Page 76 of They All Own Me

My jaw clenches as I spot drops of blood on the carpet. "Thomas."

"That stupid fuck." Connor kicks a chair. "He must have figured out where she was and had someone grab her."

"Split up," I command. "Check every room. Look for anything that might tell us where he took her."

The rage building in my chest threatens to overwhelm me. That entitled piece of shit thinks he can just walk in here and take what's ours? I examine a bloody handprint on the wall - too large to be Tatum's.

"At least she got some hits in," Isaac says, noting my gaze.

"Dom!" Connor's voice echoes from upstairs. "You need to see this."

I take the stairs two at a time, my heart pounding against my ribs. Whatever that bastard's done to her, he's going to pay. And this time, we won't be gentle about it.

Chapter 39

Tatum

My head throbsas consciousness creeps back in. The air smells stale, like mildew and rust. My eyes adjust to dim fluorescent lighting flickering overhead, casting eerie shadows across concrete walls. A basement, maybe? Metal digs into my wrists and ankles where I'm bound to what feels like a wooden chair.

"Hello?" My voice comes out hoarse. "Is anyone there?"

Only silence answers. The last thing I remember is being in the house, cleaning. Then darkness. Ah shit, then being shoved into an SUV by voices I didn't recognize. Now this. For some reason, I don't feel like this was part of the plan.

"Dom? Connor? Isaac?" I test each name, hoping this is some kind of sick training exercise. But the ropes are too tight, the room too unfamiliar. This isn't their style.

A door creaks somewhere behind me. I strain to turn my head but can't see who enters.

"Let me go! Who are you?" I struggle against the restraints, the chair legs scraping against concrete. "You have no idea who you're dealing with!"

Footsteps echo, getting closer. My heart pounds. This isn't how this was supposed to go. We had a plan. The guys were supposed to be back by now.

"Help! Somebody help me!" I scream as loud as I can, my voice bouncing off the walls. "I swear to God when they find you?—"

A hand clamps over my mouth from behind. I try to bite it but can't get the angle right. Tears of frustration and fear stream down my face as I thrash in the chair.

"Now, now, Mrs. Cope," a voice whispers near my ear. "Is that any way for a senator's wife to behave?"

My chair suddenly spins in the opposite direction and I see three men in expensive suits stroll in like they own the place. Their polished shoes click against concrete, echoing off the walls. The tallest one adjusts his gold cufflinks while eyeing me with cold calculation.

"Who the hell are you people?" I strain against the ropes binding me to the chair. "If you're trying to get to Thomas through me, get in line. There's already a queue."

The man with the cufflinks laughs, but it holds no warmth. "Feisty one. Your husband didn't mention that quality."

"My husband doesn't mention a lot of things. Like his apparent hobby of pissing off every criminal organization on the eastern seaboard."

A shorter man with a scarred face steps forward. "We represent certain interests in Hong Kong. Your husband made promises. Big promises. Failed to deliver."

"Let me guess - he took your money and ran?" I roll my eyes. "Or did he promise to give your wives the best five minutes of their lives and didn't deliver? "Shocking. Truly shocking."

"Try five million dollars," Cufflinks says. "Plus interest."

"Well, you're shit out of luck. He just paid his debt to another group of gentlemen about..." I glance at an imaginary watch on my bound wrist. "Oh, three hours ago?"

"We know." Scarface crosses his arms. "Which is why we're here. See, we figured if he could magic up that kind of cash for them, he can do the same for us."

"And you think kidnapping me will motivate him?" I laugh, the sound sharp and bitter. "Trust me, you'd have better luck threatening his golf clubs."

"Oh, we have plans beyond simple motivation, Mrs. Cope." Cufflinks smiles, all teeth. "Your husband's been playing both sides for too long. It's time someone taught him about loyalty."

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