#Chapter 74: Severed Ties

Dominic POV Days passed by with a dull, relentless ache in Dominic’s chest. One he refused to name, even in the privacy of his own mind. The twins had been working overtime, scouring border records, combing through hours of surveillance footage, bribing anyone who owed the Guerreros’ favors in order to into every possible lead like bloodhounds on a scent. Dominic didn’t sleep much, he barely ate. Every hour without Aurora, without knowing she was safe, stretched time like a wire being pulled taut, ready to snap at any moment. It wasn’t until a week after their disappearance that his phone lit up with a number he recognized immediately. Alek. Dominic stared at the screen as it buzzed on the table in front of him. The Russian had called before, left vague messages he was uninterested in entertaining by returning the call. They were always in that bastard's smug voice, muttering some variation of “let’s talk about our arrangement”. The only thing those voicemails solidi