“This conversation is not over.”
“Goodbye, Xander.” I pull the phone away from my ear and hit the red button. I already know this is going to bite me in the ass later.
Xander Rossi is used to getting his way, and not even years of friendship will get in the way of that.
Before I put my phone away, I dial my own number and hit the green button. Just like every other time I try to call, it goes straight to voicemail, which means Delilah turned the phone off or someone found it on her. Neither option is good.
I can’t track the phone if it’s off or out of range. My only hope is that she turned it off on purpose. I typed out a quick message earlier telling her it’s me and to call when she gets it, just in case she turns it back on. Though my gut tells me she doesn’t have the phone anymore.
If they hurt her, I’ll kill their entire family.
A knock on the door pulls me out of the murder scene already playing out in my head.
“Yeah, come in.” I stand from the bed just as the door opens, and Celia’s head pops into the room.
“You okay?” The way she’s looking at me like I’m a lost puppy annoys me to no end.
“No, but that’s nothing new.”
She frowns. “We’ll find her. Why don’t you come downstairs and eat something?”
I shake my head. “I’m not hungry.”
“I know, but you have to eat. How about a protein smoothie? You want to be ready to go as soon as we find her, don’t you?”
I let out a sigh. “God, you know you’re not my mom, right?”
“I can be concerned as your sister. That’s how family works. Now, let’s go. I’m feeding you whether you want to eat or not.”
“So bossy.”
Celia rolls her eyes at me. “It’s not like you and your brother respond to anything else.”
“Actually—” My phone buzzes in my pocket. “Dammit, Xander,” I mumble while fishing it out of my pocket. I glance at the screen, and my heart squeezes in my chest when I see my own number flashing at me.
Holding my breath, I answer the call and put it on speakerphone.
“Hello?” My voice cracks.
Silence.
Seconds go by, and there is still nothing on the other line.
“Delilah?” A quiet sob comes through the phone. The sound only worries me more. “Delilah, talk to me. Where are you? Tell me what happened, and I’ll come and get you.”
Another sniffle before her shaking voice finally comes through. “I-I don’t know.”
“You don’t know what?”
“I… I don’t know where I am.”
“That’s okay. Just keep the phone on, and I’ll find you. I’m on my way.”
I grab Celia by the arm and pull her downstairs with me. Nic meets us at the bottom of the stairs, glaring at my fingers wrapped around Celia’s wrist. He’s looking at me like he’s about to chop my hand off. I let go of her and ignore his death stare.
“Are you still there?” I ask.
“Yes… I’m here,” Delilah whispers, her voice sounding shaky and monotone as if her mind is elsewhere.