Til Debt Do Us Part (Married At Midnight #4)

Chapter 30

Thirty

Dare

M y heart swells with relief as Talia finally makes her way into the ballroom. She looks beautiful in a turquoise dress that hugs her curves just right. She looks more radiant than the sun, her eyes glittering like emeralds, her full lips a light pink and pouting. Talia's hair is pinned up to reveal her long, slender neck and her face is made up with a natural, glowing look. I can't help but smile at the sight of her, and I know that I'm the luckiest man alive.

I take her hands in mine and kiss her palm before pulling away. "You look amazing," I say, my voice full of admiration.

Talia sighs and gives me a weary smile. "Thank you. You look pretty nice in that suit."

There's an awkward moment where I realize that tonight, we are just pretending that we haven't argued. While it isn't my favorite, I can deal with it for the evening.

I nod in understanding. Before I can say anything, Talia leans closer and whispers in my ear.

"We need to talk privately. It's important."

I swallow hard and take a step back. I can sense the distrust in her eyes - did I put it there? I force myself to give her an encouraging smile. "Of course," I reply softly.

My attention is drawn away from Talia as someone enters the ballroom with a flourish. Even before I lay my eyes on Felix, the stench of brandy accompanied by a stifling amount of cologne greets me. I see Felix's tall frame; his gaunt build fills out his black tailored suit perfectly. His silvering hair is slicked back, and his blue eyes have that sparkle of someone who is expecting to get exactly what he wants. His gaze lands on me, and I feel a chill down my spine. He raises his hand in greeting.

Felix has arrived with an obviously wealthy, rather pudgy man in tow. The man's tastefully tailored pinstripe suit bulges around the waistline, looking for all the world like a dam about to burst. Chunky gold rings threaten to be swallowed up by the man's fat hands. He clutches a white handkerchief in one hand, which he uses to wipe the prodigious sweat pouring from his brow and neck.

Felix notices me and beckons me over. Despite the fact that I don't really want to talk to my uncle right now, I obey his instructions and make my way towards him.

"Let's talk after the event is over," I say, looking at Talia.

She looks disappointed, an expression that I am not used to seeing coming from her. It eats me up inside. She nods slowly and steps away from me, purposely creating space.

That's what I wanted, isn't it? It crushes a part of my heart, though.

"I'll catch up with you later," Talia says softly. A strange mix of emotion flickers across her face before she turns away to greet other guests arriving at the ballroom. I see her Aunt Minnie enter the ballroom wearing a flowing dress of deep amethyst. The two women make eye contact and Talia practically runs into her aunt's open arms.

I rub my neck. I have done some real damage to my relationship with Talia. Even I can tell that much.

"Ah Dare!" He beams as I reach him. "Glad you could make it! You'll never guess who I've got here with me." He gestured towards his guests.

"Very impressive," I say politely, although internally I'm rolling my eyes at his antics. He wanted to show off - what else is new? Even though he looks happy in front of his peers, he still has an edge which almost everyone around him notices but chooses not to comment on it openly.

I approach Felix and the bank president, not entirely sure of what to expect. I spend my time schmoozing with him, telling him how great a business reputation his banking institution has. Basically kissing some serious ass. It's a strange experience for me, and it's as unwelcome as Talia's disappointment with me. It seems to do the trick, though... The sweaty man is all smiles and nods by the end of our conversation.

As for Felix, he takes a hands-off approach to letting me do my wooing of the perspiring executive. I notice him scanning the room looking for somebody. A few times he lingers on someone for a while before looking away again. As I get closer, I realize he's been staring at Talia.

Does Tripp know something that I don't?

While I'm still talking myself up, I can't help but notice Burn and Daisy make their entrance. They were not on the invite list, but I'm not going to make a fuss in order to have them kicked out. Besides, I want to really rub Talia's pregnancy in their smug faces.

I glance over at Burn and Daisy, but their conversation is too hushed to make out. Burn is gesturing repeatedly to Talia, which only fuels my suspicions. I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right.

I make a split-second decision to pull one of my bodyguards aside.

“Stay close to Talia,” I order him in a hushed voice. “Don't let her out of your sight. If Burn touches her or gets too close, you have my permission to tackle him.”

He nods and moves off into the crowd, taking up a post next to Talia while she talks with her aunt. I don’t know what Burn is up to this time, but I don’t want him causing trouble for Talia or anyone else tonight.

