Page 68 of Salvatore

“Did you learn your lesson?” he asks.

I lower my eyes in sickening submission. “Yes.”

“Good.” He releases his hold. “Now call your boss and tell him you quit.”

I shoot my gaze back to his, my heart plummeting. “Why? They know I love my job. They’ll be suspicious.”

I’m also scared as hell of the exact opposite. That Liv will think I’m cutting ties, especially since I’ve been radio silent this long after asking for space.

I can’t quit thinking about her. About our friendship. About the recent revelations surrounding Remy. And the accusation regarding her working with the mafia.

Turns out my morality isn’t as high as I’d thought it was because I’d forgive her anything and everything if it meant I could hug her one more time.

“Then you’d better make sure they’re not suspicious,” Gabriel says.

Nerves multiply in my gut. I can’t fuck this up. It’s my one chance. But Liv and Allison won’t be able to help me.

I scroll through my call log, my stomach twisting at all the missed attempts to reach me—Liv, Allison, Liv, Liv, Liv, Allison, Liv, Allison, Liv, Liv—the list goes on and on. I slide through the time stamps until I reach the day before I was abducted. To the unfamiliar number owned by one of the very few people in this world who may hold the power and influence to facilitate my escape.

It’s a risk to call him instead of Liv. It’s more than likely he won’t want to invest skin in my drama. But he’s my only hope if I want to keep my friends out of this.

I swallow hard, click to connect the call, then raise the cell to my ear.

“No.” Gabriel smacks the device down, scratching my cheek in the process. “Put it on speaker.”

The side of my face stings as I do what I’m told, my breath coming heavy while thering,ring,ringsounds.

I’m so dead. So painfully, torturously deceased as soon as Salvatore blows my cover, yet before I can think better of my one-second plan the call connects and I’m stuck mentally scrambling.

“Before you say anything,” I blurt, “please forgive me for not showing up to work. I know it’s been weeks since Carlo passed and that I should’ve been back a long time ago, but some familyobligations came up, and you know how that goes, right? It’s impossible to say no.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrow on me, increasing the arduous thud of my pulse.

I hold my breath, waiting for him to disconnect the call, to slap me again, to end my life while the line remains quiet. There’s no response. Not a murmur of acknowledgement.

Is Salvatore even there?

“Hello?” I rasp.

“I’m here,” Salvatore grates.

Those two words consume me, the relief they bring making me want to double over.

“I’m incredibly sorry.” I swallow and lean into the charade. “I know I’ve disappointed you all, and that Liv must hate me, but this family reunion has been intense. They need me here, and they’ve pulled out all the stops to ensure I stay as long as possible.”

“Family is important,” he drawls, entirely calm, even slightly dismissive. “We can all understand that.”

He doesn’t sound like he understands at all. Not even a little bit. Does he know it’s me that’s calling? Does he have any clue what I’m trying to convey?

“Thanks…”Come on, Salvatore. Read between the goddamn lines.“I, um, I actually think I should quit.”

I keep my gaze locked on Gabriel, trying to determine if he’s buying the bullshit, but his glare neither confirms nor denies.

“Are you sure that’s necessary?” Salvatore asks, yet again lacking the concern to make me feel like I’ve made the right choice in calling him. “Are you still in Baltimore? Should we talk this through in person before you make such a big decision?”

“Yeah, I’m, um, living the high life in a swanky apartment building with a view of Harbor Point but?—”

Gabriel raises an arm, threatening to backhand me into next week.

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