“Sex has never been like this for me.” I plant a lingering kiss on her cheek.
“Nor me,” she quietly replies.
“We belong together.” The truth of my words resonates deeply.
We stay like this for a while before I carry her to my bathroom and run her a bath. “Don’t fall asleep,” I tease when she’s submerged in the scented water with her head resting on the back of the tub. I’m so fucking tempted to join her, but I want to call Caleb for an update. Returning to the bathroom a few minutes later, I hand Sloane a glass of champagne before pressing a feather-soft kiss to her lips. “Want to watch a movie before bed?”
“Yes. Something romantic.” With the way she’s looking at me now, I’d do anything she requests.
“Your wish is my command.” I kiss her again, trailing my fingers across her collarbone, silently rejoicing when visible goose bumps sprout across her damp flesh. “Take your time. I’m going to clean up, and I have to make a call.”
Sloane grabs the back of my head and kisses me hard and fast. “Don’t take too long. I already miss your arms around me.”
This girl slays me in all the best ways, and I’m already so in love with her. I’m smiling to myself like a loon as I quickly clean up the kitchen and cover the leftovers with Saran Wrap. Then I make my way to my home office to call Caleb.
“I’m with Joshua and Gia,” Caleb confirms. “I’m putting you on speaker.”
“Do you know the guy?” I ask, swiveling in my chair so I can look out the window. It’s dark out and raining.
“Barely,” Caleb confirms. He manages that part of the Accardifamigliawhile Joshua co-manages the street trade with Fiero, and they jointly run their official company enterprise, which has several different interests. They’re both busy, so it’s not possible to know every single man who initiates.
“He comes from good stock,” Joshua says.
“His father will be shocked and disappointed,” Caleb adds.
“We’ll dig deeper, and Gia will liaise with the internal team on the investigation,” Joshua says.
“I’ll update you as and when we discover intel,” Gia says.
“I appreciate it.”
“There’s more bad news, Cristian,” Gia says, and I’m instantly on alert.
“Give it to me.”
“I hired a local PI in Georgia to track the first woman down, like we agreed, but she’s disappeared, Cristian. Her son too. Her family filed missing persons reports three days ago.”
“Fuck.”
“It could be a coincidence?—”
“Except none of us believe in coincidences, especially not with anything related to Cruz,” I say, cutting across her.
“I’m worried for the other women,” she says.
“We need to get someone on the ground in France and Switzerland ASAP. I don’t care what it costs, Gia, find the best and find them now.”
“I figured you’d say that, and I’m already on it.”
“Thanks.” I rub a hand over my chest. “I have a real bad feeling about this.”
“Same. I hope we’re wrong.”
“If we’re not, it means we’re not the only ones searching, and that’s a big problem.”
“The Commission will have to step in and help,” Joshua says.
“Like they should’ve done from the start,” Caleb supplies with ire in his voice.
