Never in my life had I laid my hands on a woman, or even contemplated doing such a thing, but at that very moment I was positively murderous. I wanted to wrap my hands around Chelsea’s throat and squeeze until the haze of red rage cleared from my vision.

“Well, she’s just a ray of sunshine, isn’t she?”

Her talking right then was a huge mistake. I lost it. I stormed in her direction, only pausing long enough to snatch her dress off the floor. Once I was close enough, I grabbed her by the upper arm and yanked her out of the bed so fast her entire body jerked awkwardly, though her fake tits didn’t budge. The sight of her bony naked body did nothing but make me sneer. The bitch needed to learn to eat a sandwich every once in a while. Resembling a fucking skeleton with two watermelons hanging from her chest was a really bad look.

“Get dressed and get the fuck out.” I dragged her toward the front door, released her with a shove, and tossed her dress at her unceremoniously. “What you won’t do,” I continued, the threat heavy in my tone, “is say another fucking word. Do not speak. Do not make a goddamn sound.”

“Dominic.”

“What did I just say?” I bellowed. I charged so fast her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as she stumbled backward before bumping into a wall. “You just fucked up for the last time, Chelsea. You understand me? After I throw you out on your ass, I’m calling my father and telling him every goddamn thing you’ve done. Everything.”

Chelsea’s forehead creased and her eyelids dropped into narrow slits as she tried to figure out whether or not I was bluffing. “You wouldn’t.”

I leaned in menacingly and hissed, “Not only would I, but I fucking am. See, the mistake you made was thinking your pussy was something special, that you’d be able to control my father with that and your mouth. What you’re too stupid to realize is that there isn’t a woman on God’s green earth he cares more about than he does his money and status. Doesn’t matter if you got a cunt made of gold and suck dick like it’s an Olympic sport. The second his fortune or reputation is at stake, he’ll act like he doesn’t have a fucking clue who you are. And sweetheart, you put the final nail in that coffin the night you approached me and asked me to take you home.”

I placed my hand on the wall by her head and loomed over her, making sure to use my size to intimidate. “You knew exactly what bullshit game you were playing, and I let it go on this long thinking you’d pull your head out of your ass and get a clue. Clearly I was wrong. I should’ve done this shit sooner, but lesson learned. Hope you got somewhere to go, ’cause the minute the old man finds out you fucked his only son while you were still riding his dick, your ass will be on the streets. And rest assured, I’ll make sure that happens.” I got so close we were practically nose to nose as I enunciated each word. “I won’t stop until I’ve. Ruined. Your. Life.”

I stood back and threw the front door open. “Now get out.”

“Please, Dom. I didn’t know you’d be with her, I swear!”

“Bitch, get the hell out of my house.”

“I’ll make it right,” she begged, tears clinging to her long-ass fake lashes. Everything about her was fake.

“Nothing you can do now except get out!” I finished on a roar.

“Okay,” she whimpered, bending to work the sad scrap of material she called clothing up her legs. “Just let me get dre—”

But I was done.

I took her forearm once again and all but threw her out of my apartment with her dress still bunched around her calves.

“Dominic!”

I slammed the door and started to turn when I spotted an ugly-as-hell bright pink purse on the table. I picked it up, opened the door, and threw it out. She hadn’t been prepared, still busy trying to cover her naked body from my neighbors, so it clattered to the ground, everything inside spilling out all over the breezeway.

With that done, I slammed the door shut again and threw the lock. If I found anything else of hers in my apartment I’d just burn it.

Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled my cell out and called Sophia. It went straight to voice mail. I hung up and did it again to the same outcome… over and over until I finally gave up the fifth time.

A part of my brain was telling me to give her space, but I ignored it, grabbed my keys, and rushed out the front door, not bothering to lock it behind me as I sprinted to my car. If someone robbed me, they were welcome to everything I owned. It was all replaceable. None of that shit mattered—the only thing that mattered was Sophia. I had to get to her. I had to explain that Chelsea hadn’t given her the whole truth.

I spent the whole drive to her house praying to every single god I could think of—and even some of the saints I could recall from Catholic school—that she’d give me the time to tell the full truth.

I was so desperate to get to her that I barely came to a full stop in her driveway before shoving the door open and bolting out. I didn’t even bother to close it behind me.

“Sophia!” I shouted, pounding on her front door. “Soph, baby! Please, open up! I’m begging you, please, you have to let me explain!”

