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Paige has been missing for over a month.

I feel her loss down to my very marrow. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. My brain can’t decide what emotion to focus on. The nightmares of my brothers’ deaths now include Paige. When I plummet to the ground after Xander pushes me, I’m suddenly trapped in a freaking twilight zone. Suspended in a weightless state while trying to find the ghost of Paige.

Rhys has been traveling with Declan, trying to find where Mark has taken her. He’s yet to find anything. And I’m losing my damned patience.

My foot makes contact with the black punching bag. The force causes the metal chains to rattle. My muscles ache. My limbs repeatedly tremble, but still, I push my body past it’s limits.

I go to kick the bag again, but my knee buckles and I fall to the floor.Rhys’ personal gym has become my safe space. Dani stopped checking in after I cancelled my membership at Hank’s. Another person I thought I meant something to, only to be discarded.

So, I spend hour after hour working out until my body can’t handle it anymore and I have no choice but to stop.

Each time Rhys gives me the devastating news of still not finding Paige, I lose a piece of myself. The pieces that remain hang by a very thin thread that is already fraying.

I have to do something.

When my body decides to cooperate, I lift off the floor and go and get ready.

* * *

I’m done waiting around. I’m done letting Rhys, Declan, and every other person out there looking for her, fail.

My car that Rhys bought me is flying toward the Moore estate and I come to a screeching halt.

Rhys is already at my door by the time I climb out.

“I’m done waiting around while you guys look for Paige. This is bullshit. She was mine before she became yours, Declan.” I meet his glare with my own.

“Baby –.”

“Don’t baby me, Rhys! You can either include me in whatever plans you have, or you both can fuck off and I’ll find her myself.”

How dare he.

How dare he.

I have more right to search for her than he does.

Declan wordlessly watching our verbal sparring before finally interrupting.

“Sarah, you need to understand that we can’t take you anywhere near where Paige is. It will put you at risk and we can’t do that.”

The glare I swing his way instantly falls at the devastation in his eyes.

“You know where she is don’t you? What’s happening to her…”

My entire world completely shatters with his next words.

“We don’t have an exact location, but she’s been trafficked.”

My sob rips through my chest and my knees buckle. Rhys’ arms wrap around me. They are the only thing holding me as I fall completely apart.

I can barely register the rest of our conversation. Mark abducted and sold her to the Russian Bratva. How will they ever find her?

I’ll never see her again, will I?

Rhys takes my face in his hands.

“I swear on my life, I will find her and bring her home.” The vow falls from his lips with so much ease, I almost trust it. “Stay here. Wait for me. Please.”

Feeling I have no other choice but to trust him, I nod. His shoulders lower and he releases a small breath of relief. My eyes drift close when he presses his lips to my forehead.

When he pulls away, I fist his shirt. “You bring her back.” He stares, seeing the fury that threatens to explode from within me.

I don’t care who I need to destroy on my way there. I will have vengeance. I will make anyone involved pay for hurting my family.

I couldn’t do it for my brothers, but I’ll be damned if I don’t it for Paige.

With a final promise in his emerald eyes, he walks away and climbs into the SUV with Declan. I haul my duffle from the trunk of my car and head inside the mansion.

* * *

A few weeks later.

I refuse to move my stare from Paige’s sleeping form. I can’t believe she’s here – alive. When Rhys sent a message that they found her and were bringing her home, my knees hit the ground with enough force, I felt the shock shoot up my spine.

Declan’s sister, Emily, was also there. The news shook the very foundation of this mansion. Liam, who works for Declan, has been attached to her hip since she’s returned. I learned through Rhys that the pair have a history. Makes sense with the way they act toward each other.

All angst and hesitant love.

Even now, as she whimpers and tosses and turns in her sleep, haunted by the acts of violence she’s endured. Paige is still the strongest person I know.

I’ve stayed by her side since she’s been rescued. I rarely leave, not unless she tells me to. She’s been home for a few weeks now, after spending a month in the hospital and psych ward. I’ve been playing my role of the excited, impulsive friend as best as I can. Hoping I can bring some type of normalcy to Paige to help her healing.

Unfortunately, the inferno burning my insides is struggling to remain contained.

Declan has nearly wiped out the Russians in the States.

But it’s not enough.

Nothing will be enough until every single person I can get my hands on is begging for their lives at my feet. Pleading for mercy they will never receive.

What happened to my brothers was a freak accident. There was, and still is, nothing I can do about that reality. And it guts me.

For Paige, though? I can do something. I can make a difference.

Rhys has been on the hunt for the few buyers who managed to escape when Paige and Emily were rescued.

His protests about me being involved went in one ear and out the other. The only time I will not be involved in this search is if I’m fucking dead.

“Ready?”

I double check the holster strapped to my thigh is securely in place. I swear the energy surrounding the pistol vibrates with excitement.

Or maybe that’s just me.

Either way. I’m more than ready.

Since seeing Paige kill the men who were directly responsible for her suffering, I’ve been ravenous for blood. And I’m finally going to get it.

Wordlessly, I stride past Rhys and head to the group of SUVs outside.

The men watch with a variety of expressions that range of confusion or condescending amusement.

“Are we doing this, or what?” I snap, ripping open the back passenger door. They glance at each other then back at me.

“What do you mean we, sweetheart?” One of them chuckles.

I smirk, slam the door, and saunter over. In my periphery, Rhys stands with his arms crossed over his chest, watching what is going down.

I flutter my eyes innocently when I stand toe-to-toe with the man who decided to open his mouth. His brown eyes darken with I slide my finger down his chest. I go lower, the muscles of his abdomen flex.

“We as in me.” I play with his waistband. “Rhys.” I pull my hand away and step closer. “And the men you see watching us.” His eyes scan the audience that’s formed.

I ram my knee straight into his dick.

“Fuck!” he curses, cupping himself and falling to his knees.

Unsheathing the knife I had tucked into my waistband, I bring the sharpened tip to his throat. His head tips upward. The anger in his eyes fuels me. I smile wolfishly.

“And you? You get to sit here, icing your balls.”