She lets out a gasp, jumping to a seating position, and I try not to focus on the way her robe lowers to reveal her creamy shoulder.
“What kind of dog does your cousin have?”
She frowns. “What?”
“What. Kind. Of. Dog. Does. Sophie. Have?”
“You mean Alan? Alan is a golden retriever.”
“Jebemu mater,” I let out a curse in Croatian, slapping the door frame, and head back to my office.
Alex starts after me, yelling, “Have you found her? Do you know where she is?”
But I close the door of my office practically in her face. A pulsing feeling starts in my temple. My blood grows hotter as it courses through my veins. My fists clench of their own accord, and there’s nothing I’d want more than to hit shit.
I never asked Luka where or why he got a new dog. He wouldn’t have told me the truth, anyway. Because what kind of lunatic takes the dog of the person they kidnap?
I’m well aware of his soft spot for dogs. I have it too, but he should have taken it to a shelter. He should have re-homed it or something, not taken it home.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, unsuccessfully trying to stop the impending headache. “So… my idiotic brother ran away with a girl he kidnapped because they fell in love. That’s the story, right? I’m not hallucinating.”
“That’s the most plausible story we have right now,” Dom responds.
“Great. Just great. Well, I have work to do.”
Both of us exit the room, and my gaze drifts to the door of Alex’s room, which just closed.Did she know?
“You need to stay here and monitor her.”
“You sure you can go alone?”
“Luka is my brother. Unfortunately, it’s up to me to clean up after him.”
My first stop is Danica, Luka’s housekeeper. She’s been working with him for years, and she was the one taking care of Luka’s dogs after he went missing. At least that’s what I thought.
“Coming,” she singsongs after my knock.
Her eyes widen as she notices me standing at her doorstep. I have known her since I was a kid, but this is the first time I’m standing in front of her door.“Leone, tu si.”You’re here, she says in Croatian.
I bow my head. “I’m here for Luka’s dogs. They should be with me and Persephone.”
Her lip wobbles before she swallows audibly and lets out a nervous huff. “Oh, the dogs? They’re not here right now. I took them to their home for a few hours. Thought they would like it.”
“The dogs, Danica. Where are the dogs?”
She shakes her head frantically. “They’re not here. Sorry, they’re not here.”
“When did they leave? Who took them?”
“Leave?” she scoffs. “They were never here. Ivan just told me to say they were if someone asked.”
Ivan. “Did he?” She nods, and I plaster on a fake smile, not wanting to disturb the poor woman. “Well, thank you for telling me the truth. I will leave you to enjoy your night.”
“I’m sorry I don’t know where they are,” she yells after me, but I’m already heading to my next stop — Luka’s club.
My brakes screech as I pull up in front of the club, going faster than recommended. The lot isn’t crowded, but it’s still early. The guards let me in, and I make my way through the few people and to the bar. Nina tends the bar, pouring shots to thethree people currently occupying it. I don’t wait for her to finish before butting in. “Is Ivan here?”
“Leon.” She startles as she notices me. It seems like everyone is surprised to see me tonight. “He’s in the back.” She gestures her head to the hallway behind the bar, and I slip through people to get behind it.
