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Matthias

“Dom, I need to get back to Margot. Make it quick,” I snap.

“Roman caught another one. He was loitering outside of one of the clubs. Security called him before the guy could approach anyone,” Dom’s sharp tone betrays his frustration. They’re getting bolder encroaching on our territory like that. It’s blatant disrespect.

“What did he want?”

“Same as the others. Roman got him to talk. He was tasked with spreading a new product. Wouldn’t say what it is.”

“Did he say anything about Margot?”

It’s the only part I care about. I know I should be focused on the Syndicate, but right now, Margot consumes my thoughts.

There’s a long pause. I check my phone to make sure the call hasn’t dropped. It hasn’t. His silence means it’s something bad.

“Just tell me.”

“The bounty’s gone up. They still want her brought in alive. ”

“Fuck.”

“That’s better than the alternative.” Dom offers, but he doesn’t believe it.

“You and I both know that’s not true. They can’t have her. She won’t survive that.”

“They won’t get their grimy hands on her. You won’t let that happen.”

“I won’t let them take her.”

I’ve made a lot of promises in my life, but this one is sacred. I’d rather die than let them touch my sweet girl.

Dom starts to give me more updates, but I cut him off.

“I need to get back to her. I’ll call you in the morning for the rest.”

“You’re too busy after the gala tonight to call?” He smirks through the line.

“With the dress Margot’s wearing, I won’t be available until morning.” I hang up, grinning as I head back into the ballroom.

A man I vaguely know from business steps in front of me.

“Mr. Montclair, I didn’t expect to see you here. I’d love to catch up–”

“Apologies, I need to get back to my date. Can’t risk someone else stealing her from me. Let’s talk Monday.”

I don’t wait for a response, already walking away.

I get to the spot where I left her, but she’s not there.

I scan the area. Nothing.

My eyes sweep the ballroom, looking for that sparkling green dress.

Still nothing.

My pulse starts to race.

I move through the crowd. A flash of jade catches my eye, and I exhale in relief, until I get closer. Too tall. Not her.

The bathroom!

Of course. She’s been sipping champagne all night .

I make my way to the ladies’ room and catch an older woman heading in.

“Excuse me, I seem to have lost my date. Would you mind checking for me? Her name’s Margot. Green dress.” I try to suppress my stress, but it shines through.

“Sure, honey.” She disappears.

I wait.

Five minutes that feel like five hours pass.

She finally comes back out but gives me a small frown. “I’m sorry, boy. She’s not in there.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, barely holding it together. My body’s frozen but my brain is spiraling. I pull out my phone and call Dom.

“So soon? I–”

“She’s gone.” I cut him off. “Check with your guys at the entrance. Have they seen Margot or anyone suspicious?”

“You lost her?”

Dom doesn’t do worry, so the worry in his tone makes this so much worse.

“No. She’s not where I left her. Not in the ballroom. Not the restroom.”

“Got it.”

He hangs up.

I stand still, trying to breathe. I’m overreacting. She’s here. She just wandered off, looking for me.

Seconds feel like eternity. My phone rings.

“She hasn’t left. And no one unapproved entered.”

I exhale in relief. Just a false alarm.

“I’ll keep looking.”

“If you don’t find her soon, call Bash. He’ll pull camera footage.” Dom hesitates. Then, quieter. “I hope you find her. Call me when you do.”

“I will. ”

I hang up and leave the ballroom.

I comb through the hotel lobby, checking the bar, even asking the concierge. Nothing. No one’s seen her.

Twenty minutes pass.

She promised she’d stay put. Where is she?

I dial Bash. No answer.

I call again. Still nothing.

The third call he picks up on the first ring.

“What the fuck, Matthias? You’re cockblocking me right now. Literally. My dick is in my hand and… Caroline, right?”

A feminine voice corrects him.

Classy.

“You’re at the gala, right?”

That snaps me out of it.

“Pick up your fucking phone when one of us calls. Especially at this hour.”

I pause. I don’t want to say it. I don’t want it to be true.

“Margot’s missing.”

It comes out a whisper.

He goes silent. “Fuck, I’m sorry. Tell me everything.”

I hear rustling, then the woman arguing. He tells her to leave in a cold, sharp tone I’ve never heard from him before.

He’s moving. His office door opens. His keyboard clicking sounds through the phone.

“We’re still at the gala. I stepped out to take a call from Dom. Maybe five minutes, max. When I got back, she was gone. I checked everywhere. Dom said no one left or came in.”

“How long ago?”

I check my watch. “Thirty-two minutes.”

He inhales sharply.

It’s been too long. She could be anywhere.

“Okay, I’m in their system. Where did you leave her and what was she wearing? ”

“Northwest corner of the ballroom. Jade green dress, some sparkly shit on it.”

“I see her. She’s debating something. Looks like she needs to pee. She does this little wiggle.”

God, I love that wiggle .

“She starts walking. Enters a hallway on the southeast side. She reaches the EXIT sign. There’s a man behind her. She startles. They talk. She knows him, I think. Her body language changes. She tries to get past him and… Fuck. ”

He pauses.

“Bash. What?”

“He grabs her. She scratches his face. He… he punches her.”

Red.

That’s all I see.

He hit her.

“Two men enter from the exit door. Definitely not guests. They speak to the guy holding her. Then…”

He growls. An ugly, animalistic sound.

“I’m sorry, Matthias. They took her.”