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GABRIEL
I didn’t go backto the house. I couldn’t bear to be there without Vanna. But my apartment seemed almost worse. I’d never noticed how impersonal it was. How much it resembled a showroom rather than a home.
But at least here I didn’t have to talk to anyone.
How could she have deceived me like this?
It was pitch-black, the lights of Chicago glittering in the distance. Life went on around me, but I seemed to be stuck.
Even now, I longed for her. The need to feel her next to me was so strong, my hands reached out to touch her. The constant silence was pressing down on me, and I wished I could talk to her one last time.
Doubt and unanswered questions plagued me. I’d seen what Aleksándr had done to her. And I’d acted irrationally when I threw her out. I should have heard what she had to say. But I’d been blinded by her betrayal. And now she was gone.
I didn’t sleep the night it all happened. I didn’t go to work the next morning. Or the day after that. Instead, I called Liam to get him to cover for me. He did so without question. I called Cleo to take care of Daisy and the house. She pleaded with me to talk to Vanna, but I hung up on her.
But when day three rolled around and I’d barely slept or answered my phone, a loud knock sounded on my door. I’d been passed out on the floor for a few blissful hours, thanks to the ouzo I’d been drinking like it was water.
“Open the door, asshole, or I’m using the code.” Jude’s obnoxious voice pierced through the door, turning the dull throb I’d woken up with into a full-blown headache.
Staggering to my feet, I ignored his continuous knocking. I stumbled to the kitchen, turning on the coffee machine, then taking pain pills and downing a glass of water.
Beeping filled the air, and then the door opened. Everyone in my family had a code to access my apartment, but they knew better than to use it for anything but emergencies.
“So youarealive. Could have saved me a trip out here by just answering your phone.”
I pulled my full coffee cup out of the machine and took a sip of the scalding-hot liquid. “Sorry to inconvenience you.”
“It’s okay.” He looked around the messy apartment. “I’m guessing you regret your decision to kick your wife out.”
“Fuck off.”
Jude grabbed a cup and put it under the coffee machine, which came back on with a slow rumble. “Doesn’t love conquer all? Seems to me like you acted hastily.”
I scoffed. “She doesn’t love me. And I didn’t really have a choice. She betrayed us. And we usually get rid of traitors, not send them away.”
Clearing my throat, I turned away from my brother and took another sip of my coffee.
He scoffed. “You’re an idiot. It’s obvious to everyone how much she loved you. And while I don’t think you should just ignore what she did, there had to be a reason.” He nudged me with his elbow. “Come on, man. This is Vanna we’re talking about. She wouldn’t hurt a fly. And I mean that literally since I once saw her catching a fly and releasing it outside.”
“And what would you know about love? You’ve never even been with the same girl twice.” Swallowing the ever-present lump in my throat, I clutched my mug with both hands. “Besides, even if I wanted to talk to her, I can’t. I don’t know where she is.”
“I don’t need to know shit about love to know she looked at you like Quinn looks at Liam. And you’re the most powerful man in Chicago. Finding someone shouldn’t take you long.” Jude shot me a grin. “And once you beg her to take you back, you can get back to running your business. Eau de Misery isn’t a good scent for you.”
The door opened again, and Liam and Freya walked in.
I groaned, hoping they’d disappear and leave me alone.
Freya punched Jude in the arm. “You left without us.” Then she turned her attention to me, her angry expression morphing into one of concern. “You look terrible. Have you talked to her?”
“Is this an intervention?” I looked around in disbelief. “Whose idea was this?”
She shrugged. “There has to be a good reason she gave her dad information. You need to talk to her. She could have told him a lot more about the business, but the only thing she passed on was information about the shipment. It’s weird.”
Jude threw his arms up. “That’s what I said. Well, the first part, anyway. But you’re right about the second part as well. She had access to a lot more information than the shipment. We talked about business all the time while she was in the room. And she could have easily gone through your office to find out more.”
Hanging my head, I put my hands on my hips. “I don’t fucking know where she is. She disappeared as soon as she stepped foot outside the house.”
Liam rounded the counter, taking in my haggard appearance with a raised brow. “Have you spoken to Cleo? She might know. They’re close.”
