All around the room, my friends converged. I shoved through the crowd, ignoring the startled faces. Lark and Dean had disappeared out of the ballroom.
“We’re right behind you, Lark.” I knew she could hear me.
I burst out of the ballroom. A second later, Nash and the others were with me.
There was no sign of Lark or Dean.
“Where did they go?” I growled.
“Wait, I just got a message from the security team.” Nash studied his cellphone. “They’re in the stairwell. Headed down.”
“Go.” I broke into a sprint, panic riding me.
I knew she could protect herself, but I was in love with her. I blew out a steadying breath. She’d gone with him on purpose. To get him away from the crowd.
To get him away from me.
The overprotective, little fool. I opened the stairwell door silently. I heard faint footsteps on the stairs below.
“Faster,” a male voice snapped.
“I’m in heels, asshole,” Lark snapped back.
I smiled.That was my girl.I pointed down and the others nodded.
“Alessio and I will take the elevator down,” Rafe murmured. “Try to flank him.”
“Do it.”
The pair strode away.
I moved downward, staying quiet. Nash, Cole, and Landon followed me.
I heard a door open below.
“I know you’re here, Thorne,” Dean yelled up stairwell. “She’ll be dead before you find us.” The door slammed closed.
I stopped being quiet. I sprinted down the stairs two at a time.
“Here.” Nash pulled a handgun from under his jacket. It was the Glock 19 I often used. He slapped it in my hand. “Looks like they exited on the maintenance level.”
When we reached the door marked Maintenance. I gripped the handle and pulled.
The door didn’t open.
I shoved against it. It didn’t budge. Cole joined me and we slammed our bodies against it.
“Fuck.” I stepped back and raised the Glock. I shot the handle, but when I pushed, the door still wouldn’t open.
“I’ve got this.” Nash pulled something from his jacket pocket.
He flicked on the mini-torch, a blue flame flaring to life. Then he ran it along the door’s hinges.
Clicking the torch off, he lifted a foot and kicked.
The door fell outward, and I was the first through. I glanced at the heavy chain caught on the handle, then looked up.
We were in the maintenance area. To one side were shelves filled with tools, ladders, and equipment. Everything down here was to take care of the critical systems in the casino like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and the elevators. Not to mention the general maintenance of the rooms, corridors, restaurants, and pools.
