Lochlan

I had never considered myself to be an arrogant man. I didn't have an exaggerated sense of my power or importance. Knowing what your money and good looks could do for you didn't make you a bad person, but it would seem the universe disagreed. Because it had been a very long time since I'd felt so humbled.

Raising one hand, I blocked the aggressive morning sun from my eyes and flipped it off with the other, nearly losing the bottle of Macallan in the process.

"Fuck," I muttered as some of the whiskey sloshed out of the bottle during my save attempt.

Amber liquid dripped over my knuckles. For a moment, I entertained the idea of licking it off because the idea of wasting any of the expensive drink would appal Alex; instead, I leaned back against the bed and watched as the rivulets merged with the nearly black flecks of dried blood.

The increasing brightness of the morning was doing nothing to lighten my mood. When I came into Millie's bedroom a few hours ago, I'd never intended to stay for longer than a few minutes. I just wanted to see if I could still smell her in the air or on the sheets, but more than a few swigs into the whiskey, I ended up sitting on the floor in front of the window wondering when the hell my carefully controlled life blew up. Glass rim pressed against my lower lip, I scrunched my brows together and came to the same conclusion I had earlier: I was fucked the moment I met her.

"Hello," I answered the phone without slurring a single syllable.

James updated me on the latest, which was that nothing new had been discovered. Millie successfully disappeared into the crowd after leaving the restaurant, likely avoiding areas she was sure would have camera coverage, and despite an extensive search with facial recognition, she hadn't reappeared. In my limited experience, it meant she was holed up somewhere until she thought no one would look for her, or she was dead.

Gut churning, I rolled to my knees and pressed my forehead into the soft carpet. With all my resources and power, there was nothing I could do. I wanted to scream. Or hit something—again. Eyes shut, I recalled the satisfying way the thug's head snapped back when I sank my fist into his face. I was the wrong target for theft on a good night, and last night had been far from that.

I hated this. Hated wondering if she was hurt or worse, and hated wondering if ignorance was preferable to the knowing. Marianna had been missing for over twenty years and most days I was happier believing she might be alive somewhere than knowing for certain she was dead. I didn't think I could survive another twenty years like that if Millie was my unanswered question.

With a huff, I raised my head and froze as my eyes landed on an object beneath the bed. Stomach flat against the floor, I stretched my arm into the darkness and retrieved the mystery item. Sitting back on my knees, I burst into laughter when I realized what I was holding. So, I hadn't been wrong about what I'd heard after all.

Small enough to fit comfortably in one hand, the vibrator was made of pink silicone and had a gold plate on its back. My knowledge of female toys was basic. Very few of my partners had brought them into the bedroom because most of my interludes were one-night stands with women who barely deserved the title of acquaintance. Unless they went about with their sex toys in their purses on the off chance they met someone, we made do with what was on hand. Like my tongue.

I pressed a button and watched in fascination as the tip pulsed, and when I placed my finger over the hole, it suctioned to my skin. A half dozen different ideas popped into my head, clearing a bit of my melancholy away until I remembered the woman I wanted to use this on was missing.

An hour later, I was in the corporate office. A shower and fresh suit went a long way toward making me appear presentable, but Luis was smart enough to sense the storm brewing beneath my skin. He dumped his stack of reports on the desk and hurried out of the office before I could bark orders.

Numbers and words swirled together on white pages until I pushed them aside and massaged my temples. Coming to work had been unavoidable. There were too many deadlines and loose ends to tie up, but my mind wasn't on any of those things. It was trapped by yesterday, scouring through the moments before and after Millie ran. The way her eyes lit up when I suggested decorating for Christmas. Her quick wit and laughter. God, the woman was smart and sassy, keeping me on my toes, and even though I knew she kept secrets, there was an honesty and innocence in her dark eyes that pulled at me. I convinced myself she was going to stay and give this a chance—give me a chance. Until she left me, and no matter how many times I told myself to stop obsessing over someone who chose to leave, I couldn't.

A knock on the door shattered the little concentration I'd mustered up, and I lifted my head, a scathing retort loaded on my tongue. Luis pushed his glasses up his nose as he came into the office. The door remained cracked behind him—probably so he could make a quick getaway.

"Um, someone is here to see you."

"If that someone doesn't have an appointment on my fucking calendar, then that person can rot in a chair outside my office until I have time for them." Not the most professional approach, but it was the best I could manage.

"Only if you get better chairs. I've sat on softer rocks."

My chair toppled backward as I shot to my feet. Millie stood behind Luis, her blonde hair framing her face in soft, natural curls. I dragged my eyes up and down her long, curvy frame, exhaling when I didn't note any injuries. Luis, the wise man that he was, darted around her and left, closing the door hard enough the frosted glass shook.

A full minute went by, with neither of us speaking. She clasped her hands in front of her, but I could see one slender finger twitching and tugging on the fabric of her tight skirt. Was she nervous? If she knew what I was thinking right now... what I was about to do... Well, she should be very nervous.

"Lochlan—"

"Lock the door."

She flinched. "What?"

Hooking a finger behind my tie, I pulled down and arched a single brow. "Lock the fucking door and come here."