While it was possible that she’d managed to get out of the room, my bets were on Theo’s interference. Whatever he had planned for her was meant to embarrass us or worse.
We couldn’t allow that to happen.
“We need to fucking find him!” Cain roared, his rage reaching a new level.
“Spread out. Room by room!” I bellowed when I saw Cristiano.
“Whatever happens, Theo doesn’t leave alive.”
Cristiano and I glanced at each other as Cain kicked open one of the doors. Then he lifted his fist in solidarity.
We did the same.
I might not like his tactics or his all-consuming anger, but when a member breached the rules, we came together as a force. When outsiders threatened our wellbeing, we reacted without remorse.
No hesitation.
No regret.
And no conscience.
We were a brotherhood. We’d made an oath to protect the house, the traditions, and other members. As well as the women who served our needs.
No matter what efforts were necessary to do so or the consequences.
Theodore Watkins would pay the price.
* * *
Sage
Run. Run. Run.
That’s all I could think about. But I couldn’t break free of Theo’s hold. I was woozy and dizzy as hell, but I’d fought him hard enough that he’d dropped the syringe before issuing the full dose. Still, he had one hand over my mouth, his other arm pressed against my throat. Even as I struggled, jamming my heel into his foot, nothing stopped him. He dragged me to the other end of the house and down another set of stairs, laughing softly as if taking me from the three men who’d captured me was any worse.
When he jerked us both to a stop, dropping his hand to reach for a doorknob, I let out a horrific scream. But I knew deep inside the sound would never be heard over the thumping music. I wasn’t even certain I’d made a noise.
He shoved me inside, slamming then locking the door.
The force he’d used pitched me back against a washing machine, the brutal impact knocking the wind out of me. I’d lost one shoe, my dress already torn from where he’d grabbed me. My vision was still foggy, images blurry. I blinked several times, fighting the drug with everything I had.
“Get… away from me!” I hissed, scanning the room for anything I could use as a weapon.
He grinned lasciviously as he raked his hand through his hair, swaggering towards me, then allowing his gaze to slowly fall to my breasts. “Don’t worry. It’ll wear off in time. Those assholes think they can take everything without consequences. So strong. So entitled. Well, I found their single weakness. That’s you. I’ve watched them for months stalking you, as if they thought they were so clever. Do you know why they did?”
“Uh-uh,” I said. My mouth was like sandpaper. Even worse, his words echoed.
“It seems your daddy is a very bad man. Did you know that?”
What the hell was he talking about? I tried to say something and almost tripped.
“Careful, little girl. You didn’t know, did you?” Theo laughed.
What was he talking about? “No.”
“Oh, yes. Your daddy is an assassin for some terrible men.”
An assassin? No, I wasn’t hearing him right. “Na… no. He owns a restaurant.”