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Matthias

I walk into my office, and Benny perks up. He trots over to meet me at the door, head craning to look past me searching for Margot. Nose lifted, he sniffs the air, trying to catch her scent.

But he won’t.

She’s not here.

She hasn’t been here for days.

It’s been so long, I can’t even smell her on our sheets anymore. I stopped visiting our room shortly after. I hadn’t been sleeping there anyway. I couldn’t stand lying there, not knowing what she’s enduring, only knowing it’s bad.

Benny lets out a low whine. His tail drops as he slinks back to his bed and curls into a tight ball. He’s been just as wrecked by her disappearance. He refuses to sleep alone. He stays in my office with me, at my feet.

Neither of us can stand the silence.

The house is too quiet without her. It used to echo with her laughter. Loud, wild, and free. The kind that filled a room and pulled you in, whether you wanted to be a part of it or not. She’d throw her head back with bright eyes and body shaking.

I could never stop myself from joining in. Even when I didn’t get the joke. Even when I was pissed. I’d end up laughing too. Just because she was.

Now there’s nothing. No sound. No warmth. No security feed to check. I can’t see her. I can’t hear her. I don’t even have that.

Just silence.

And I swear to God, I’d burn the world down just to hear the sound again.

I can hardly look at him. His eyes are too knowing, too full of a grief I caused. He misses her. I can see it. I can feel it. If he knew who took her, he’d tear me apart. I’ll let him if…

Don’t go there.

Some nights, I pray she’s no longer suffering.

And then I hate myself for it.

Because the only fate worse than her suffering, is a world without her in it.

If she’s gone, I won’t stay.

I can’t.

The thought of what they could be doing to her makes me physically ill.

My poor girl.

My sweet, brave girl.

I glance at the whiskey on my shelf, my fingers twitching toward the decanter. But I turn away.

If she doesn’t get to dull her pain, then I don’t get to either.

When we get her back, I don’t know how I’ll ever earn her forgiveness. I’ll spend the rest of my life on my knees, begging. Groveling. Worshipping the ground she walks on, and still, it won’t be enough.

Tomorrow is Saturday .

A full week since she vanished.

A week of madness.

A week without sleep. Without food.

Everything I eat comes right back up. I stopped trying days ago.

Roman’s been on a warpath, tearing through every Bratva member he can find. But there haven’t been any in our territory. I suspect Margot told them who she’s connect to, told them about us. And now they’re lying low.

Part of me hopes that means they’re keeping her alive. That they haven’t hurt her. But I know better than to hope.

Dom mobilized every soldier we have. When we find her, we’re sending everyone, no hesitation, no holding back.

Her rescue is the only priority. All other Syndicate activity has been frozen.

That’s never happened before.

It means something.

It means Dom finally sees her as one of us. As family.

Bash has been glued to his screens, digging into every inch of Bratva activity. We’ve uncovered a lot, but we’re ignoring anything that doesn’t lead to Margot. I don’t care what’s being smuggled. I don’t care about business.

I only care about one thing.

Margot .

RING!

The sudden blare of my phone snaps me out of my thoughts.

Sebastian.

My heart stops as I snatch the phone.

Before I can say a word, he speaks, fast and breathless.

“I found her. We’re heading your way.”

For the first time in a week, I can breathe.

Relief crashes over me like a wave.

Hold on, sweetheart. I’m coming for you.