• Twenty-Three •

That normally only happens when the Mafia takes someone.

Rumor

Sebastian was enjoying the celebration inside, and I hated to tell him I’d had all of tonight I could take. The cameras loved Scotlin May, and I’d been forced to see her with King so many times that I felt like my heart was slowly shattering. I knew King had said this was a job, and I kept telling myself that, but it was hard to watch nonetheless.

In the back of my head, I was being tortured with the thought that he could fall for her. He would see how good they looked together. They belonged together. Sure, they had a scarred past, but they’d been kids. What if the woman she had become was someone he could love? If he was going to fall in love with me, wouldn’t he have by now?

I didn’t want this baby—our baby—to be a shackle for him. I wanted him to choose me because he loved me. I’d already been married to a man who didn’t love me. I knew how horribly wrong that could go. As much as I loved King, I wasn’t willing to do it again.

Closing my eyes, I tried to block out the images of them together and just breathe. The evening air was cool, but I didn’t mind it. Perhaps it could chill the fears running through my head. Giving me some kind of relief from it all.

It didn’t help. Nothing was making this easier. Not even being outside. Peace and quiet might not have been the answer after all. I wasn’t sure there was an answer. When King returned Monday, I’d know. I would be able to see it in his face. If he was done with me, then I’d be able to tell.

But how would I survive it?

The cloth that covered my mouth startled me, and it took me a second to react. Strong arms wrapped around my body as I shook my head, the little his hold allowed me to. I struggled to get air, shaking my head and trying to scream.

“Easy,” a familiar voice said near my ear. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

I blinked, continuing to fight as panic began to build inside me. What was he doing? Did he want to smother me? Why? He just met me. I had barely spoken to him inside. My body started to feel heavy, and I struggled as things got slower, and darkness began to sink in around me. I was being taken under.

My arms fell limply at my sides, and I heard him whisper, “It’s all gonna be okay,” before the world went black.

A sharp, thudding pain in my head greeted me as I blinked, then closed my eyes again. My mouth felt as if I’d eaten cotton, and swallowing was almost impossible. I gagged slightly, then moaned from the ache it’d caused behind my eyes.

What was wrong with me? Was I sick? I needed to call out for Maeme. This wasn’t right. The baby … would my being sick hurt the baby?

Maeme would never hear me like this. The house was too big. She would be downstairs. I had to get up. Even if it seemed as if movement might possibly kill me at the moment. Slowly, I opened my eyes again, hoping my phone was in sight. I could call her. Talking would be hard until I had some water.

God, why was my mouth so dry?

I stared straight ahead at a wall I didn’t recognize. I hadn’t been in all of the bedrooms in Maeme’s house, but she would never put black-and-gold wallpaper on her walls, no matter how expensive it might look.

Where was I?

I tried to swallow again, and I couldn’t manage it. The lamp on the bedside table was made of glass with golden patterns etched in it. Again, not Maeme’s style.

This was bad, I thought. Or was it? Where had I gone to sleep?

Wincing, I forced myself to sit up and look around the room.

I tried to think. Remember what had happened last night. Pressing my temples, I pushed past the pain in my head. Had I drunk too much? My hand flew to my stomach. No. I hadn’t drunk anything. I couldn’t.

Had someone given me something? Had I been sick?

The races. The pink hat on the topless girl. Thatcher … Thatcher bending her over a sofa and screwing her right there in front of everyone. The Derby. We’d watched it. King.

I closed my eyes tightly, gasping from a new pain. The one in my chest. King. He had been on the screen with Scotlin. They’d been close. Touching.

A knock on the door startled me, and I looked at myself, realizing I was wearing the sundress I had worn to Sebastian’s house. He’d come to pick me up at Maeme’s. He’d said I looked beautiful. Maeme had agreed and told him not to keep me out late.

Another knock, and then the doorknob turned. I backed up, unsure as to who it was since I had no idea where I was. A tall man with olive skin, dark eyes, neatly brushed black hair, a strong jawline, tall and muscular build, and arms covered in tattoos where they were visible entered. Then, he smiled. Even white teeth.

“You’re awake. Good,” he said, and I realized he had a glass of ice water in his hand. “You’ll need this, I imagine.”

I dropped my eyes from his face to stare at the glass. When he held it out to me, I didn’t move. I had no idea who this was.

The cloth over my mouth. Oriel’s voice in my ear. He’d been the last thing I remembered.

This wasn’t Oriel though. Had Oriel brought me here?

“Take it. Please. You need to drink water. The chloroform knocked you out for fourteen hours. Your mouth must be fucking dry.”

Chloroform? My hand started to fly to my stomach, but I stopped it and fisted the covers instead. They couldn’t know about the baby. I had to protect it.

“What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice scratchy.

