Chapter 10 · Milo's Not Home

"He's not answering."

Kael doesn't look up from the map spread across the penthouse table. "Call again."

"I called six times." I grip my phone hard enough the case creaks. "Milo always answers. Always."

"Then he's busy."

"Or he's dead." The words come out flat. Cold. I don't feel cold. I feel like someone lit a match under my ribs and walked away.

Kael's eyes flick to mine. Dark. Unreadable. "He's not dead. Crowe needs him alive to leverage you."

"Great. So he's just kidnapped and terrified." I shove my phone in my pocket and head for the door. "I'm going to his apartment."

"No." Kael moves faster than he should. One second he's at the table. Next second he's in front of me, blocking the exit. "You walk into his building and you trigger every ward Crowe has waiting for you."

"I don't care."

"I do." His hand closes around my wrist. Not rough. Firm enough I'd have to yank to break free. "You die, the debt transfers to your brother. That's how blood contracts work. You know that."

I do know that. I hate that I know that.

"Let go of me, Kael."

"No."

I meet his eyes.