Chapter 3
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’s ours—yours, too.
This…whatever the fuck happened is not on 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’s going 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.”
“What do we know about the nanny? I thought she passed all the checks?” I ask, struggling to understand how the fuck this even happened.
“She did,” Leandro says grimly. “There was nothing in her background to indicate she’d turn… I will personally find out how she was flipped though.”
I bite back the words about how that doesn’t help us now, not wanting to add fuel to the fire. With a sigh, I nod. “Thank you. But…please make Cole your priority. We need him back.”
The ping of a computer has both him and Hollis stiffening. I want to demand answers, but I can’t say a fucking word. When Hollis shuffles back to his computer, he curses, before glancing over his shoulder. “Everyone out.”
“What? What is it?” I demand, unwilling to leave that easily.
“They have sent us a video. Let Leandro and I watch it first. If…if you need to see it, I’ll let you know,” Hollis says delicately, and I know he’s trying to spare me, but I can’t allow it. Not with my son on the line.
“Play it,” I snap tersely, not moving.
Hollis shakes his head and I move to crowd him, but a firm voice rings out, “Enough!”
I whirl around and face a shaking Lio. My jaw drops, as I hadn’t noticed him in the corner, with Roman wrapped around him like an octopus, but he holds up a hand, stalling me. He takes a deep breath, glancing at the faces of each of us gathered here.
“Here is what we’re going to do. You may stay and watch the video with Hollis and Leandro.
Soren, Doc, and Javi will help move Marcus and Carter to your suite.
You can meet them there when you're done. Roman and I will return to the medical wing under Sarah’s supervision.
There…there are things that don’t need to be seen by everyone. ”
Grudgingly, I nod. I hate it, but he’s right. Carter’s already way too pale, and with Marcus down… They need help. But I will stand here for my son.
“Yes, Boss,” I grit out, waiting as people make their way out of the room. I snag Carter for a quick kiss before passing him off to Javi, who gives a muted “oomph” on taking Carter’s weight.
Lio waits until the rest have cleared out before addressing me again. “Don’t think I won’t remind Marcus of the rules when he’s awake. I was very clear, wasn’t I?”
“Yes, Boss, you were. But…”
“But nothing. Leandro made an error in the past—one he’s going to be punished for.
You know, as does Marcus, that after a punishment, things are forgiven and we move on.
If you can’t do that, we need to have a larger discussion.
For now, I’m going to take Roman and myself back to where we should be, but that conversation will be coming… ”
I incline my head, offering what respect I can.
I know he views Leandro as his, and despite the chilly formality between them at the meeting, it appears the rules are still very much in play about leaving the kid alone.
Which is fine, but right now? Right now, all that matters is Cole.
Thank fuck Lio understands that, because he leaves, towing Roman with him.
As soon as the door closes, I stare at Hollis. “Play it.”
It’s a short video, with not much to tell me where our son is, but fuck is it devastating. Those images will haunt me forever, and the sound of my sweet boy…who is always good for his daddies.
Fuck. What have I done? How did we miss that bitch getting into our home and taking our child? Is this what Marcus felt like when we held him captive? Because if so, I have no idea how he ever forgave me enough to fall in love with me… Even if I had no control over that situation.
My heart feels frozen and I rub at my chest, desperately needing air, but I can’t seem to find any.
I stare at the screen that has finally gone black, and promise myself that we’ll get my sweet Cole back.
And when we catch those responsible… Well, Tennant isn’t the only one who excels at torture.
No, their names are written on my list. They want to see Mayhem in action? Here’s their fucking chance.
Hurt my lovers? Hurt my son? I’ll gut every last person in my way… And that’s only after I make them pay for their sins.