Page 87 of Before Broken Vows

And Marlena would never leave without telling me. She would never take Xander anywhere without my permission. Not after everything we've been through. Not after all the protocols we've established.

And Theo's security team? Where the hell are they?

I tear through the villa, opening doors, calling for both of them. Each unanswered shout chips away at the fragile calm I've tried to keep.

My chest tightens, making it hard to breathe. Black spots dance at the edges of my vision. I press my back against the wall, trying to force air into my lungs.

Not now. Don't you dare break down now.

I push myself off the wall and run toward our bedroom.

"Theo!" I yell, barging into the room. "Theo, wake up! Xander's gone. Marlena too."

Theo bolts upright like he's been shocked, groggily rubbing his eyes. "Stassi?"

I'm already starting to cry.

"They're gone, Theo. Xander. Marlena. They're not here."

He focuses on me and in an instant he's alert. Awake. "What do you mean 'gone'?" His voice is rough.

"I mean they're not here," I say, holding up my hands, "and I found Xander's tiger outside, crushed into the dirt. His bed is empty. Marlena's room is empty. The house is empty."

Theo jumps out of bed, wearing only his boxer briefs.

"Are you absolutely sure? They could be?—"

"I checked everywhere," I cut him off, panic rising in my throat. "Marlena would never take him without telling me. Never."

Theo curses and grabs his phone off the nightstand. "It's okay. It's okay. I've got men posted out front. I'll call them. They probably took them for a walk without telling anyone."

He presses a button on his phone, dialing a number.

"Come on, come on," he mutters as it rings. "Pick the fuck up."

No answer.

He tries another number.

And another.

Still nothing.

With each unanswered call, dread pools deeper in my stomach.

He calls a fourth number.

Nothing.

His face pales. "They're not answering. Any of them."

My knees nearly buckle. "Your security team?"

"I don't like this," he mutters, voice turning sharp. He grabs his gun from the drawer and walks over to the window, yanking the curtain aside.

He takes a step back.

"FUCK!"