Page 27 of The Mobster’s Secret

I look back at the house one last time. I could have been his queen. Had anything I ever wanted. But I have my pride, and I won’t sacrifice it for all the riches in the world.

Quickly, I turn and start walking as fast as possible away from the house. I grab my phone from my pocket and text Greta.

I need a ride.

Then it occurs to me that I don’t even know where to tell her to come get me. I don’t even know the address of where I’ve been living these last few days.

My legs move faster and faster.

Don’t look back. You can’t look back.

I’ve made up my mind, and I’m sticking to my decision. As soon as I get somewhere with Internet, I’ll see if I can re-enroll in my classes. Hopefully there’s not a re-enrollment fee.

My phone buzzes with a text from Greta. I lift it up and slide to unlock, but before I can read the screen, there’s a sound of screeching tires behind me. I leap back and spin around as a van slams to a halt beside me. The door opens, and three masked men leap out.

“Get that bitch!” one shouts.

“Get her phone!”

I try to scream, but a hand clamps over my mouth, silencing me. More hands grab me all over and lift me into the van. I kick and squirm, but it’s no use. Massive men pin me down as the door slams shut and the engine roars.

“Don’t you know better than to leave the house?” someone cackles. “It’s a dangerous world out here.”

A rag is placed over my mouth. It stinks like alcohol or something. I try not to breathe, but I can only hold my breath for so long. My lungs burn as I inhale, and my vision starts to go dark. The last thing I think of before I pass out is, Ivan, you were right.

9

IVAN

Willow is gone, and a piece of me has gone with her.

I’ve never felt such a sense of loss before. I could lose my entire fortune and not be as pained as I am now. It’s like I’ve been hollowed out, chewed up, and spit out again by some monster that knew right where my weak spot was.

I’m out of control as I charge around the house, grabbing up men by the collar and slamming them against the walls, looking for answers.

“Where is she!?” I shout at Jimmy, a new guy who shakes his head quickly.

“I–I don’t know!”

It’s clear from his expression that he doesn’t have a clue, but that does nothing for my rage. In fact, it heightens it. My men should know where Willow is at all times. They should have been looking out for her to make sure she didn’t leave the grounds.

Now she could be anywhere. She could be in trouble. And I have no way of finding her.

Christ, this is all my fault too. I wanted to protect her so badly that I chained her down. I restrained her. I tried to own her so she couldn’t be taken from me, and that’s exactly what led to her leaving. For a woman with such spirit and fire inside, I should have known she wouldn’t settle for that. I should have known she would find a way to escape.

My father lost his life trusting a woman. And I may have just lost the most important part of my life by trying to cage one.

My blood is absolutely scorching as I march down the hall, pounding my fist into my palm. Tyler and Brian are both standing by one of the outside doors doing nothing. In fact, Tyler’s laughing about something. When I see that, I nearly boil over.

“Tyler,” I growl, snatching him by the shirt. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“I–I was just talking with Brian—”

“Willow is missing,” I say, my voice low and taut. “Take some men and get out there and find her!”

He steps back as I release him, nodding quickly.

“Sir, I actually know where she is…” It takes me a second to process Brian’s words. A flash of suspicion tears through me. How could he know where Willow is unless he was part of her disappearance? Did this man, one of my most loyal men for years, betray me?