Page 112 of Desperate Desires

They weren’t just shoes. They were a reminder of Ono’s unwavering ability to know me better than I sometimes knew myself.

He’d had them made just for me and even wrapped them in a special box like they were a pair of designer heels. When he gifted them to me, it was with a sexy, lopsided grin, as though he was fully aware that I’d treasure their absurdity.

God, I missed him.

It had only been a few hours, but every minute apart felt like too long. I guess love really did stupid things to you.

Maybe that was why I didn’t notice how quiet it suddenly was outside the house.

With a silly smile tugging at my lips, I slid my feet into them, the familiar cushy comfort wrapping around me like a warm hug.

Then, with a steadying breath, I walked to the door, opening it without a care in the world.

And that was when I realized my mistake.

I stared down the barrel of the enormous gun pointed right at me, and felt my whole world spin out of control. I didn’t even look at my attacker. Fear spiked, and it was all I could do to breathe.

“Come quietly or you die.”

I didn’t want to die. But I didn’t want to go with him either. That moment of indecision cost me, though.

“I said, let’s go!”

The hulking man growled, then he swung the hand holding the gun and caught me in the side of the head.

I screamed and crumpled to the ground, vaguely aware of the man cursing as he dragged me off the floor and swung me over his shoulder. I felt one Croc slide off my foot as dizziness washed over me.

Then it all went black.

Chapter 40-Ono

“Bellezza? Where are you?” I shouted, storming into the house like a fucking hurricane.

She wasn’t answering her phone and the last time it pinged was here. I grunted, crouching down and picking it up where it was carelessly tossed on the floor next to one of her Crocs.

They were a belated wedding present from me. Something I recalled she liked a lot and wore all the time when she was working.

She wouldn’t leave just one thoughtlessly thrown on the floor like that.

Michelle was a careful person. She paid attention to detail.

No, this was bad. Something had happened.

By the time I realized she wasn’t answering, I called the guard who was supposed to be at the front door only to be told he left as per my orders.

That was bullshit. I gave no such orders.

It had been forty-seven minutes since anyone had seen or heard from Michelle. Forty-seven minutes since my perfect wife was last seen safe and sound in our home.

Someone came and took her.

Someone violated the sanctuary of our house.

And that someone was going to fucking die.

I grabbed the phone, calling Sammy and Jr. on three way.

“Anything?” I roared, jogging down the stairs to where Gio waited with the car.

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