VENITA:"Did he just end the call on me?" I loudly huffed. The audacity of that man. He owns me and every aspect of my life.Sasha was out of the bathroom in no time and I got her ready for bed. We tried our best to stay out of Emily's way. She was acting like a sore bitch and I couldn't handle that. Landon had already annoyed me enough. It would take less than nothing for me to go off should she get on my bad side.Thankfully, the night soon swallowed us and we gave into it with my brain constantly searching for ways to show Landon that I couldn't be owned.The next day came and the day after that with Landon still not back. I also noticed that Grey, Cross and Dr. Grant were nowhere to be found. Alexander and Brighton pestered me like a housefly feeding on a meal. They took turns to drive me to work; while one was with me, the other would be with Sasha. No matter how I tried to fight them off, they insisted as instructed by Landon. I pitied the poor boys because I didn't want them to
LANDON:Away from Venita, I felt the weight of the numerous challenges I was yet to solve pressing on me—dead ends in the investigation, my pack's training ground under attack, the mystery surrounding Venita's DNA, an unknown child in the mix, a deadly virus linked to her blood, my wolves falling victim, manipulation threatening my company, and an unseen adversary bent on exposing us to the human world. Not to forget the secret I've kept about her parents' death. We both needed a break from the chaos, so I decided to plan a mini-vacation to help Venita decompress.We were thousands of feet up in the sky and there she was, peacefully asleep like a child with no problems. “Wake up, beautiful,” I kissed her on the cheek. “Please, no. Ten more minutes,” she protested, pulling the covers over her head. One of Venita's qualities was that, she was a sleeper for sure. She could sleep all day and still doze off once her body hit the bed at night."No, Missy, we’re almost there.” “Wait, what?
VENITA: I was still buzzing with excitement, expressing how I didn't know how I would sleep that night. Everything has been so perfect that I didn't want the day to end or sleep to wake up to find out it was all a dream.Landon pulled me into the bedroom, proclaiming he had the cure for jet lag in his pants. The next day, we packed up early, said our goodbyes to Mateo and Ramona, who had prepared a to-go breakfast of freshly baked pastries for us, and headed to Madrid. I felt a pang of sadness leaving the city, a place I now felt connected to. However, going to Spain was a dream come true. I knew that I was bound to have so much fun. We arrived in Spain around eleven a.m. and checked into our luxurious suite. I was still not accustomed to all the luxuries Landon could afford. During my previous trips to cities in Nashville, I mostly stayed in hostels and cheap hotels. I have never enjoyed luxury before Landon. I flung myself onto the plush, king-sized bed, arms outstretched, and dee
LANDON:"What do you mean she's gone?" I practically shouted, unable to fathom how someone who I trusted with her security could lose my mate. "Is she a two-year-old who can be lost? Get real and find her!" I abruptly ended the call, seething with anger. I slammed the phone down, my frustration boiling over as Cross dared to inform me of such nonsense. He shouldn't have even taken another breath until she was back in his safety.The day had been consumed by meetings, starting with Amsterdam and then moving on to Shanghai and Norway. I felt a twinge of guilt for leaving Venita alone, but I wanted her to enjoy herself, shop, and have fun. Little did I know that the day would take a dark turn. As the hours stretched on, Cross's call shattered my peace. I couldn't shake the image of Venita alone and possibly frightened in an unfamiliar city. Gathering my thoughts, I tapped into our bond, hoping it would guide me to her faster than anything else. I couldn't bear the thought of her feeling
LANDON:Returning to my temporary residence, I grabbed my phone and dialed the Spanish police. Luckily, someone picked up immediately the phone rang."Hello, this is Landon Kurt. I'm calling to report a missing person. My girlfriend, Venita Lowell, went missing in Madrid. I've been searching for her, but I haven't found any leads and it's already late." The voice on the other end was calm and professional, which annoyed me. Could they not sense the urgency of this matter? "I'm sorry to hear that and I understand your concern, Mr. Kurt. However, we can't activate a search party until after twenty-four hours. People often return on their own within that time frame." "But this is different! Venita would never leave me. She's in a foreign city, and I have reasons to believe she might be in danger. I can't wait for twenty-four hours. Is there nothing you can do?" "I empathize with your situation, sir, but our protocol requires waiting for twenty-four hours. It's a standard procedure." F
VENITA: Fluttering my eyes, I struggled to open them against the harsh and blinding brightness. Wincing in discomfort, I tried to close them back, recalling the incident that led to this moment—I had been kidnapped. The logical explanation for the cloth with chloroform over my face. Seconds later, I attempted to get out of bed, but the weight on me felt as heavy as a stack of tree branches. My legs were numb, my eyes stung, head spun, and throat felt dry. Frantically, I dashed towards the slightly opened window, only to bump into another glass I hadn't noticed. Transparent and concealed in the floor-to-ceiling length windows, it deceived the eyes. The room, though beautiful, was practically empty, with only a Queen-sized bed and four bedposts. Observing my surroundings, I decided to approach the door quietly. Attempting to open it, I found it locked. Trying to muster more strength, I tapped into my wolf instincts, but there was only emptiness, a loss of the power I once possessed. C
VENITA:After my brief yet refreshing routine of freshening up and changing into a new set of undergarments and outfits, I approached the door, reminding myself to be patient with the situation. As I turned the handle, true to Venita's words, the door was unlocked. Stepping out, I found myself in a corridor flanked by two closed doors. Moving cautiously, I tiptoed forward, heightened senses anticipating the unknown. The walls of the corridor were painted in the same oyster bay hue as the room I had left behind. Contemplating whether to open the first door I passed, I wondered about the mysteries that might lie behind it. Would it be another room similar to the one I stayed in, or perhaps something more shocking, akin to the secrets I had uncovered in Landon's basement? As I passed the second door, a sudden chill ran down my spine, causing my hair to stand on end. The curiosity deepened, and I felt compelled to open that door. My pulse quickened as I pressed forward, driven by an inex
LANDON:It was frustrating for every single person to keep saying that their lead showed that Venita was out of Madrid. For fucks sake, I was with her passport and she didn't have enough cash on her to fly out of a whole country. The investigators Greg recommended proved futile too. I was facing another dead end with Venita still not back. I couldn't function and this turned out to be the most stupid idea I've come up with for giving in to such a risky deal, thinking that I've got it. If she was in danger, it was all on me for even buying such an idea. I exposed her to threats without proper precaution.This was a whole second day of her disappearance. I was worried. Yet, Dr. Grant kept blowing my phone and when I answered, he just had another useless information on some DNA shit. I didn't care. I wanted my mate back! So, I hung up on him even before he finished his second sentence.My phone rang again and I eagerly answered it after making sure it was persistent Dr. Grant. For the las