Curling my lip in disgust, I shake my head. Fucking kids. Why would anyone want to raise them? They’re useless this young…though they do make fantastic bargaining chips…
With a sigh, I reach for the camera and plug it into my computer, so I can send the proof of life to his fathers…the first and only one they’re going to get.
As I’m uploading the video, I get an email from my secretary with the details of a dinner party she’s arranged for me. I grin. Everything is going to plan. Soon…there won’t be a Martelli or Amato left standing.
I’m wound so tight, I’m not sure how I’m managing to even breathe. Fuck. My entire chest feels like it’s going to cave in. Marcus’s grip on my hand is so strong, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up breaking a bone, but I don’t say anything. If he needs to ground himself by holding onto me, I’ll let him. I can’t imagine where his mind is right now…
When the limo rolls to a stop, I’m out the door before the guard can open it. My lethal glare is enough to stop him. I’m barely able to slow down enough to wait for Marcus, much less a fucking guard. And where the hell was he when our son was taken?
Antonio moves like the wraith he’s named for, shadowing us as we head to Hollis and Leandro’s lair. I’m assuming that’s where they will be. They damn well better be at work. I need answers. Now.
I breathe slightly easier seeing the controlled chaos inside the room, although Carter’s face is so white it makes my stomach churn. Javi is kneeling in front of him, arguing with Doc. The two sides of me duel for supremacy; the father and the Dom. Fuck. There’s nothing I can do for Cole at the moment, but there is one thing I can do right now…
“Love, are you alright?”
I kneel down next to Javi, our shoulders brushing, and it doesn’t escape my attention that he leans away. Marcus squeezes my hand extra tight before letting go. The knowledge that he’s here and safe helps me. Our lover, though, is certainly not alright. His face is drawn, and so incredibly pale. He can’t bring himself to look at me, so I gently raise his chin, my breath catching at the cruel agony in his eyes. They’re swimming in tears—but not the type that heals. It's the type that comes from self-torture.
“I…I’m sorry. I…I didn’t mean to lose him. I promise, I wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt your son on purpose! I promise,” Carter slurs, and my anxiety spikes as I shift my gaze to Javi.
“Why the fuck is his speech so off?” I demand, as I brush Carter’s tears away.
“Doc gave him a sedative. He’s fighting it hard though. I’m surprised he’s even awake, much less able to talk.”
Doc grunts in frustration as he turns away, throwing up his hands. Shaking my head, I refocus on the man in front of me. “Carter, Sweetheart. Love. I know you would never do anything to hurt our son. And I do mean he’sours—yours, too. This…whatever the fuck happened isnoton you. I will turn you over my knee and redden your damn ass if I ever hear you blame yourself for the sins of an evil person.”
Javi snorts, but before I can say anything, shouting starts on the other side of the office, and I swivel, trying to catch what’sgoing on. I immediately pale at the sight of Marcus towering over Leandro, a knife to the kid’s fucking throat. Oh shit. Glancing around, I’m relieved that Tennant isn't here, but Hollis is quick to jump in. Before he can reach Marcus, I step in, letting Hollis’s knife pass across my forearm as I push it out of the way. I know he’d actually stab Marcus, while I’m reasonably certain Marcus won’t actually hurt the kid. Unless…
“Did you set him up to be kidnapped?” Marcus snarls as he presses into Leandro. I shudder at the violence in his voice as I grapple with Hollis, trying to restrain him.
“No! I’m not a fucking monster!” Leandro roars, and even I can hear the truth in his words.
“Then where the hell is your inside man? Where is he? Because I want our son back. Now!” Marcus screams, pushed to the edge of sanity, where nothing but blood will do for compensation.
I push Hollis away before turning to grab Marcus, yanking him back to the point he’s off balance, and has no option but to fall into me and away from Leandro. He collapses as tears stream down his cheeks, his entire body shaking as he gasps for breath.
“Fucking Christ,” I hear Javi mutter as he comes near.
I bare my teeth at him, but he ignores me, holding out his hand to Doc. I open my mouth to argue, but he’s already slipping a needle into Marcus and depressing the plunger. Marcus goes nuts when he feels it, thrashing around in my arms. I’m not sure how much they put in that needle, but suddenly, with barely any transition, I’m carrying dead weight.Holy fuck.
“There, that's one problem solved. You’re welcome.”
Grunting, I glance around, hoping for some help, and thankfully, Soren comes closer and helps me lay Marcus on the cold, hard floor. Gritting my teeth, I step in front of Javi. My hands itch to punch his smug face.
“If you’ve harmed my love…” I warn, my voice low and deadly.
Huffing, he rolls his eyes and waves toward Doc, who steps forward and lays a careful hand on my shoulder. “Javi didn’t do anything more than I would have. Marcus was uncontrollable. Fuck, you're lucky Leandro’s guard took the dogs out for a break, otherwise he would have lost a hand—or more. This will give him time to rest, and hopefully when he wakes up, we’ll have answers for him. But right now, he wasn’t in the right frame of mind.”
“None of us are in the ‘right frame of mind’—our son was taken,” I grit out, unable to help myself. “And if you ever come near me with a needle, you’ll find it stuck somewhere very uncomfortable. Do you understand me?”
Javi shrugs as Doc nods, watching me warily. Massaging my temples, I shake my head, not sure how the fuck this all came crashing down.
“We found out it was the nanny. She was the traitor,” Leandro speaks up calmly, not even fazed that his life was just in danger.
Given the poisonous glare Hollis sends my way, neither Marcus nor I are going to be forgiven anytime soon. But I don’t give a fuck. I may not have agreed with Marcus’s choice, but it was a fair question.
“Does your inside man have any chance of getting our son back?” I ask as respectfully as possible.
Leandro hesitates before shaking his head. “I’m trying to reach him. I’m…unsure. But I promise, he will watch over Cole.”