I take a deep breath and try to relax as I scan the room for any other threats that may be lurking around. But all appears to be quiet as the party continues.

I start looking at my watch. It's almost eight o'clock by now. I've been tentatively waiting for my grandfather to turn up before I start making a speech. But it's getting pretty late for early risers to wait around much longer.

The music is getting louder, and it's starting to interfere with my thoughts about what I should say during the speech. As I search for the words, a familiar voice suddenly startles me out of my reverie.

“Dare!” Daisy exclaims as she appears from out of nowhere. She wraps her arms around me and gives me an enthusiastic hug. “It's been so long since we've seen each other."

I pull away politely but firmly, trying not to appear rude. “Yes, it's been a while. I definitely didn't extend you an invitation. So what brings you here?”

Daisy bats her eyelashes coyly and then leans in close, breathing champagne-scented breath in my face. She effects a babyish voice that I remember her putting on for the first few months I knew her back in college.

“I came here to see you of course! To make sure that you are okay and to check up on you.”

She slides her hand up my arm. I'm caught off guard and take a half step back, glaring at her. She pouts, still flirting with me.

"What, are you still mad? You know, if you want to come with me, we can find a closet where I can show you how much I've missed you..." Her voice trails off expectantly as she looks up at me with the widest eyes imaginable. She leans forward, smoothing my dress shirt with her hand. "Don't you want me, Dare?"

I can feel my neck flush as I take a step back, putting some distance between us. I don't need her to get the wrong idea. Frankly, I don't want her getting any ideas about me at all. Daisy obviously notices the change in my demeanor because she gives me an exaggerated pout before continuing.

“Look, Dare, I know that our relationship ended badly but... I can still be what you need," she says softly, almost pleadingly. "I can marry you and have your babies. I can be your sweet little trophy wife, like you always dreamed." She reaches out and touches my arm gently before continuing in an even softer voice, "I still think you're sexy, even though you've put on a few pounds since I met you."

I raise both hands up defensively and take another step back away from her persistent advances.

"You're crazy," I accuse her. "I can't believe you think I would have anything to do with you. First off, I'm married. Second off, you dumped me for my fucking brother!"

My voice rises as I talk until I'm practically shouting.

Daisy folds her arms across her chest and the sexy, pouty baby act vanishes. "You're just as much of a stick in the mud as I remembered."

"That's okay, because I am off the table where you are concerned. Go slobber all over my brother."

I wave a hand and Daisy makes an angry squeak before she huffs away. I watch her receding figure as she leaves through the back exit, opening the doorway to show a quick flash of a stairwell. After a second, I shrug and turn away.

I take a deep breath as I walk back inside. I told Daisy off, but now it's time to find Talia. I notice her almost immediately, though she has her back turned to me. She's standing with Burn and he has his hand on her arm. Her head is bent in what looks like an effort to escape his grasp.

The bodyguard I assigned to stand guard over Talia is nowhere to be seen.

"Let go of her," I demand as I stride over to them. Talia whips around at the sound of my voice and relief floods across her face when she sees it's me. Burn looks like he's about ready to explode but he takes his hand away from Talia's arm slowly, grudgingly accepting my presence.

Talia steps closer to me and whispers quickly, "Dare, it's important that we talk in private. Please ."

I nod curtly, putting my arm around her waist. I pull her away from the prying eyes of the party-goers and toward the exit that Daisy just took.

But Remy has other plans for me, it seems. He finally enters the party, wearing a soft khaki cardigan, navy chinos, and a pair of sandals. He's extremely underdressed, leaning on his walking stick and being flanked by two very young female assistants.

"Fuck," I mutter. I nod to Remy, drawing Talia's attention to his arrival. "Of all the times to show up."

"Dare!" my grandfather bellows. "Where is Dare?"

Talia groans.

"I'm sorry. Let me go talk to him for a few minutes. I promise that we will talk. Right after I make the announcement that we're expecting, we will slip out the back and you can tell me anything." I kiss Talia on the side of the head, moving so quickly that I make it exceptionally awkward between us.

She exhales heavily and pokes her cheek out with her tongue. I catch her hand and kiss her knuckles. She shrugs and turns away.

I take a deep breath and steel myself as I approach Remy. He glares at me, looking like an angry thundercloud about to burst into a hurricane.

"So glad that you made it, Remy," I say. I police my tone and try to keep my face completely neutral.

Remy snorts derisively. "I'm not here for your charade, Dare," he says gruffly. "I heard the news already."

