Book 2, Chapter 34: Gone

**Madison**

Nothing is more refreshing than puking your guts up first thing in the morning… or when you smell food… or breathe. This is the worst stomach bug in the history of stomach bugs. For the last three days, I have felt awful. My insides have rebelled against me.

Damien is usually fantastic, always really attentive, and borderline obsessive. He makes so much time for me even though he runs two empires. But for the last two weeks, he’s been a little distant, always at the office, saying he is working on some big secret project. He also keeps me at the main house and says I can’t leave the compound for safety reasons. I see Luke more than I see Damien. I think he is supposed to be my babysitter. Damien comes back home really late most nights and often smells of booze.

He will hold me and kiss me when we are in bed, but not as much as before, and it feels different. I try to talk to him, but he brushes me off, telling me he’s tired or can’t speak much. When I wake up, he’s gone. When I got sick a few days ago, he stayed to ensure I was okay but then rushed to the office as soon as possible. I feel rejected, almost like I was back in the gilded cage.

After attempting to empty my insides a few more times, I finally felt like I could stand again and went to the sink to brush my teeth. My toothbrush looked old and gross, so I went over to the bathroom cabinet to get a new one.

I stopped breathing momentarily when I saw the box of tampons sitting right in front of my face on the middle shelf. The need to brush my teeth flew out the window when I started thinking about my last period. I’m sometimes late, so it shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but I had a weird feeling about this. I grabbed the toothbrush and finished in the bathroom, all while trying to do period math in my head mentally.

Walking over to the bed, I immediately pick up my phone and go to my tracking app. “Twenty-two days late! Could you be pregnant?” was the first pop-up message. Holy shit, twenty-two days? How did I not recognize it sooner? Wow, I really am dropping the ball here.

Two hours later, I am sitting on the floor in the bathroom, with my legs to my chest, holding a stick with a very glaringly obvious plus sign.

Pregnant.

I am pregnant. I am pregnant with Damien’s child.

I am pretty sure I went through the entire five stages of grief in about twenty minutes and then had a mini panic attack. I want my mom so bad right now. I may be marrying the man, but he still has his limits apparently and wants to keep me hidden.

I need to tell him. I don’t know if he was going to be coming home tonight. Maybe he will be happy? Gosh, I hope so, I think to myself as I put my hand over my tummy.

With a final deep breath, I get up, put on my metaphorical big girl panties, and storm out the door, leaving my pregnancy test on the counter by the sink.

I run to the foyer, grab the porch keys, and head outside, flying to the car and peeling out of the driveway as guards try to stop me. I won’t stop until I am at the front of the building. I don’t know the exact route to take, as I am always driven, so it takes me about an hour to get there, but I manage and park in front of the building, tossing my keys to the valet, who opens the door.

I waltzed straight in, and luckily, the security guards at the desk remembered me and buzzed me through the gate without a problem.

The elevator ride to the top of the building felt like an eternity and a half. I swear this thing decided to move at a snail's pace, making my anxiety grow with each passing second. Butterflies are flying in my stomach, and my nausea is back.

Thankfully, the sound of the ding helps settle my nerves. The floor is quiet—too quiet. The receptionist is not at her desk, and as I walk to the office, I do not even see his secretary or Luke in his office, which is just next door.

There are no meetings in the three conference rooms I passed, so he must be in his office. His door was slightly open, but I didn’t hear anything, so I quickly knocked and poked my head inside.

My heart shattered in a million pieces at what I was seeing. In a blind rage, I banged open the door, announcing my presence. Damien looked at me, confused, and then at the almost naked woman on his lap. I could even see the smeared red lipstick on his lips. “Madison?” he called out, but he didn’t even try to push the girl away. I turned around and left down the hallway.

As if the fates had heard my pleas for help, the elevator opened, and Luke walked out with the assistant on his arm. I rushed into the elevator, passing him, letting my tears fall freely.

“Madison? What are you doing here?” Luke asked, holding the door from closing. I shook my head, trying to understand what I just saw.

“Nothing of importance. Please give this back to Mr. Abizi. I am sure he will prefer to give it to his new woman,” I snarled, handing him my ring to give to Damien. Luke's shocked and confused look was enough for him to drop his hand, and the elevator doors closed in front of his face.

As I entered the lobby, wiping my never-ending tears, a familiar voice called me out and approached me. “Madison, darling? Oh, Madison, are you okay?” I just shook my head. Come with me, dear. I will take you home.” I followed mindlessly, unable to see straight through the waterworks.

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Third Person

Back at the O’Donnell estate in the States, Caden and Arthur sit in the main living room with Beth between them. It is a very rare day when they have the house completely to themselves. They even dismiss the house staff for the day so they can be together anywhere they want.

Caden has his hand under Beth’s skirt, teasing her little bud with his finger and sucking on her neck while Arthur kisses her fiercely and rubs her breasts just the way she likes it. Arthur is swallowing her moans as she is getting closer to her climax.

She has her hands down both of the men’s pants, stroking them wildly. Their breaths are getting quicker as they each near their release.

“Come with us, Angel,” Caden whispers as he increases his speed between her aching thighs. The doorbell rings just as they are about to reach that mountain peak to sore.

RING! RING! RING!

A furious knocking echos in the quiet house, and three very frustrated growls erupt from the living room.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Beth screams in anger. She was so damn close to her first release in months. Since Madison was taken, everyone has been on edge, and the men have thrown themselves into the businesses and trained the men for a possible war. All the girls have been feeling lonely and deprived, so they came up with this great idea to get their partners for a fuck day.

“I swear I am going to splatter the brains of every guard on duty if this is not life or death,” Caden roared as he shoved his dick into his pants and stomped towards the door that hadn’t stopped making a ruckus with incessant knocking. Arthur was right behind him, equally upset.

Caden angrily pulls open the front door and screams, “WHAT?” only for his eyes to widen and his heart to skip a beat. He was seeing a ghost in front of him. Damien stood at the door, looking like he hadn’t slept in three days. It was Damien clear as day, but he looked older and wiser.

“Damien?” Arthur whispered, equally shocked and confused.

“I need your help to get her back,” Damien said, desperation laced his voice.

“You’re alive? Holy shit. Come in!” Caden said, opening the door wider for him. Damien stepped through the threshold, and his heart squeezed at the familiar memories.

“Tell us, Damien. Who do you need to get back?” Arthur finally asked.

“Madison. She was taken outside my office, and I know who has her. The only way we will get her out alive is with your help. Your whole family’s help. We need the fucking Calvary.”