Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
I struggled, trying to free myself, but it was too late. I could already feel something cold rushing into my arm. Seconds later, the world began to waver. The last thing I remembered was being tossed in the trunk. The lid slammed, and darkness consumed me.
30
DOM
Ineeded to check on Corey or send someone else to. The thought of seeing him was like a knife to the chest. I knew he’d meant well by calling Val, and part of me wanted to see if I still had any chance with him. I wanted to know if he hated me as much as he should. I wanted to pull him into my arms and hold him, comfort him, kiss him. I was afraid of what I might do if I went to his room, but he shouldn’t be left up there on his own, and Beatrice wasn’t here.
I was considering sending one of the guards when Muffin ran in. I’d only dismissed him and the other guards a few moments ago when our meeting ended. “There are signs of a struggle out back in the alleyway.”
My leg gave and I grabbed the desk. “What?”
“The gravel is all kicked up. You can tell people were scuffling. Oil dripped from a car, and then there was this.” He held out a watch, and I stared at it. My heart pounded, and icy cold fear suffused my body. I wasn’t sure I could speak. I wasn’t sure I could move. “Corey. Go to his room now.”
Muffin took off, and I just stood there, staring at the watch, knowing what had happened. I’d worried he might run, but it didn’t sound like he’d gone willingly. What had he been doing out there? How had they gotten to him?
And why hadn’t we seen or heard anything? I should never have pulled all the guards in, but it was early afternoon, and Corey had been in his room.
Oh God, what have I done?
Muffin came back. “He’s not there.”
“Search the house. Search everywhere. And get someone reviewing video and trailing that car.”
I called X, then I called Lucien and my sons. I would get Corey back. I had to. I wasn’t okay without him. If he were hurt or…worse…I never would be okay again.
I went outside, needing to be doing something while I waited for Lucien and my sons to arrive. I stumbled out the back gate. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was barely thinking at all, since I was too busy screaming inside.
This was my fault. I hadn’t kept Corey with me. I’d sent him away.
My leg ached, burned, but I kept going, using my phone’s flashlight to examine the tire tracks in the gravel, looking for any sign of something else that belonged to Corey. I walked down the road. What if they’d left him? What if I found his body? “No!”
I hadn’t realized I screamed out loud until Valentino came running. How had he gotten here so fast? How long had I been out here?
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for Corey. For….”
He put his arm around me. “Come back inside.”
“No, I have to keep looking.”
“He’s not in the house. He’s not out here. He’s been taken, Pops, and we’re going to find him, but you need to come inside so we can make a plan.”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a child.”
“Then don’t act like one.”
I pulled my arm from his and turned, continuing down the road.
“Pops, we shouldn’t be out here, and your phone is buzzing. You should answer it.”
I realized he was right. I turned off the flashlight and saw that I had a message from an unknown number.
Corey is with me. Keep our appointment if you want to see him again.
Leave him alone.
No. It’s important he learns a lesson about spying on me.
Don’t you touch him.
I can do anything I want with him. Be there tonight. We’ll see what kind of bargain we can come to.
“Who is it?” Val asked.
“Lisa.” Just saying her name made my stomach churn. I handed him my phone so he could read the messages himself.
How had she done this? How had she tricked me again? I would meet her, and she would die. I would save Corey. I couldn’t live with any other outcome.
“Fucking bitch,” Val muttered as he put an arm around my shoulders again. “Come on, let’s go inside. We know where Corey is now.”
“We know who he’s with, but not where.”
“Then we need to get working on that, and standing out here won’t help.”
“I’m going to meet her. Don’t try to stop me.”
Val sighed, but he didn’t argue. I was sure he knew it was useless.
When we stepped inside, there was a crowd gathered in the sunroom. Vito, Lucien, Giorgio, along with numerous Marchesi guards and cousins. Valentino whistled, and silence fell over the room as everyone turned to look at us.