I got nothing, not even so much as Lancelot’s muffled barking. I banged again, so hard it was a wonder I didn’t break the door down. “Sophia!”

“Excuse me!”

I spun around to find a woman who I guessed to be in her mid- to late-seventies, wearing a muumuu and foam rollers in her hair standing on the front porch of the house next to Sophia’s. “Do you have any idea what time it is, young man? It’s unbelievably inappropriate to shout a house down in the middle of the night. If you don’t stop disrupting the neighborhood, I’m calling the cops.”

“I’m sorry,” I called. “I really am. But have you seen Sophia by any chance? Just within the last thirty minutes or so?”

I could see her face pull into a deep frown from the bright light emanating from her front stoop. It was like a goddamned spotlight. “Why should I tell you? You could be a deranged killer or something, skulking around here in the dark, beating doors down.”

I took two steps off Sophia’s porch in her direction. “Please. I’m a… friend. She was upset earlier and I’m worried.” I could see my words were affecting her so I kept quiet, not wanting to push my luck.

“Well that would explain why she went peeling out of here like her hind end was on fire. Even took that ugly little dog of hers. Looked like she was crying, but when I asked what was the matter she wouldn’t even look in my direction. Just threw a bag in her car and took off. Pretty rude if you ask me.”

She isn’t here. Damn it. “Okay, thanks.” I hopped off the last step onto the walkway and bolted back to my car.

“Young people,” the old lady grumbled. “Always in such a hurry.”

She had no idea.

“Yeah. Thanks. Bye.” I jumped in my car and reversed out of the driveway. As soon as my wheels touched the road, I hit the button on my steering wheel to activate my phone through the speakers. I got her voice mail again and my anxiety rose.

“Sophia, please. Call me, okay? I need to talk to you.” I tried three more times before giving up and trying another number.

She picked up on the third ring. “This better be important, big brother. I was asleep, and you know how much I love my beauty sleep. Don’t make me have to kill you.”

“Is Sophia with you?” I spit out in a rush.

Lola’s voice went on high alert as she answered. “No. What’s wrong? What happened? Is everything okay?”

“So she’s not at yours and Grayson’s house?”

“Dominic! Tell me what’s going on,” she demanded. I could hear Grayson’s voice in the background but couldn’t make out what he was saying.

“Some shit went down tonight,” I replied. “We got into a fight and she took off. She’s not answering my calls, and she’s not at her house. Do you have any idea where she’d go?”

“Shit!” She hissed the word with about as much emotion as I was feeling. “What did you do.”

“Please, Lola. Just… Fuck! Just tell me if you’d know where she’d go!”

“I don’t know, Dom! Normally she’d come to me, but since she’s not here….”

Son of a bitch! “Okay, thanks.” I disconnected the call and ignored it when she called back, spending the next four hours driving all over Seattle searching for her. I called, I texted, and I didn’t hear a word.

I felt like I was slowly dying on the inside. Panic twisted my gut, my heart was breaking…

And there wasn’t a fucking thing I could do about it.

* * *

Sophia

I lucked out that the first hotel I stumbled on as I drove aimlessly through the city was dog friendly. Sure, the guy at the front desk didn’t seem too thrilled when Lancelot passed gas right there at the counter, but other than a dirty look, he let it slide.

“Come on, baby boy,” I cooed to my little guy. “Let’s go check out our home for the next couple of days.”

I slid the key card into the lock until the light turned green, then pushed the door open. The plan was to binge on room service, rent a ton of movies, and wallow in my own misery for the next couple of days.

I’d turned my cell off, not wanting to talk to anyone until I was able to get my head straight. It was like I’d been transferred back in time ten years. The only difference this time was that I was determined to handle the situation differently.

Back then I’d been young and stupid, letting my emotions control my behavior and acting on them. I refused to do that this time. I was a grownup and I’d learned from the past—well, somewhat, anyway.

I wasn’t going to be ruled by my emotions this time. I had too much going for me: an amazing career, a fabulous life that I’d built for myself. I wasn’t going to allow this to keep me down. Was I hurting? Yes. Was my heart torn to shreds? Abso-fucking-lutely. But that didn’t mean I had to let that heartbreak show.

I had a few days. That was all I was allowing myself. Then I was going to be a mature, responsible woman, damn it.

Even if it killed me.