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I wake to my phone ringing on the nightstand. Sarah is tucked against my side. The air still holds the scent of sex.

When my phone begins ringing again, I shift slowly to avoid waking Sarah. She groans but turns to her side before falling back to sleep.

“What?” I whisper-hiss.

“Get to the estate, now,” Finn – one of the men working for Declan – says. His voice is laced with enough urgency, I’m already moving.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll fill you in when you get here.”

Shit.

I waste no time in making sure I’m dressed, kissing Sarah on the forehead, and out the door in less than 5 minutes.

There are men everywhere when I arrive at the Moore Estate. The sun is just cresting over the city. Finn waves his arms, catching my attention when I park.

“Talk to me,” I order as soon as I climb out of the car.

“Paige was taken.”

I halt, spinning to face him. “What?”

He goes on to explain that Paige had snuck out in the night and took off into the forest. The men were alerted that an unidentified person was roaming the grounds and opened fire. By the time they had realized it was Paige they’d been shooting at, she managed to climb up and over one of the perimeter walls. When our men made it over, Mark had been on the other side and abducted her.

“Where is Declan?”

Finn gestures toward the mansion. “He was drunk off his arse last night. We woke him when we lost sight of her in the woods.” His hand slides down his face then he returns his gaze to mine. “I haven’t the heart the tell him she’s been taken.”

Meaning, I’m the one that needs to tell him. I’m the one who will make Declan’s world come crashing down because the woman he fell in love with was taken by her monster. Likely having already delivered her to the Bratva.

“Fuck,” I curse under my breath.

Here goes nothing.

I stride past Finn and enter the mansion.

“He’s in his office.” Ingrid – Declan’s housekeeper – motions to the closed door. Worry mars every inch of her aged face. I nod in thank you.

Declan stands facing the window of his office, staring off. The muscles of his back are stiff, his face appearing made of stone from lack of emotion.

I shut the door behind me and place my hands in my pockets.

“Paige was taken.”

He visibly winces as if he’d be struck. “What happened?” I barely make out the question. His frame becomes more rigid as I explain the situation. And as I say it, I’m reminded that I need to tell Sarah.

She’s going to be devastated.

The temperature in my blood drops to frigid depths. How am I going to tell her? What do I tell her?

I’m not fully aware of how the rest of our conversation goes. I know I respond but everything seems to go in one ear and out the other.

“What are we going to do about Sarah? She’s going to go apeshit when I tell her.”

She’s unpredictable on a good day. When she finds out the person who is essentially her sister is missing… I don’t know what will happen.

“I don’t know, Rhys. Her reaction doesn’t fucking concern me right now.” The bottle of whiskey I didn’t know he was holding is lifted to his lips and he takes a long swig.

He barks an order for me to round up the men who were stationed in the area she was in.

I exhale and move to squeeze his shoulder before doing just that.

* * *

In all the years I’ve known Declan, I’ve never witnessed him like this. The bloodthirst radiating off him is fucking terrifying.

He disemboweled the men who were unable stop Paige before she was abducted. Their insides were scattered across the floor, blood covering nearly every square inch of the basement cellar.

Since the Russians essentially run the human trafficking trade throughout the world, we are on very limited time to find out when and where an auction will be taking place. Unless you’re on a list of interested buyers, it’s nearly impossible to get that information. My phone pings with a message from Sarah.

The weight of shame and guilt sit heavy. The threat of my chest caving in is suffocating. I will tell her. Just… not right now. I need time to be able to tell her that we have a plan. That we’ll get her back.

“Sir.” My attention is pulled to the young soldier who is a genius at hacking.

“What did you find?” I plop down on the closest seat and move beside him. His screen is overwhelming. Web pages and programs I know nothing about light up every pixel.

“There is word of an auction happening in Mexico.” He shows me what he’s found. Slowly, he scrolls, and I read the supposed location and the promise of a large quantity being offered.

My insides twist in disgust.

“Good work.” I squeeze his shoulder and make my way to Declan.

* * *

Declan asked me to bring Jackie after remembering a conversation he had with her regarding Paige. She admitted to knowing she would be abducted and transported to Mexico as soon as possible.

We were able to confirm an auction is taking place in Tijuana. It’s being hosted by the cartel, and our team was about to get Declan on the list.

We’re set to fly out in just a few hours via private plane.

The time has come for me to tell Sarah.

When I step inside the penthouse, I’m greeted by loud music blaring from the hidden speakers in the living room.

Sarah stands in front of the stove. Her hips sway side to side with the music. Her blonde hair is bundled on the top of her head.

Sensing me, she spins and offers me a warm smile. My heart plummets to my feet.

Here goes nothing.

I shut off the music, the entire space falls into silence. Sarah’s posture changes and her expression becomes wary.

“Is everything okay?”

Lowering my head, I rub a hand along the back of my neck. “I need to tell you something. Come sit with me.” I gesture to the couch.

Her steps are slow, cautious. We sit on the couch. The space she’s laid between us feels as wide as the Grand Canyon.

“Rhys?”

Words refuse to form. Everything in me is raging to keep her safe, both mentally and emotionally. I’ve seen the relationship she has with Paige, and if we can’t find her… No. I refuse to let that happen. I refuse to risk both Declan and Sarah to whatever future awaits Paige.

I awkwardly clear my throat and meet her gaze. “Paige is missing.” All emotion falls from her face. Her entire body sits unmoving. So still, I’m not even sure she’s breathing anymore.

Then she explodes.

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN SHE’S MISSING?! WHY AM I JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS?! YOU’VE BEEN GONE FOR HOURS !” Her voice reaches new heights, filling with rage and panic. Her eyes are wild, completely unhinged.

Her breathing turns shallow as the panic overpowers all other emotion. She presses her hand against her chest.

“ Mo Réalta,” I say, gently reaching over to pull her into my arms, but she jerks away from my touch.

“Tell me everything. Now, ” she demands, rising to her feet.

Instead of telling her everything , meaning that she’s at risk of being sold, I tell her Mark abducted her, but we have a plan to get her back.

She reaches for the closest thing – a bottle of wine on the coffee table – and hurdles it at the wall. Deep red splashes across the surface, glass shatters landing in random spots on the ground.

The roar that explodes from her is filled damned near manic. I can feel her fury building.

I move quickly and cradle her face, forcing her eyes to meet mine. Their crazed for a split second before they fill with tears. “I will get her back,” I vow with my entire being.

“Let me help.” She sounds so broken, my heart cracks.

I swipe the tears away with my thumbs. “You need to stay here; we are flying out tonight to get her. I promise, my love. I will bring her back. Declan and I will leave no rock unturned until she is safe and home.”