Page 2 of Forever

“Saving the day, Master Matthew. Someone must have kidnapped her!”

Oh. Wait. Kidnapped.I laughed as relief filled my chest.Of course.

“This isn’t funny! Mistress Brooklyn is in danger!”

“She’s not,” I said. “It’s just Rob. He told me he wanted to recreate our homecoming where Brooklyn got kidnapped and James saved the day. Only this time…I’d save the day.” I shook my head. I’d specifically told Rob not to do that. And I didn’t love the fact that he’d fake kidnapped my fiancée while she was completely naked. “I’ll go find them.”

Nigel nodded. “I’ll search the room and bring up the security feed. You beat the shit out of Robert!” He sprinted off with his gun.

I was glad it was me rather than Nigel going to talk to Rob. Nigel might have shot him. I laughed again as I walked out of the Club Onyx hallway and back to the dance. I’d been so amped up, I’d let my imagination run wild. Of course Brooklyn was fine. I’d only left the room for a minute or so.

But then I saw Rob dancing with Daphne in the middle of the dance floor. Brooklyn was nowhere in sight. My heart started beating funny in my chest again. I pushed my way through the crowd until I reached them. “Where’s Brooklyn?”

Rob shrugged and kept dancing. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her in like an hour. What have the two of you been up to?” He winked at me.

“This isn’t funny. Where is she?”

He lowered his eyebrows. “I just told you. I haven’t seen her.”

“Cut the shit, Rob. You said you were going to fake kidnap her…”

“And you told me not to. So I didn’t. We went with your proposal idea instead…”

I grabbed him by the lapels of his tux.

“What the hell are you doing?” Daphne said. She grabbed my arm but I shrugged her off.

“Where. The. Fuck. Is. Brooklyn?”

“Are you high?” Rob said and shoved my chest, but I didn’t even flinch.

I tightened my grip.

Rob sighed. “I was really tryingnotto recreate homecoming. Please don’t make me throat punch you, man. I’m too old for this shit. How am I supposed to explain a black eye to my daughter?”

“Both of you, stop.” Daphne grabbed Rob’s arm this time.

But I wasn’t letting go. Not until Rob stopped whatever stupid prank he was pulling. He always did this shit. He made pranks too big. Or way too small to even notice. I knew this was the first one. But it wasn’t fucking funny.

“Not again,” James groaned and pushed the two of us apart. “What the fuck, Matt?”

“He…” I pointed at Rob. But Rob looked genuinely clueless. And I knew Rob. He’d have an evil glint in his eye if he was in the middle of a scheme.

Rob ran his hands down his lapels. “Matt’s lost his mind again.”

I didn’t know what he meant byagain. But I felt my mind scrambling. “You didn’t fake kidnap Brooklyn?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer. I didn’t even pay attention to his response. I ran my fingers through my hair and turned in a circle. “Then where…” My throat felt tight.Fuck.I couldn’t have a panic attack right now.

Breathe.If this wasn’t a fake kidnapping, it meant it was a real kidnapping. I’d promised Brooklyn I’d protect her. I’d promised.I can’t breathe.

James grabbed my shoulders and made me face him. “Let’s split up and look for her, okay? Where did you last see her?”

I shook my head. “Mr. Pruitt.”

“Her dad is here?”

I shook my head again.No. Well, maybe.All I knew was that if Brooklyn was in trouble, Mr. Pruitt was the one to blame. “This has to be related to her dad. I… I gotta go.” All I could picture was walking into Mr. Pruitt’s apartment 16 years ago and being told Brooklyn was dead. Tears started welling in the corners of my eyes.Not again. Fucking breathe.

James kept his hands on my shoulders. “Last time Brooklyn disappeared, we weren’t there to help you. This time we are. Penny, go find Mason and Bee so they can help too. Daphne, get the lights turned up and make an announcement. Rob, go find Tanner.”

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