Devoured - Cathryn Fox Page 0,60

sisters all take turns giving me a hug. I absolutely love the way they took Peyton under their wings, readily accepting her and showing her love and affection, just like I knew they would.

Before I leave the family villa, I take a look at the beach below, the perfect spot for us to exchange vows tomorrow. A seed of hope wells up inside me. It’s all kind of surreal, really. I’m not sure I can quite wrap my brain around the fact that I’m marrying my best friend’s sister. After my gold-digging ex walked out, refusing to sign the prenup as is tradition in our family, I closed my heart off. But things are different with Peyton. She’s sweet and beautiful, open and honest, and yeah her brother is going to tear me a new one, but once he sees how serious I am about her, how much I love her—that this wasn’t just about sex—I think we’ll be able to bring him around to our side. It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right? Besides, he wants his sister happy, and I damn well plan to spend the rest of my life making her exactly that.

I step outside and hop in the car waiting for me. “How are you doing today, Elias?”

“Very well, Roman, and you seem quite happy yourself.”

I smile. “Tomorrow is a big day for me,” I say.

“To the villa?”

“Yes, thanks.”

As we drive through the streets, my heart beats a little faster, I’m so anxious to get home and pull Peyton into my arms. Being away from her for any length of time practically kills me, and that just makes me laugh. I pull out my phone to see if she messaged me, and disappointment wells up inside me.

Man, I’ve got it bad.

I stare out the window and take in the scenery. I might have to travel to the States every now and then, but most of my work can be done here and meetings can be held online. If Peyton wants to stay in the villa we can do that, or if she wants to buy a new place, I’m open to that, too. Whatever she wants, she gets.

Elias stops the limo in front of my villa, and I thank him and rush up the steps. I punch in the code and step inside.

“Peyton,” I call out. “You home?” I note that her purse isn’t by the front door, but she could very well have taken it to our bedroom. I take the steps two at a time and find the bedroom empty. I go all the way to the rooftop, but she’s nowhere to be found. Perhaps she hasn’t returned from school yet. I shoot her off a text and when she doesn’t answer, I head back outside and walk to her school. I try the front doors and find them locked. Strange.

I walk around the school, only to find it’s closed for the weekend. I check my phone again, worry gnawing at my gut. Is it possible that she went to the family villa, expecting I’d still be there? I shoot a text off to Lucy.

Hey, Lucy, is Peyton with you guys?

No, why, what’s up?

Oh, nothing, she’s probably just doing a bit of last-minute shopping.

You sure everything is okay?

Perfectly fine.

I shove my phone back into my pocket, but something isn’t right. I feel it deep in my gut. I hurry back to the villa and make my way through the place again, but Peyton is still missing. I step into the bedroom. Something is off. I walk around the bed and to the closet. I open it and my heart sinks into my stomach.

“What the hell?”

I hurry to the other bedroom, check the closet there, but her things are nowhere to be found. In the bathroom I find her cosmetics and toothbrush gone.

Peyton packed up her belongings and left? I take a breath to calm myself, working to figure out why she would have done this, and I almost laugh when it occurs to me she’s probably staying at a hotel tonight. Tradition dictates the bride and groom don’t see each other before the wedding. Still, why wouldn’t she have mentioned it? Perhaps she left a note and I haven’t seen it yet.

I head to the kitchen to check, and my foot kicks up papers. I snatch them up and realize it’s the prenup I left on the counter this morning, every intention of discussing it with Peyton tonight. Why the hell is