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“That’s better,” he growls.
Using his other hand, he loops the collar around my neck, then he releases my hair and sweeps it out of the way so he can click the metal clasps of the collar into place.
Utterly broken, I let out a sob.
“There’s no point in trying to take it off, Kitty. Only a key will unlock the clasp, and you don’t have it.” He chuckles. “Neither do I, for that matter. Only the boss will unlock it, and I can’t see that happening any time soon.”
With that, he leaves the cage and pulls the gate shut again, locking it behind him.
With a trembling hand, I reach up and finger the collar at my neck. I understand what this means. It’s a sign of ownership.
I don’t know who these men are, but I belong to them now.
Chapter 2
Domenic
It’s been hours since we realized Mackenzie was missing.
I keep going over everything that happened, analyzing every moment, wishing we’d done something differently. We should have insisted she come into the changing rooms with us, or one of us should have gone with her into the women’s room. We’d known this asshole professor had it in for her, but we’d let down our guard.
I pray we don’t live to regret it.
My father is calling in some favors with the local cops. He insists they’ll have caught whatever vehicle was used to snatch Mackenzie on camera and be able to figure out who it belongs to and where they’ve gone. I appreciate his optimism, but I wonder how much of it is being put on for Mackenzie’s mom. Lucia is beside herself, as we all are.
My brain keeps circling back around to the thought of that fucking professor having taken her. She’d stabbed him because he’d tried to assault her. She was only defending herself, but I bet he believed he was taking what was rightfully his. My fear is if he tried to do it once, and failed, he’ll probably try again. This time, he will make sure she can’t defend herself. He’ll be angry at her, too, and it will make him more dangerous.
The longer she’s in his grip, the worse things will go for her.
We’ve retreated to the den, seeing it as a place of sanctuary, to regroup and get our heads together. The tension in the air is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I feel like our combined anxious energy is enough to blow the foundations out of the entire building.
Tino paces the room. “I can call people in. My family has contacts. They’re basically military. They can swarm the whole area looking for her.”
I wonder how my own father would take to having Valentino’s men involved, but I’m not sure I care. I’ll do whatever it takes to get Mackenzie back, unharmed.
“How long will it take for them to get here?”
He twists his lips. “Twenty-four hours. Maybe less.”
My heart sinks. “It’s too long.” Then I give my head a shake. “But do it anyway.”
Mackenzie could be anywhere by now. If the professor has taken her, he could have access to her old passport, if she had one, and have taken her out of the country. With every hour that passes, she could be farther and farther away from us. I feel sick at the thought.
The urge to cut myself takes hold. My fingers itch with the need to pick up a blade and press it to my skin. I want to feel physical pain instead of this utter anguish that is tearing me in two. It’s like a hunger I need to sate, but I can’t give in. My focus needs to be on Mackenzie.
I turn to Kirill, who sits with his hands clasped between his knees, his head hung. He’s been quiet, and I know this is eating him up inside.
“What about your father, Kill?” I ask. “I know things aren’t easy between you two right now, but would he help if you asked?”
Kirill lifts his blond head. “Fuck, I don’t know. I’m not sure him focusing on our Duchess again is a good thing.”
“Lesser of two evils,” I say.
He presses his lips together and nods. “Let me think on it.”
“Okay, but not for too long. She might not have much time.”
The phone we found on the ground outside the spa beeps.
