Dark Obsession (Vampire Royals of New York #3) - Sarah Piper Page 0,44

of your day. I’ll be in touch again soon.”

Before she could utter another word, the screen went blank.

The phone slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a soft thunk.

Dorian was at her side in an instant, gathering her into his arms and pulling her to her feet. “You did great, Charlotte. Rudy didn’t suspect a thing.”

“They compelled her. They messed with my baby sister’s mind.”

“I know, love.”

“I just want her back. Why the fuck can’t we get her back?”

“Gabriel’s going to try to trace the location of the other caller. In the meantime, we’ll keep looking through the Estas files until we figure this out.” He slid a finger beneath her chin and tipped her face up to meet his gaze. “My brother was right to tell you not to lose hope. Your sister may be under compulsion, but she can sense your love for her. She knows you’re with her, Charlotte. She knows you won’t stop fighting for her.”

Charley nodded, comforted by his presence as much as his faith in her.

Seeing her sister again—alive and apparently safe—had bolstered her.

But more than that, it filled her with a cold and deadly determination.

Not just to find Sasha and bring her home safely.

But to end her uncle for good.

I can’t wait to see you burn, Rudy D’Amico…

“Dorian,” Aiden said suddenly, “do you mind if I borrow Charlotte for a moment? There’s something I’d like to show her.”

“By all means.” Dorian pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. “But don’t be too long. I start to miss her when she’s—”

“Oh, for the love of…” Aiden rolled his eyes. “You two are bloody disgusting. Please, Charlotte, allow me to save you from this Hallmark movie moment before your teeth rot from the nauseating sweetness.”

Grateful for Aiden’s particular brand of humor, Charley laughed and took his offered arm, allowing him to escort her into the small sunroom at the back of the manor.

It was warm and bright, with curved, floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the infinity pool and the rolling hills beyond. Fallen leaves in reds, yellows, and browns carpeted the landscape, reminding Charley of some of her favorite things about this time of year.

Soft flannel shirts.

Fuzzy socks.

Hot caramel apple cider.

Sasha’s endless quest for the perfect Halloween costume.

For a brief moment, her heart seized up again, but then she relaxed, deciding right then and there that she had nothing to worry about. Of course Sasha would be home for Halloween. In fact, maybe they could even talk Dorian into throwing a costume party at Ravenswood. Sasha would go nuts for it.

“Sasha adores this room,” Charley said now, remembering how much her sister had gushed about it when she’d visited. “It’s easy to see why.”

Aiden smiled. “We spent quite a bit of time chatting in here between dips in the pool. She said it reminded her of floating in a big bubble.”

“Sounds exactly like something Sasha would say.”

“Here—this is what I wanted you to see.” Aiden guided her over to the far corner of the room, where a small café table and two chairs were set up near the window. On the table, an antique chess set gleamed in the sunlight.

“Is this yours?” Charley asked, crouching down to admire the craftsmanship. The board was made of polished wood, but the pieces were antique ivory, each one painstakingly carved and painted with so much detail, they almost looked alive. “It’s beautiful, Aiden. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It was crafted in France in the Renaissance period, passed down to Dorian’s mother through her family. She was a kind woman with the patience of a saint—as you’d expect from the woman tasked with raising those little hellions.” Aiden laughed softly, his eyes glazing with memories. “Sometimes, when the boys were out with their father and I’d gotten lost in the shuffle, she’d take me into the sitting room, order tea service from the kitchen staff, and chat with me for hours, teaching me how to play. Years later, she gifted this set to me. It was one of the few possessions I cared enough about to bring with me to America.”

“I wish I could have known her,” Charley said, trying to imagine what she looked like, what she sounded like, how she called Dorian’s name when he was late for a meal.

“She would’ve loved you, as her son does.” Aiden held her gaze for a beat before turning his attention back to the chess set. “Anyway, I haven’t played in an age—Dorian doesn’t play,