He held out the water to me. “Drink the water. We will discuss that later.”

I stared at it, wishing I could swallow and wanting to down the entire glass. “What’s in it?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Nothing. I want you clear and ready to talk. It is ice and water.”

“I need to use the bathroom,” I said.

I would get water from the faucet. I wasn’t drinking anything he gave me.

He walked over and set the water on the bedside table, then pointed across the room to a door that was closed. “Right through there. I laid out fresh clothing for you and all you need for a shower. Please, take your time. Get refreshed, and then we will talk about why you’re here over brunch.”

If he thought I was eating his food, he was insane. Talking was hard with my throat feeling like sandpaper. I stood without a word and headed to the bathroom, ready to lock myself inside and try to figure out what to do.

Pausing on my way, I turned to look back at him. “Where is my phone?” I asked, knowing it was pointless.

He wasn’t going to hand that over.

“It was destroyed and left outside where you were taken.”

That response didn’t surprise me. He’d used chloroform to take me. This had been a well-planned-out kidnapping. One I’d made too easy for them. I should have asked Sebastian to take me back to Maeme’s. Going outside alone had been stupid. Especially after the incident outside Maeme’s the other night.

The lavish bathroom was as bold in color choices as the bedroom. Everything was gold and white in here though. I locked the door, although I was sure the man had a key. Then, I went directly to the sink to get several handfuls of water and drink until swallowing no longer hurt. When I was satisfied, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was pale with dark circles under my eyes. Other than that, there was no damage.

My gaze dropped to my stomach. I wasn’t sure about the baby though. How would chloroform affect it?

Nausea began to roll over me. I walked over to turn on the large walk-in shower before stripping off my sundress and panties. I needed to wash this from me. All of it. Being touched by strange men. Sleeping in a bed I didn’t know. While under the spray of water that came from the ceiling like a rain shower, I checked my body for marks, then reached between my legs for any sensitivity to show that I’d been raped. There was nothing there.

I let out a sigh of relief, then tilted my head back and closed my eyes.

This was bad. Very bad. I needed a plan, but I’d never been taken before. Abused by a man I was married to? Yes. I hadn’t won that battle either. I’d been saved. Would King find me and save me this time? Could he? No one knew where I was, including myself.

Opening my eyes, I scanned the contents of the shower to find shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Both the shampoo and conditioner were the exact same brands I had used when married to Hill. A coldness settled over me. I didn’t touch it. Instead, I turned off the water and got out quickly. My fear was slowly turning into a panic.

Why was the special brand meant for curly hair like mine in here?

I dried while my heart raced in my chest, then looked over at the panties, black leggings, a sweatshirt, and some thick socks that were lying on the counter. I didn’t want to wear the clothes they had provided, but they covered me up more than the sundress I had been wearing. The desire to be covered from head to toe won out, and I took the things left for me.

Once I was dressed, I took several breaths and tried to push the nausea back while I focused on what I was going to do next. I had no options, except to face the man and find out what he wanted. My eyes swung back to the shower, and I shivered, thinking about the shampoo and conditioner. Hill was dead. King had helped kill him. This wasn’t him. This was something else.

The Insantos? Was that it? They’d found a way into the family through Oriel and taken me. As tiny as it was, there was a small thread of hope. If it was the Insantos, then King would know how to find me. Wouldn’t he? Didn’t they have that kind of power?

“Please, please, please,” I whispered before saying a prayer.

The next wave of sickness I couldn’t hold back, and I ran to the toilet to throw up very little. Mostly the water I had just drunk. After a few more dry-heaves, I wiped my mouth and stood back up. Going back to the sink, I rinsed my mouth out and slowly sipped some more water.

Running my fingers through my curls to attempt to control the mess it was, I took a deep breath, looked in the mirror, and calmed myself the best I could. I had to be strong. Get through this. Be smart. Protect the baby inside of me.

When I walked back into the bedroom, the man was sitting on the high-back velvet chair that sat in the corner. He looked up from the phone in his hand, and a pleased smile flashed on his face, as if I had done something right. I hadn’t showered to please him or worn these clothes to make him happy.

“I hope you feel refreshed. Let’s go on down to the dining room. The vomiting should cease now. Side effect of the chloroform.”

At least he didn’t think it was due to morning sickness. Leaving with him sounded like a bad idea, but I couldn’t stay in this room forever. Getting out was the best chance I had at an escape. I needed to see what I was up against. So, I nodded and waited for him to walk to the door before I followed.

I did my best to take in every detail. Anything that could help me get away. The hallway was wide, and there were other doors, but they were closed. The wallpaper out here was as over the top as the bedroom was. Dragons, monsters, in an Asian tapestry pattern that had gold all throughout with reds and blues on a black background. The staircase wasn’t wide and impressive, but I also felt as if I was being taken down a back set of stairs.

