Page 50 of Hard and Unprotected

Because it was all about the future now, and that meant Maggie. From this clusterfuck, something amazing had happened, and that was my beautiful brunette. With her by my side, anything was possible. It was going to be tough for sure. I was going to put in long hours building my own empire, but better late than never. It should have happened a long time ago.

And with the right woman, the world was my oyster.

I squeezed my hand around the pink diamond in my pocket.

Oh shit, oh shit. Because I wanted to propose. I wanted to bend my knee not to my father, but instead for the sweet thing who deserved my love and loyalty.

Maggie.

“We’re here, sir,” my driver’s voice rang out.

The limo pulled to a slow stop outside the female’s place, headlights cutting through the darkness of her neighborhood. I levered myself out, pulling at the dark suit. Holy shit, was I nervous? Sure enough, my heart thumped hard, palms a little sweaty.

Fuck. The girl had me wrapped around her finger. No worries, this was going to be the best day of her life.

And with several loud raps, I knocked on the door. But oddly Maggie didn’t answer. I checked my watch again. Yeah, she was already done with work at the pet store and should be home by now.

I knocked again, louder this time. Then called her on my cell phone.

Again, no answer.

Was she sick or something? Is that why she couldn’t come to the door? I grabbed the key she kept under the mat and unlocked the apartment.

My heart caught in my throat, before exploding with a series of deep, painful throbs.

Because it was completely empty.

No clothes. No signs of Maggie. Just the furniture that came with the place, the walls bare and plain. I spun around in the empty apartment with disbelief. What the hell?

Furiously, my hand scrabbled at my cell again. And this time, I left a message.

“Where are you, Mags? I’m at your place. There’s—” No, I couldn’t ask her something like that over the phone. “Just call me when you get this.”

The phone clicked off, leaving me with ominous silence.

What the hell was going on? I’d just seen the brunette yesterday. Why would someone vacate so fast? Did she break her lease?

The mysteries swirled, but I’d get a hold of her. No worries.

But then a flash of something caught my eye, and I bent, slowly retrieving the object from a corner of the apartment.

A diamond? No. A glass copy of the one in my pocket.

What the hell?

Oh shit! The jeweler completely fucked up and sent a glass diamond to Maggie. Why the fuck would he do that? Was this some sick joke?

The real gems are locked up safe at all times, insured to the hilt with security guards standing by. So why the hell had he sent a glass bauble to Maggie? For kicks?

I picked it up and the glass winked dully. No way Maggie thought for a second this crap was real.

I was going to kill Raul Lozano. Why the hell did I pay this guy all that money for if he was going to fuck up something as basic as this?

If his mistake made her run ….

A sharp pain sliced through my hand. I looked down. I’d squeezed the glass ring so hard that it cut into my palm. Blood dripped between my fingers and splashed on the floor. But the pain was nothing compared to what was going on in my chest. Now that shit fucking hurt.

Maggie. I need her back here.