Page 67 of Blackmailed to the Altar

“Just how my daddy likes them,” he joked.

I didn’t hide my gag. We didn’t speak of his father. The Late Cowen. That asshole was the worst.

“I need the person who took my wife yesterday. When will I have my information?”

“Before the plane is finished fueling.” He clicked off the phone and got to work.

Even though it pained me to do it, I hopped in the shower, washing away the scent of my wife.

I can handle this, he said in my mind.

I shook my head in the mirror as I straightened my tie. “I don’t need you.”

He sighed, and it was like a caress in my mind.You created me because you needed me.

“No, I’m fine on my own.” I glared at my reflection. It was as if I could see his reflection in my orbs.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my shit together. The room felt too small, too damn stifling, and every second she was missing felt like an eternity. Images of Mya, tied up, scared, hurt, flooded my mind, each one worse than the last. My fists clenched, and I slammed one against the wall, the pain a welcome distraction from the panic gnawing at my insides.

Is it worth her life?

I scoffed. “Is what worth her life?” It was crazy that I was essentially talking to myself.

Your pride.

Your arrogance.

Your sense of entitlement. She will never be just yours. Accept the fact that she will always be ours.

“I don’t need you,” I seethed.

And yet I have more connections than you.

I knew he was right, even though I didn’t want him to be. I closed my eyes, blocking out everything, and allowed him to take over. Maybe he could find Mya quicker than I could. The longer time went by without her in my arms, the worse it would be. We were going to destroy whoever had the balls to take her.

Riccardo turned toward the door, my mind racing with a million possibilities. We were going to find her, and when we did, the whole damn world would know what happened when you crossed Sebastian Caputo.

No one touched what was mine. Not without paying the price in blood.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Dr. Mya

I fell in and out of consciousness. I think I started hallucinating at one point. I heard Sebastian calling me. His voice pulled me towards my grave. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to tell Sebastian that he tore me up inside. That I had no choice but to love him. He bargained all mine away.

Just one time, that’s all I needed, so I could tell him, but I couldn’t. Time had no meaning. I didn’t know if this guy had me for hours or days. I just knew the pain. My body was on fire. Everything hurt, but I knew I was still alive.

I opened my eyes, swinging to and fro, and staring at a different ceiling. At least, I thought it looked off. My kidnapper must’ve moved me.

“What bad mafia movie is this?” I muttered out loud.

This B-rated kidnapping was for sure a zero out of ten stars on hospitality, and I would tell the coward when he came to face me, as all bad guys tended to do. At least, they did in the movies. I didn’t care if he killed me. It wasn’t worth it. I’d rather die and be free, than live and be in pain, while he called the shots. I could control this much. I knew what happened to women whowoke up after being kidnapped. Marrying Sebastian, and staying in Italy with him, was not the norm.

I moved my head and screeched, as I felt every single open wound pull on my body. There was a bandage over my eye. Someone had sewn my wounds up. My kidnapper probably didn’t want me dying too quickly.

“Don’t move too much,” a voice called from the corner. I tried to see who it belonged to, but with only one eye, I couldn’t make out much.

“Why did you take me?” I croaked out. The room smelled different. I couldn’t smell my blood that had seeped into the floorboards. I could talk my way out of any situation. I just needed to get him to answer a few questions. Once I knew what his mental state was, I could proceed with finding the root of the problem. I opened my mouth to ask another question, but before I could, I felt the sting of a whip.

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