After heading down another hallway with yet more horrible wallpaper, we reached a large opening with a gothic-looking chandelier and red walls. In the room, there was the largest sofa I’d ever seen in a massive circular shape. It was a solid black velvet. The man didn’t slow until we reached two wide red doors that blended in with the walls. He opened them both, then moved back for me to enter.

Stepping inside cautiously, I took in the long dining room table, double the size of Maeme’s. There was food on fancy gold serving pieces all down the center of it. A tiered tray sat in the middle with fancy pastries and fresh fruit and warming trays with small fires underneath the food. The man at the end of the table stood up then, and I saw the resemblance to the one who had brought me here. He was a slightly older version, except he wore a dress shirt and slacks, unlike the other man who was in jeans and a polo-style shirt.

“Mrs. Millroe,” he said in greeting.

Although he was smiling as if I were an invited guest, I could see the glint of evil in his eyes. There was a threat of unhinged damage in that sculpted face. I wanted to correct him. Hearing Hill’s surname attached to me made me cringe inwardly, but I didn’t want to tell him my name. I was sure he knew it, but I chose to remain silent.

“This way,” the man behind me said, waving a hand toward the chairs closer to the other man.

I continued to follow him as I scanned the rest of the room, but we were alone. He stopped and pulled out a chair to the right of the other man.

“I know you have questions,” he began as I sat down. “My name is Falcon Socorro, and I have no intentions of hurting you. I need information from you, Mrs. Millroe.” He paused, then held his hand up to motion for someone.

I heard a door open and turned to see two men walking in, wearing matching black attire, carrying trays.

“Do you prefer coffee or tea?” he asked.

I glanced over at him, not sure if he would remain nice if I refused everything here. If I went along with this, I could get information. Keeping myself from being beaten or killed was my goal at the moment.

“Do you have juice?” I asked.

He nodded. “What is your preference?”

“Orange,” I replied.

One of the men stepped forward with a pitcher and filled the empty glass by the plate in front of me.

I started to thank him, but stopped myself. I wasn’t going to speak unless I had to. Attention to detail. That was what I needed to do. That, and get as much information out of this Falcon Socorro as possible.

When I shifted my gaze back to him, he picked up his cup of coffee, flashing a gaudy diamond ring on his hand.

“Please help yourself to whatever you would like to eat. I’ve already had my meal, but I want to be sure you are full and satisfied before we begin.”

I licked my lips and tried to calm my nerves before I spoke. “I would prefer we talk now. Why am I here? What do you want from me?”

He set his cup back down, and the flash of displeasure in his expression wasn’t missed. He didn’t like his directions to be ignored. He was in charge and gave the orders. If this was the Insantos gang, then I was willing to bet this was their leader.

“Your husband,” he began, “stole from me.”

I already knew this. He’d stolen from a lot of people.

I nodded my head once. “Yes. I am aware he was a criminal.”

Falcon raised his eyebrows. “Was?”

Crap. I was going to hold that piece of information until it needed to be shared.

I managed a shrug. “I haven’t seen him since he was attacked in his house and I ran. I don’t know if he is alive or dead.”

He studied me, and for a moment, I wondered if he was a human lie detector. It felt like he was with the way his dark eyes stayed locked on me.

“Tell me, Mrs. Millroe, why did you run?”

Sharing as much truth as possible might be the way to stay alive here.

“He beat me. I left, hoping the gunshot killed him.”

He narrowed his eyes. “He beat you? Do you know who shot him?”

I shook my head, wishing I were a better liar.

He chuckled then, but his eyes showed no humor. “That’s a lie, isn’t it? You’ve been living under the protection of the men who shot him. Surely, by now, you are aware of that.”

Not good. He’d caught me in a lie.

“Yes, I am aware. But I don’t see how this concerns anyone other than me.”

Another smile that felt as threatening as a snarl would have.

“I’ve not had issues with the family. They keep to their business, and I, mine. However, your husband owes me millions, and no one steals from me. I want my money, and I want his head on my wall as a trophy. You are the only person that I haven’t spoken to who’s connected to him. King Salazar made it difficult to get near you, so I had to wait it out and plan. Test their boundaries and priorities. Seems you are not one of those anymore with the future governor’s daughter on his arm. I saw my opening and took it,” he explained. “I want my money. What do you know about your husband’s whereabouts? Any other hideouts he could be at?”

If I lied and he found out, it was likely that I’d die. A very brutal death. My hopes that King would come for me had just taken a hit. Was there truth to what he had said? King had been protecting me, but slacked off? Had I missed that? What if he’d wanted me taken? No. He wouldn’t do that. Even if he was bored with me, he wasn’t cruel. He cared about me. That wasn’t something he could fake. I knew he cared. He’d begged me not to leave him and go to Ocala. I would not let this man convince me I wasn’t important to King anymore.

