My first thought as I woke was of Marcus, of course. Memories of last night, the intensity of our connection. I stretched, every inch of me deliciously sore from the hours we’d spent entwined. Here, in his bed. On the floor. In the kitchen, then back to the bed.
The silk sheets whispered against my skin as I shifted in the empty bed, but the absence of Marcus’s warm body didn’t unsettle me this time. I grabbed one of his t-shirts from the chair nearby and slipped into it, feeling embraced by him even though he wasn’t there. My bare feet padded silently across the floor. I made my way through the penthouse, more comfortable and familiar with the space.
A faint tapping of keys led me to his office, where Marcus sat hunched over his computer, lost in concentration. I leaned against the doorway, silent, enjoying the view. He was shirtless, hair tousled, the sleeves of tattoos that covered his muscular arms looked almost animated as he typed.
My mind slid back easily over the many ways those strong arms had lifted and moved me. Warmth pooled low in my body. It seemed impossible for one man to be so sexy, and yet here he was. And mine. What more could I ever want?
“Good morning, baby. You just gonna stand there staring at me all day?”
I smiled, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt you.”
“Don’t you ever worry about that.” He leaned back in his chair. “Sleep well?”
“Mm-hmm.” I stepped into the room properly, drawn towards him. As I passed, my gaze slid past a framed photo on a shelf. A younger Marcus and Tommy standing together, arms slung over each other’s shoulder, close as brothers. Elle’s face flashed through my mind and my worry came flooding back.
“Shit,” I said. “Marcus, have you heard anything about Elle? Is she back at the apartment?”
His expression shifted into something more serious. “I haven’t gotten an update yet, but I will. Right now.” He picked up his phone, eyes meeting mine, before quickly glancing away. “Why don’t you head to the kitchen? Grab some coffee, and I’ll join you in a minute.”
“Okay, thanks.” He was so good at that, just making things happen. I felt a bit better already.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted me as I entered the sleek, modern kitchen. Pouring two cups, my hands shook slightly. I paced the kitchen, my fingers tapping an anxious rhythm on the handle of the coffee cup. Guilt gnawed at me, a relentless reminder that, as happy as I was with Marcus, Elle’s absence left a gaping hole in my life. The sound of his footsteps made me pause, and I clenched my hands into fists, trying to hide my worry.
“Olivia, I’ve got some news,” Marcus said, his voice low and serious as he entered the room. “No sign of your friend yet, but there is something else – your apartment was broken into.”
“What?” I gasped, my heart dropping like a stone. “Was it a robbery? Or…?”
“I’m not sure yet,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “My guys said it was a bit of a mess.”
“Marcus, I need to see it. I have to know what happened!” My voice got louder and higher pitched with each word.
“Olivia, it’s not safe,” he insisted, stepping forward and placing his hands on my shoulders. “You need to stay here.”
“Absolutely not!” I shrugged off his touch. “My best friend is missing, and my home has been robbed. How can you ask me to just sit here and do nothing?”
“Because your safety is more important than anything else to me,” he replied, his green eyes burning with intensity. “You have no idea what kind of danger you could be walking into.”
“I don’t care. Elle is my friend. That apartment is my home. You’d never let something like this fly in your life. You can’t expect me to either.”
“I’m not telling you to do nothing. I’m just saying calm down, wait. Let me send someone to get more information.”
“No. Come on, we need to go. Now.”
He groaned. “Olivia, be reasonable. You blundering in there isn’t going to solve the mystery. No. You will stay here.”
“Fine,” I snapped, my chest heaving. “If you won’t take me, I’ll just go by myself.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You can’t keep me here like a prisoner. I’ll find a way out.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed at my threat, but something must have convinced him I was serious. He let out a heavy sigh, his posture deflating slightly. “Okay, you win,” he finally conceded, his voice low and strained. “We’ll go together. But if it looks dangerous, we’re leaving immediately.”
“Fine by me,” I agreed, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Moments later, Marcus called Benjamin to meet us downstairs, and we hurriedly got dressed. The air between us was thick with tension as we entered the elevator, a stark contrast to the heated passion we’d shared within its walls just hours ago.
The elevator descended with a heavy silence, making the ride seem much longer than it actually was. I tried to calm my racing heart, but the weight of my worries made it impossible. Marcus stood beside me, his arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression unreadable.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked quietly, his eyes fixed on the descending numbers above the elevator doors.
