Fatally Yours

Chapter 44

•INDIANA•

Demitra was rambling, her words a jumbled mix of heartfelt confessions and fragmented thoughts about her relationship with James.

She held both my hands tightly, her flushed cheeks and slightly glassy eyes giving away how much she'd had to drink. I smiled warmly at her, nodding as she gushed about their relationship.

"James, you see, he's not just my boyfriend —he's my best friend! Oh, and—" she hiccupped, giggling, "—he can cook better than me! Can you imagine? A man like that, Nova? You should—hic—find someone who can cook for you too!" 

I tried to keep up, but half the things she said didn't even make sense anymore. Her enthusiasm was infectious, though, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"You're very lucky, Demitra," I said softly, hoping to steer her to a calmer topic. 

Before she could respond, I felt a faint vibration coming from my clutch. I gently pulled my hands free, giving her an apologetic smile.

"Excuse me. I'll be right back." 

She waved me off with a tipsy laugh, and I stepped away, pulling the phone from my clutch as I made my way out of the room.

The number flashing on the screen sent a wave of unease through me. I hadn't saved it, but I'd memorized it by now—Keith. 

I answered quickly, keeping my voice low as I entered a narrow hallway away from the party.

"Hello?" 

"How's everything on your side Detective?" Keith's voice was curt, businesslike as always. 

"I'm fine. Everything's good," I replied, stepping into the last room at the end of the hallway and closing the door behind me. 

The lights were already on, revealing a small study with walls lined with bookshelves. I perched on the edge of a leather armchair, my heart rate ticking up. Keith didn't call unless it was important. 

There was a pause on his end, and then he sighed.

"We have a problem." 

Panic prickled beneath my skin. My grip on the phone tightened.

"What happened? Is Hailey okay?" 

"She's fine," Keith reassured quickly. "This isn't about her. It's about Dominik." 

I froze, the weight of his words settling heavily on me.

"What do you mean?" 

"There's a new gang in town," he explained. "No name yet, but they've been on our radar since the auction incident. Our investigation shows they were linked to the attack that night. And now they're targeting Dominik." 

My breath caught. "Targeting him how?" 

"They know he's away in Romania, which has given them an opening. They're going after everything connected to him—his businesses, his operations within the syndicate, even his associates. They're causing chaos, Indie, and it's deliberate. They're making a statement." 

Silence stretched between us as the gravity of the situation sank in. My mind raced with questions, but Keith's next words cut through my thoughts. 

"Things are about to get more complicated," he said, his voice grim. "We can't protect you while you're in Romania. It's out of our jurisdiction. You need to come back immediately." 

I swallowed hard, the room suddenly feeling smaller.

"Yeah... I'll see what I can do," I replied, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.