“Churchill is dead,” I said, hoping this wasn’t a mistake and I ended up dead before the sun set.

Falcon leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful look on his face. “I see. Not surprised. I was beginning to think this might be the case when my men could find no sign of him. That normally only happens when the Mafia takes someone. They disappear.”

He cleared his throat, then held up his hand and did that small flick of his fingers to beckon someone.

“I still want my money,” he informed me as one of the servers came to fill his cup of coffee. “If Millroe is dead, then they’ve got all his money. His house is on the market, and I assume that was also the family’s doing. He owed them money as well, and per usual, they took it back, along with everything else, including the wife. They don’t leave a stone unturned.” There was a trace of respect in his tone, mixed with annoyance.

I remained silent with my hands clasped in my lap. Speaking when spoken to was a rule I would abide. No need to give him more information than needed. He ran his fingertip around the rim of his cup as he stared at it in thought.

When he finally lifted his gaze to meet mine, he gave me a small nod. “Very well. You will stay here. They wanted you bad enough to take you, which means someone finds you important. When they hand over my money with interest, then they can have you back. That is, if you want to go back there. I’m an equal opportunity kind of man. I can see your appeal, and I am happy to offer you a place here.”

Oh heck no. I shook my head. “I want my own life,” I said. “They are going to give me that when I am safe.” From you, before I ended up pregnant.

Now, I wasn’t sure what my future held.

“I see,” he said.

We sat there in silence for a few moments, and then he cleared his throat and set his cup down. “Then, you’ll stay here until I have my money. You can return to them. I do not want a war with the family. We’ve managed to survive this long without issue, and I don’t want to waste men and resources on that battle. I’ve heard the young Hughes is now in control, and his reputation is far more threatening than his father’s.”

Falcon stood up. “But the longer they make me wait, then I will have to use you to speed things up. Pain will be involved. I’m sorry in advance. Let’s hope you’re as important to them as I think you are. I truly hate to hurt a pretty face.”

He beamed a bright smile at me then. “Now, eat. The food is excellent, and if I do return you to the family, I’d like to show you were well taken care of.”

I sat there as he walked past me.

When he walked out of the open double doors, he snapped, “Tabor, Join Mrs. Millroe as she has her meal.”

The man who had come to retrieve me walked back inside, and he gave me a smile that didn’t look calculating. I felt somewhat relieved to see him even if he was the enemy. He wasn’t the one who had threatened me.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he said, walking over and taking the plate that sat in front of me. “I’ll just give you some of everything. You can eat whatever you prefer.”

I said nothing as he did just that, then placed the overflowing plate back in front of me before walking to the other side of the table and taking a plate to fill for himself.

“The pastries are made fresh by our pastry chef. He trained in France for five years. They’re delicious,” he told me before taking three different ones from the tiered tray.

“What will he do to me if they don’t give him the money he wants?” I asked, needing to plan. Be prepared.

He glanced up at me, then looked back down at one of the trays that sat over a small flame. “He won’t do anything. One of our men will.”

That didn’t answer anything.

“And that would be?”

With a sigh, he straightened back up from leaning over the table. “Beatings, to start. They’ll be filmed, and the video will be sent to King Salazar to see what kind of reaction we get. Falcon doesn’t want to hurt you. He wants our money. That is all. Once he gets it, you’ll be free to go.”

I was finding that too easy. If it was this easy, wouldn’t Blaise have already given them the money? They had it. Maeme said that I was wealthy. Why not give them that money?

“I have money,” I blurted out. “What if I have them give you mine?”

He sat down across from me. “We don’t want your money. We want ours.”

“But you’ll beat me to get it.”

He tilted his head to the side slightly with a sigh. “Do you not think you’re important enough for them to retrieve?”

Yes. I thought so. Maeme would want me back. King would too. Even if he didn’t love me, he cared about me. We were friends first. There was something he felt for me.

“I think …” I said, then paused, unsure how much truth they should have. Telling them I didn’t know if they would might have them speeding up the beating portion. I couldn’t let them hit me. “They will want me.”

That would buy me time.

He smirked. “I agree. If not, he’s an idiot.” Then, he held up a pastry and winked before taking a bite.

I looked down at the food in front of me, and my stomach rolled. There was no appetite. I was almost positive eating would send me running for the toilet. But then I also had someone else to think about. Someone who needed to be nourished. This was no longer about me. It never would be again.

I picked up my fork and cut off a small piece of a pastry with raspberries in some kind of cream decorating the top.

“Do they know where I am?” I asked him.

“They are about to know. Falcon wanted to speak with you before he made his next move.”

King would save me. I had to believe that.