I take another deep breath and try to keep my temper in check. I don't want to get into an argument with my grandfather tonight.

"It's still nice of you to come, Remy," I reply calmly.

"I'm not even sure why you and that girl need a gala to announce her pregnancy. I told everyone about it already!"

"I thought you might feel that way," I say, as a way of not saying anything at all. "If you don't mind, I'm going to announce it right now."

I turn around and make eye contact with the event planner. She is ready and quickly brings me a microphone. I take a deep breath and try to center myself. I can feel the energy in the room shift as Remy steps back and allows me to take center stage.

I clear my throat and look around the room. All eyes are on me. The crowd shifts anxiously, whispers rising in volume.

"I want to say a few words as to why we are all gathered here tonight. Not just to give our money to Hope House, which is a worthy cause. But..."

My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I ignore it and keep going. There is a smattering of polite applause as I smile.

"I'm here to tell you that Talia..." I swing my gaze around the ballroom. "Where are you, darling?"

My heart sinks as I realize Talia isn't in the room. The crowd starts to whisper, and I feel my face flush with heat. I take a deep breath and scan the crowd for her familiar face.

"Just a moment..." I tell the crowd. My pulse starts racing. "Has anyone seen my wife?"

The crowd bursts into whispers. This is really not going as planned.

Talia is nowhere to be seen. Was she really so angry that I kept telling her that we could talk later?

Maybe she really had to use the restroom. Or maybe she texted me where she went? I fish my phone out of my pocket to check it for texts.

Time slows down. My heartbeat is ear-splittingly loud.

I see a single text from Talia. Opening it, I'm surprised to see just three digits.

911.

My mouth opens. What does 911 mean?

It means that Talia's in trouble.

My heart pounds in my chest as I yell out for all the security guards to search for Talia. They scurry off, but a few minutes later they return without her. I feel the air in the room grow heavy with disappointment and worry.

The guests start murmuring to themselves, shooting me sympathetic glances. I try not to think of what could have happened to her. What if she's hurt, or worse?

The only thing that matters right now is finding Talia and making sure she's safe. I take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand.

I turn to my security team and give them their orders. "You'll need to split up into groups of three and look everywhere you can think of. Alleyways, side streets, parks… Any place where someone might be hiding or in trouble."

The team nods and hurries away. My mind races as I worry about where Talia could be. Did she just need some time alone? Or was it something sinister?

I try calling her phone, but there's no answer. Then something occurs to me.

The text message that said 911 . Could it mean something more than just an emergency number? Tristen runs over to me, trying to see if he can help.

I scrub a hand through my hair, trying to think.

Think, goddamnit. Why won't my brain work?

"Mr. Morgan?" one of my security team calls. "I found something."

The security guard steps closer, motioning for me to come take a look. My heart skips a beat as I see what he is pointing at.

It's Talia's phone. Shattered and lying in pieces on the ground.

I reach down to pick up the phone and feel my heart sink. The screen of the phone is smashed, but the last text message still reads 911 .

My mind starts to race with fear and worry. She sent me that text, knowing that I would try to come find her.

But the fact that her phone is in my hand means that someone didn't want that to happen.

They didn't want me to get to Talia.

"What happened here? Where the fuck is my wife?" I shout.

"I don't know, sir. We should go downstairs and check if she fell somehow."

"You think she might have gone out this way?" I ask the guard, motioning to the emergency exit door next to the phone.

He nods and we head towards it, pushing it open cautiously before venturing down the stairwell. The stairs are dingy and damp. I can feel sweat dripping down my face from fear and anxiety as we make our way down further into the darkness of the stairwell.

It's six floors down the bottom of the stairs. Every time I come around the crook of the staircase, I am of two minds.

First, I pray that I'll see Talia's face.

And second, I hope against hope that she won't be harmed.

But when I turn the final time and step onto the downstairs landing, my breath coming in huffs, I haven't found her yet. The guard steps forward and yanks open the door. I cringe, expecting at any moment that I'm going to find Talia there, dead or dying.

But no.

I step through the doorway and look out into the back alley of the hotel. It's dark and drizzly, the night air chilly against my skin. I look both ways down the alley, but I see nothing but a few broken down cardboard boxes.

My heart seizes.

"She's not here," I breathe out. "Someone took her."

I stare into the darkness, panicking. My mind is dazed but two thoughts echo through my skull.

Where is Talia?

And who is responsible for her abduction?