I flew into a full blown sprint as I started to make my way around the house looking for Avion. She was free to go places other than her apartment, and she knew that, but unless she was training with Tamryn or Milli during the day, she typically didn’t. Still, to be safe, I wanted to check around the entire house for her. I checked the greenhouse first, and then went back down to the third floor and checked her studio, but she was in neither of those places. I looked in the staff quarters and entertainment spaces, and even made sure I checked the main dining room, kitchen, and the pool out back, but she wasn’t there either.
I did a fairly thorough sweep in just a matter of minutes and didn’t see Avion anywhere.
“Giovanni?” I stopped and turned to see my mom sitting on one of the couches in the main living room. “Is everything okay?”
“No,” I said. “Avion’s gone.”
She jumped up from the couch. “What?”
“She’s not here. I went to her room and she’s not there. I’ve checked all over the house and she’s gone.”
Maybe Milli was right and there was a mole in the house. If Curtis’ death was meant to distract me enough so someone could snatch her and get her out of the house without me knowing, then it had certainly worked.
“What can I do?” Tamryn asked.
“Wake up all the staff and Punk and Kelly. I want everyone in this home gathered in the foyer downstairs in five minutes. No one sleeps until I find her.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
After watching her run off, I turned around and headed for the elevator. I needed to get to Milli and tell him what was going on. I pressed the button for the downstairs garage and was just about to leave and take the stairs when the doors opened and Milli walked off.
“Avion’s gone,” I said immediately.
“Yeah,” he said. “She left.”
“What?” I thundered. “You knew?”
“I didn’t, but I just went down to get the car, and the night attendant says she took the A8 and left about twenty minutes ago.”
That didn’t sound right to me so I shoved around Milli and opted to take the stairs. I could hear him following as both of our feet pounded down the stairs, then I took the door that brought me to the garage and was surprised to see my dad already had the night attendant held up by the collar.
I walked over to his side, yanked my gun out of my pocket, and pressed it against his chin. “Where is she?”
He had tears in his eyes. “I already told them, she took the car and left about twenty minutes ago. You said she could come and go. I didn’t think I had to stop her.”
“She just left on her own?” I asked.
“Yes!” he whimpered. “She asked for the quietest car after I told her what you said about her not being a prisoner here.”
“You told her that?” All my fears came crashing to the surface. “And then she left? In the quietest car?” I grabbed my dad’s arm and got him to relax his hold so the guy could start to calm down. “What exactly did she say?”
“She came down here and said she wanted to go out for a little bit and asked me if she could. I told her that was fine and asked what car she wanted to use. She said she wanted something quiet, and then when I asked her what I should tell you if she asked, she said not to worry and that she’d be back. She said you were just going to have to trust her.”
“Hey.” Tamryn came running into the garage out of breath. “I’ve gathered everyone. What’s going on?”
“I’m so sorry, but can you tell them it was a false alarm?” I asked. Tamryn’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ll tell them.”
Both Merrick and Milli tuned up at the exact same time, seemingly unsatisfied with the decision that I’d made.
“What?” I said.
“You don’t believe him do you?” Merrick asked. “Don’t you think this is all just a little suspiciously timed?”
Milli crossed his arms. “He’s right, Gio. Curtis is killed--”
“Curtis was killed?” Tamryn asked.
