She wasright there.
One second, I saw her — rain-soaked, crying, standing in the alley like every part of her had just been torn open — and the next, someone had their arm around her throat and she wasgone.
Gone.
I screamed her name, sprinting with everything I had. My boots slammed through puddles. My heart felt like it might explode. I saw her kicking, fighting like hell, heard the muffled sound of her voice—
And then I saw the needle.
“NO!” I roared, lunging forward.
Too late.
Her body slumped in the bastard’s arms. And before I could even reach them, a black van screeched around the corner. Doors flew open. Two more shadows yanked her inside.
I was feet away.Feet.
The van roared off, tires screaming on wet asphalt.
And she wasgone.
I stood in the middle of the street, chest heaving, fists clenched so tight I felt blood.
Liz.
Taken.
Something inside me snapped. Not broke —snapped.
Clean. Cold. Violent.
“God help whoever touched her,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Because I will kill them.”
I turned andran.
Back through the storm. Through the gala doors like a hurricane. Guests shouted as I shoved through them, soaking wet, eyes wild, heart burning.
I found Liam first near the edge of the dance floor. He took one look at my face and dropped his drink.
“What happened?” he said, grabbing my arm.
“She’s gone,” I said, out of breath. “Liz—she wastaken.”
His whole face changed. “Where?”
“Alley behind the museum. Van. Three of them. She fought like hell. But they drugged her.”
Adonis was already moving toward us, eyes sharp. “What?!”
I turned to him. “They have her. I couldn’t stop it.”
His jaw clenched, and then I saw it — that rare crack in his armor. Not fear. Not panic.
Rage.
Determination.
Protective fury.
