“Nuh-uh.”
I let go of her nipples to lift up her shirt, finding a satin, purple and blue bra with a little tag still attached. Taking the tag between my thumb and forefinger, I give it a tug. “Was it, by any chance, in the dressing room at Angeli’s lingerie store?”
Her grin is full of mischief. “You guessed it.”
“I guessed it. Do I get a prize?”
Madison gets on her knees in front of me, and Damiano gets up to lock the office door.
MADISON
The private plane belongs to a friend of Damiano and Seth’s. I stare up at it while standing on the tarmac. Damiano holds one of my hands; Seth holds the other.
“You’re really making me go,” I whisper. A yawning emptiness opens in my chest.
“I’m sorry we have to do this.” Seth brushes a kiss against my forehead. Suddenly he straightens and looks over my shoulder. “Landon. Thanks again for agreeing to this.”
“Happy to help.”
I turn around to see a giant of a man striding forward. He has a short beard, a little fuller than Seth’s, and gray eyes that match the pavement. He shakes hands with Damiano and then Seth, who tugs me forward.
“Madison, this is Landon Sprechter,” Seth says. “Landon, this is Madison Greene.”
“Nice to meet you.” Landon’s large hand engulfs mine. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”
You and me both, dude. I give him what I hope is a smile, but is probably more like a grimace.
It’s time to get on the plane. Damiano and Seth each kiss me. I kiss them back, still in shock that this is even happening. They each hold me tightly, and I think Damiano’s eyes are tearing up when we pull away from each other. I can’t be sure, though, because it’s hard to see through the blur of my own tears.
On the plane, Landon sits across the aisle from me, content to let me stew in my negative emotions. He pulls out a tablet and starts reading.
The emptiness in my chest gets bigger. I can’t stand it.
So I replace it with anger.
Fuck Erich Pointer, fuck Damiano, fuck Seth, fuck this plane, fuck everything that’s sending me away.
DAMIANO
Madison left yesterday and arrived safely in Mexico. She has responded to our texts, but her messages are terse.
She’s still upset with us. I understand her reasoning, her emotions. This is a very difficult situation. And Seth and I are pouring all of our available resources into finding Erich Pointer and searching for evidence. Cody Wells, Landon’s partner, has been pulled in to work with us full-time, and he has been a great resource.
Meanwhile, when I text Madison asking how she is, she responds, I’m fine. And you?
Gone is her warmth, her playfulness. Gone is the sensual, lust-driven woman who let me fuck her in that dressing room, who gave Seth head in his office until he couldn’t stand it anymore and bent her over his desk.
I slam my laptop closed, hiding the reports Cody sent me earlier. Pulling out my phone, I text Madison again. Truly, bella, talk to me. How are you?
I’m fine. I’m sunbathing. The beach is beautiful.
Fuck. She tells me nothing. When I initiate a video call, she doesn’t respond.
“Damn it, bella,” I mutter, and call Landon instead. If Madison won’t show me her beautiful face, perhaps he will.
He picks up on the first ring, his face coming into view with palm trees and bright blue sky in the background. “She’s still upset,” he says.
“I can tell from her texts.” I sigh. “But she is well?”
