CHAPTER 33
Alex
My feet pace across my room in Leon’s apartment for what feels like hours. From the moment Leon stomped into the room, asking about Sophie’s dog, I’ve been a nervous wreck. I managed to eavesdrop on just a couple of sentences before Leon left the apartment.
And what I’ve heard made no sense. Sophie running off with a mafia prince because they fell in love? That’s about as believable as Alan, her dog, becoming a professional poker player.
I’ve tried talking to Dom about it, but he acted like I wasn’t there. The man could never stand me, so at last, I retreated to the room.
My lips are fully chewed up when I hear the front door opening. I run out of the room without a second thought.
“Did you find her? Is she okay?” I don’t care about their mafia business, I don’t care about any of it, I just need to know my cousin and my best friend is alive and well.
“Leave,” Leon grunts to Dom, his voice barely audible, and the grumpy man on the couch obeys instantly, getting up and leaving the apartment. Leon looks up at me, and I barely recognize him. His hair is a mess, with random wisps sticking out ontop. His face looks as if he hasn’t slept in days. But the worst part is his eyes. He stares at me with tear-struck eyes, and my breath catches in my throat.
Immediately, I start crying, too. “Did something happen to her? Tell me she’s okay.”
“You really don’t know?” His voice breaks as his head tilts to the side.
“Of course, I don’t know. That’s what I was trying to find out!”
Biting the inside of his lower lip, he bows his head and makes his way to the couch. He drops his head into his hands, looking defeated.
“Tell me!” I scream, dropping to the floor next to him. “Just… please tell me!”
He inhales deeply, not looking up. “As far as I know, she’s fine. But it seems like I’m the last to know shit.”
A knot unravels in my stomach, and I inhale a steadying breath before asking, “And your brother? Is he okay?” I don’t know him, and I’m not particularly fond of the man across from me, but the thought of his brother being hurt pierces my chest.
Leon lets out a half-desperate, half-despondent snort. “Seems like he is. Turns out my brother and your cousin have pulled a Thelma and Louise and run away together.”
Once again, the idea makes absolutely no sense. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“You really know nothing, do you?”
“It seems like I’m not the only one.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” He rubs a hand over his face before lifting his head. “You might want to sit down for this.”
I do as he says, not because he said it, but because I agree. I need to sit down for whatever is coming.
“We found you using your cousin’s phone.”
“I don’t get it. How did you get Sophie’s phone?” I pull the sleeves of my hoodieover my hands.
“She was kidnapped…by us.”
I let out a loud gasp, pressing my hand to my mouth.
“Well…” He continues. “Technically, Luka kidnapped her, but we planned it together.”
“Why the hell would you kidnap Sophie? She wouldn’t hurt a fly.” My bottom lip wobbles, imagining the fear she must have gone through.
“You know what we do, don’t you?” Leon appraises me.
“Not fully, but I have an idea.”
“That kind of thing is typical in our circles. Especially when someone betrays us.”
