Just as the five of us were getting ready to leave, the chandeliers flickered for a moment then the whole room plunged into darkness. My first thought was for Hunter. He was trained for just this type of situation.
Why would they want the hotel in darkness? Then it hit me. “It’s Fred. He’s not in the server room. He’s here.”
CHAPTER 17
MAGGIE
The world vanished.Quite literally. One second I was in the middle of a ballroom, my body thrumming with what had happened in Theo’s office and the promise of what it all meant still flowing through me. And then there was nothing. Just abject darkness.
A moment later the laughter died down and the clinking of silverware on china all but disappeared, then the music stopped. All of it was replaced by screaming and shouting.
Panic mingled with breaking glass and scraping furniture. “Theo?”
“I’m right here, love.” But he was no longer seated. His voice was above me. And even though his words were tender, his voice was not. There was a harshness I’d never heard before. “You stay seated.”
Hunter’s voice was gruff. “Here’s a comm’s unit.” As my eyes adjusted I saw him hand something to Theo. “Shiloh?”
“Sitting on the other side of Maggie.” I’d heard her use that harsh voice before. Back when she was a cop. “Do we know what is happening?”
“My guess is Fred Ripper.” Theo’s words startled me. “I bet he’s responsible for the breach in our server room, too. Butthey won’t be able to access anything. I’m guessing that it's a diversion to get us there and leave everyone here exposed.”
I heard what he was not saying. I would be alone and exposed. Fred was after me.
“Hunter, get Maggie and Tiff to the panic room.” Theo’s voice was a harsh growl I did not recognize. Not even a few hours earlier he had poured all that raw desire into me. Claimed me. That man was gone. In front of me was a stranger. “Take Ryder as well.”
“Like fucking hell.” Ryder’s voice toggled between fear and anger. “I’m not leaving Shiloh.”
“Yes, you are.” My sister's voice had softened in that disgusting way it did when she spoke with Ryder. “You’re going to let me do my job. I’m trained for this, babe. Don’t let me lose focus by having to worry about you as well.”
“Fine.” His voice was low and filled with resignation. In the low light, the emotion flowing between the two of them was almost tangible. He squeezed her hand hard, an understanding of who they were, the trust they had built.
Trust I wasn’t so sure I had.
“Let’s go.” Hunter held my bicep, and his voice was nothing more than a low growl. “Tiffany, move around the table and get to me now.”
As my eyes adjusted I could make out my friend moving around until she was next to me.
Then the four of us were on the move. While people around us panicked and rushed, Hunter moved with a calmness that would’ve been frustrating if I hadn’t grown up with an ex-Marine. The screams and shouts of those around were a little disconcerting, especially when we couldn’t see if it was panic of the unknown or a genuine concern.
When a woman fell over, nearly causing me to trip over her, Hunter instructed Ryder to pick me up while he did the samewith Tiffany. The movement of a flashlight illuminated a man at the entrance to the ballroom. My breath hitched. I only got a quick glimpse, but it was enough. He was too still, too dark, his eyes burning with cold calculating pleasure. Fred.
“Oh no.” My voice was low, and there was no mistaking the tremble of fear coating my words.
Hunter glanced over his shoulder. “He can’t see us. At least, not yet.”
As we made our way out through a small doorway and down a concrete corridor the screams of the other guests began to dull. The hallway was dark though, and once more our eyes needed to adjust.
Tiffany’s voice echoed along the walls. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere safe.” Hunter was only a step or two ahead of me and Ryder. “Can the two of you walk in those heels or do you need us to carry you further.”
“We can take the fucking shoes off.” Tiffany echoed my thoughts. “We’re not pampered princesses.”
“I can walk from here.” My voice was nothing more than a whisper as I spoke to Ryder.
I pulled off the sparkly stilettos, my bare feet registering the cold concrete as we rushed down the hallway. Ryder kept his grip on me as we followed Hunter, and I was sure I’d have finger sized bruises on my bicep. I was also almost certain that Theo would want to ‘have a word with Ryder’ when he saw them. But the truth was, I appreciated the fact that he held on to me. I was important to his wife and his friend. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to me.
We hadn’t gone far when Hunter came to an abrupt stop causing Ryder and I to crash into him and Tiffany. Even though my legs were like a pair of overcooked noodles I managed to keep myself upright. My eyes had adjusted just enough for me towork out that we stood in front of a steel door. At least, I hoped it was a door or we would be going nowhere.
