Chapter 15

Leo stood frozen. He collapsed onto the floor. The cold floor seeped through him, chilling him far less than the ice in his heart. Without realizing it, he dialed Angelina's number. A cold, automated voice answered: "Sorry! The number you dialed does not exist. Please check the number and dial again." Angelina had vanished without a trace. He should have been happy. Samantha would be thrilled. The obstacle was gone; he could finally give her the status and everything she desired. But now, he felt strangely hollow. "Angelina…" he whispered, his voice dry and raspy. Ten years. A full decade. She'd been by his side, as natural as breathing. He'd never truly contemplated what losing her would feel like. Anger mixed with resentment coiled around him like poisonous vines. He dialed the familiar number again, met with the same cold, "The number you dialed..." Leo frantically scrolled through his contacts, trying Angelina's assistant, her friends... He suddenly realized he