’s arms was a day I was happier than the day before.

I wanted to be happy.

Iwantedto move on, even if Lucinda couldn’t. Even if she was no longer alive.

I closed my eyes at the thought, my hand moving down to my stomach.

I could do this.

I could be a mother and a wife, and whatever else I might want to do in the future.

I could be and do all those things, and I could be happy.

Tears stung my eyes, but this was different.

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