Page 121 of Unholy Union
But there’s one thing I know for certain—this isn’t something she would have done.
Sabrina, for all her defiance and fire, is deliberate with her gestures; if she’d wanted to make a statement, she would havedone it directly, throwing the ring at my chest or placing it neatly in a velvet box like she was returning merchandise she no longer wanted. She wouldn’t have dropped it like this, on a floor she barely walked fifteen minutes ago, in a corridor that leads nowhere, without a word, without a fight.
And if she wanted to make herself disappear, then she would’ve been cleverer than to carelessly toss it in a corridor. She likely would’ve disposed of it by some other means that would make it difficult to recover.
This wasn’t her decision.
Whoever left this ring knew I would come here.
They knew I’d be tracking her location. That I would follow the signal without hesitation. That I’d search every inch of this place until I stumbled on the one thing guaranteed to stop me in my tracks and make me understand without a doubt what had happened.
She didn’t disappear; she wastaken.
And the person responsible wanted to make sure I understood that she was.
My fingers close around the band, making a clenched fist. Rage surges through me ’til I’m breathing raggedly and my pulse is throbbing faster. My mind is racing, thoughts spiraling as I draw the only conclusion that makes sense.
There’s only one fucking person who would do this, who would’ve been pissed about today’s failed board vote and then taken it out on Sabrina as another act of violence to continue this war.
This is Papà’s doing.
I dial his number and wait for him to pick up. After a few rings, I’m sent to his voice mail. The second the beep goes off, I’m telling him exactly what I would’ve if he’d answered.
“Sabrina has gone missing. If I find out you have anything to do with her disappearance, you’re going to realize you’ve madea big mistake. And if that sounds like a threat, that’s because it is. I will destroy you and everything you’ve ever built if there’s even a scratch on her. The blood between us means nothing. Understand?”
I hang up before the beep can go off, fuming with rage to the point I wish he were here in front of me now. I’d gladly break his face for what he’s done.
My phone buzzes in my hand, notifying me of a new message. At first, I assume it’s from him, responding to the voice mail I’ve just left, but instead it’s a text from an unknown number.
You have 40 minutes.
176 President Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Come alone.
My jaw clenches as a photo is sent next. It’s an image of Sabrina lying unconscious, wrists bound, blood trickling down the side of her face.
Chapter 26
Sabrina
In the Dark - Valerie Broussard & Klergy
Icome to slowly, one difficult breath at a time, with the sinking realization that something’s gone horribly wrong.
My eyes won’t open all the way at first. When they finally do, I’m staring up at a dark, high ceiling I don’t recognize.
My head’s pounding, and I can’t move the rest of my body. I’m propped up in a chair, bound by an abrasive, scratchy material that feels a lot like rope. My lips part, and I try to scream for help, but instead hoarse little grunts come out of me.
I can’t even speak right. My tongue feels like it weighs a thousand pounds.
All as my thoughts swim out of focus, way too hazy and difficult to sort out.
What the hell is wrong with me?
It’s almost as if…