“Ready or not, I need to know what happened,” I replied, my voice barely audible over the mechanical hum of the elevator. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
“All right then,” he said, as the elevator came to a halt with a soft ding. The doors slid open, revealing Benjamin waiting for us by the door, his face stoic and professional.
“Let’s go,” Marcus commanded, leading the way out of the building.
Even the fresh air outside felt heavy as we climbed into Benjamin’s massive SUV, which Marcus referred to as “The Tank.” The vehicle’s dark leather interior surrounded us like a protective shell, but it did little to alleviate the uneasiness that hung between us.
“Is everyone ready?” Benjamin asked, his eyes flicking from me to Marcus through the rearview mirror.
“Let’s just get this over with,” I muttered, my fingers twisting nervously in my lap.
“Agreed,” Marcus echoed, taking my hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Benjamin navigated the city streets with ease, but the ride was filled with an awkward silence that seemed to magnify every passing moment. My mind raced with thoughts about Elle and our ransacked apartment, my anxiety growing with each block we traveled closer to our destination.
“Almost there,” Benjamin said, breaking the quiet. He cast a glance back at me, his face a mix of concern and caution. “Just remember to let us check things out first, okay?”
“Fine,” I huffed, annoyed by the way they were treating me like a fragile piece of glass.
“Olivia, we’re just trying to keep you safe,” Marcus reminded me gently, his grip on my hand tightening.
I sighed, knowing he was right. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept.
As we pulled up to my apartment building, I saw the familiar brick façade looming above us, looking more ominous than welcoming. Marcus and Benjamin exited the car first, their movements cautious and deliberate as they scanned the area for any signs of danger.
“Can we please hurry up?” I called out from the backseat, my impatience getting the better of me.
“Give us a minute,” Marcus replied tersely, his focus never wavering from the task at hand.
I watched as the two men approached the entrance, their bodies tense and alert. It felt like an eternity before they finally gave me the signal to join them. As I stepped out of the SUV, my heart pounded in my chest. It was amazing how quickly things changed. Going home used to be a comfort. I wondered if that feeling would ever return.
The moment I stepped into the apartment, my breath caught in my throat. The place was unrecognizable – furniture overturned, shattered glass scattered across the floor, our belongings strewn about like trash. Panic settled like a cold stone in my gut as I frantically scanned the chaos for any sign of Elle.
“Olivia,” Marcus’s voice was firm but gentle, grounding me as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Take a deep breath.”
I exhaled shakily, tears stinging the corners of my eyes. “How could this happen? Where’s Elle?”
“Let’s go through it together,” he offered, guiding me further into the ruined apartment. “I know this looks bad, but try to see past the mess.”
I forced myself to focus, taking in the details Marcus pointed out. There was no blood, and the mess seemed more like a frantic search than an act of violence. But that did little to ease my fear.
“See? It doesn’t look like anyone was hurt,” Marcus reassured me.
“I wouldn’t know,” I snapped. “You’re the expert on these things, aren’t you?” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. I could feel the weight of his stare, but couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair.”
Marcus’s voice was flat when he replied. “It’s fine. Look, I’m just trying to make you see. Obviously someone broke in here, but I don’t think they hurt your friend. And that’s good news. Whenever she is, she’s probably okay. We have to take things one step at a time.”
“I… I just… I can’t believe I spent last night wrapped up in my own happiness while Elle might have been going through hell. The very idea makes me feel sick.”
Marcus and Benjamin exchanged an odd glance before Benjamin wordlessly retreated, leaving us alone amidst the wreckage.
“Listen, Olivia.” Marcus’s voice was firm yet tender. “I promise you, we’ll find Elle. And we’ll figure out who did this. But right now, you need to grab whatever essentials you can and come back to the penthouse with me. We will figure out the next step together. But you can’t stay here.”
“Marcus, you don’t understand. Elle’s like family to me. She’s all I have left since my parents died.” My voice cracked with emotion.
He stepped closer, his eyes locked on mine. “I do understand, Olivia. What matters to you matters to me now. I’ll make sure Elle is found and do everything in my power to keep both of you safe.”
His sincerity was obvious, and it offered me some comfort. But the guilt still gnawed at me. “What if my relationship with you is what got her into trouble?”
“Asking questions you can’t know the answer to and staying here in this mess won’t help Elle, either,” Marcus countered. “Come back with me, and together we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
I hesitated for a moment before nodding, unable to argue with his logic. With a heavy heart, I went into my bedroom to pack what little remained untouched amidst the chaos. As I stuffed clothes and essentials into a bag, I prayed that Elle was okay, and that we’d find her soon.