Thirty Six

It was just supposed to be a normal day.

I had meetings lined up back-to-back, all centered on the business expansion, the kind of thing that normally took my focus. But ever since Vladimir had started lurking in the shadows, my mind wasn’t where it should be. Even when I was in those boardrooms, listening to presentations, signing off on contracts, my thoughts were somewhere else. My thoughts were with Morgan.

I hadn’t wanted to leave her alone, not even for a few hours, but she had insisted. “Arthur, you’ve got work to do. I’m fine. Besides, the security team is here.” Her smile had been soft, reassuring, but it hadn’t eased the knot in my chest.

But now, as I sat there in the middle of another meeting, my phone buzzed on the table. I glanced down at it, expecting it to be a routine email or a message from one of my assistants. Instead, my heart stopped.

It was a text from one of my security guys.

**Morgan is gone.**

I didn’t even bother with an explanation. I stood up, ignoring the