Page 279 of My Unexpected Mate

“Okay, when are we making the call?” she asked, looking around the room.

The chatter stopped immediately. My breath got caught in my throat. Petra was here. There was no reason for them to delay calling Victor anymore. Nick and Gabriel’s grip on me tightened. It was time to make the call.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR – The Call

Gabriel’s POV

I gripped Aria’s hand tighter and turned to Nick.

“Do you have the phone here?” I asked.

Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out Calvin’s phone. He placed it down on the table and looked up at me. My friends sat down at the table and nervously glanced at the phone.

I looked at my sister. “Are you ready?”

She took a deep breath and nodded slowly.

I wish we didn’t have to do this. I wish there was another way. I was against her being here and listening to this. Others thought she had a right to know. Looking at her right now, I regret not fighting against them harder.

“We are here for you, okay?” Jake said, reaching over the table for Aria’s hand.

She let go of me and took his hand in hers. “Thank you, Jake.”

I pulled her hand from Jake and put it back in mine. Jake glared at me, and I gave him a ‘don’t fuck with me right now’ look.

Nick reached for the phone, but Patricia stopped him. “Hold on a second.”

We looked at her with confused expressions on our faces.

“He is going to say something to upset you,” she said, looking between all of us. “He will do it on purpose. Don’t react. Don’t give him what he wants. Stay calm.”

We nodded stiffly, and Patricia motioned toward the phone. “Call him.”

Nick took the phone in his hand and called Victor.

The atmosphere in the room was tense. I could feel how nervous everyone was. I could feel fear coming off of Aria. I pressed myself closer to her and she leaned on me.

Just when I thought Victor wouldn’t be picking up, he answered the call. For a few moments, all we could hear was breathing on the other end. But then he spoke.

“Hello there, my little witch,” he said in a cold, deep voice.

Aria stiffened, and everyone in the room looked at her. She was looking at the phone, and I could see tears in her eyes.

I snapped out of my daze and looked at Nick. He was pissed. I kicked his foot under the table. We decided he would speak with him.

“Hello, Victor,” Nick spat out after a few moments.

Victor chuckled on the other end. “Little witch, don’t tell me you don’t want to speak to me? I missed you. You didn’t miss me?”

I saw every fist in the room clench. Nick’s eyes changed to black. Aria closed her eyes and tears fell on her cheeks. I pulled her closer.

“Aria isn’t here,” Nick said as calmly as he could. “I am the one who is calling you. You will be speaking to me.”

Victor laughed. “Let’s not start this with lies. I know she is there. I know she is listening. I know all of you are listening. But I want to speak to my little witch.”

“She is not yours,” Nick growled as his claws slipped out.

Aria reached out to him and grabbed his hand. His claws retreated instantly.

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