In the arms of two sins

Chapter 36

David's POV

My room felt too quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against my ears until my own thoughts grew louder than they should. I sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on my knees, replaying Elias’ words at the table over and over again. The way his voice had cut through the room when he said Mara was missing.

The door opened softly behind me.

Andrea stepped inside, closing it with care. She paused when she saw me sitting in the dark, sensing something was wrong before I ever said a word.

“What’s the problem?” she asked cautiously. “Is it still about Mara?”

I stood, slow and deliberate, turning to face her, needing to confront the suspicion that had taken root in my mind the moment Elias broke the news.

“Andrea,” I said, my voice low and strained, “please. I need the truth from you.”

Her brows pulled together. “What are you talking about?” She said, confusion flickering across her face. “What’s wrong with you?”

I took a step toward her. Then another. The distance between us felt too small, too intimate for the question burning in my chest.

“Was it you?” I asked.

She blinked once. “What?”

“Mara,” I said, the name sharp, bitter on my tongue. “Was it you?”

Her expression hardened instantly, something cold settling behind her eyes. “Have you lost your mind?”

“I’m asking you,” I pressed, my voice rising despite myself. “Did you do it?”

Andrea let out a short, incredulous laugh. “You think I kidnapped her?”

“I think you’re capable of more than you pretend,” I snapped. “You always have been.”

She scoffed and brushed past me, her shoulder knocking into mine as she headed toward the bathroom. “You’re unbelievable.”

“You’ve never hidden your resentment,” I continued, the words spilling out now, tension long buried finally forcing its way free. She stopped just before the door. “You hated the fact we used to be a thing.”

“Don’t,” she cut in sharply, turning to face me. “Don’t do this now, David.”

“Then swear it,” I said, my chest tight. “Tell me you had nothing to do with her disappearing.”

I didn’t know for sure, but her strange behavior before, the unease I’d felt then, it all fed the doubt. I needed to push her, to say what hurt, what rattled her, anything that might crack the truth loose.

She stared at me for a long moment. Then she walked back slowly, deliberately, and took my hands in hers, gripping them as if grounding herself.

“I swear,” she said, pulling me into a hug, pressing her head against my chest. “I would never do something like that. It hurts deeply, that you’d even think I could.” Her voice softened, fractured. “I know she’s missing, but I don’t want you caring about her like this.” A pause. “I’m jealous. Because you make it sound like she matters more to you than I do.”

Her words washed over me, but none of them stayed.

My mind was elsewhere, spiraling. Where was Mara now? Was she alone? Afraid? Was someone hurting her? Every possibility clawed at my chest, making it difficult to breathe.

I gently pulled away from Andrea, my hands falling to my sides. “I’m going to sleep,” I said flatly. “You should too.”

But sleep never came.

By the time the clock glowed 12:07 a.m., Andrea’s breathing had slowed, her arm resting over me as if she could keep me there. I lay staring at the ceiling, my heart racing, my thoughts locked on one thing.

Mara.

I imagined her alone somewhere unfamiliar, confused, maybe scared. I pictured her calling out, looking around for help that never came. The images wouldn’t stop forming—her face, her voice, the fear she must be feeling right now. My chest tightened with every thought.

Carefully, I eased Andrea aside and stood leaving the room.

The hallway was dim, silent, the house heavy with sleep as I moved barefoot past closed doors. I didn’t know what I was looking for, only that staying still felt impossible.

Mara’s room was at the far end on the right.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the handle.

Then I opened it.

The light was on.

And Elias was there.

He stood near the window, sleeves rolled up, shoulders rigid, his posture controlled in a way that made my skin prickle. He turned slowly when the door opened, his gaze locking onto mine—sharp, assessing and unreadable.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly.

His eyes never left my face. “I could ask you the same.”

“I came to check,” I said, swallowing.

The air between Elias and me felt heavy, filled with things neither of us wanted to say. His phone vibrated. He glanced at it, his jaw tightening before he exhaled and walked past me toward the door.

He stopped at the doorway and looked back.

“Stay out of this,” he said coldly. “I’ll find Mara myself.”

Then he was gone.

My hands clenched at my sides. Who was he to tell me what I could or couldn’t do? I wasn’t going to sit back and let him handle this alone. I would find her, no matter what it took, and I’d make sure he knew it.

I closed her door quietly and went back to my room.

“Where have you been?” Andrea asked as soon as I stepped inside.

“Getting water downstairs,” I said, the lie coming easily.

She didn’t question it.

I lay back on the bed. She turned toward me, clinging to my chest as she slipped back into sleep. I stared at the ceiling, Elias’ words repeating in my head.

I couldn’t just wait.

I had to do something.

I needed to report her missing to the police.