I slip on a pair of shoes and straighten my dress, following Tyler into the elevator. The doors slide shut and we’re kissing again. This is what Tyler does to me. When we’re happy, we can never keep our hands off each other.
As we descend the building, my surroundings fade away, swept up by the warmth of Tyler’s hands sliding up my thighs; the way his stubble tickles my cheek; the spice in his cologne; the deep sound of his laugh. He makes me dizzy. We’re so consumed by each other that we don’t realize the elevator door has slid open and is closing again. We’ve arrived at The Scarlet Mirage.
Tyler juts his hand out, keeping the door open. “Come on. The sooner we get Felix, the sooner I can strip this dress off you.”
I step out of the elevator, calling Felix’s name, met with no answer.
“Bro?” Tyler laces our fingers, leading us through the staff corridors.
We check the private living quarters, the office too, finding them empty.
“Maybe he’s in the entertainment area.” Tyler says.
We turn a corner, finding the doorway to the entertainment area ajar. Light spills through the gap and there are muffled voices.
“Told you.” Tyler squeezes my hand before leading meforward.
As soon as we step through the door, one of the people speaks again, instantly drowning my mind in panic. I don’t see him yet, but I know that voice.
Quentin Ferguson.
He’s alive. My god, hecan’tbe alive.
“This is for Paul,” he says.
Tyler acts fast, pushing me behind him, witnessing the scene seconds before I do. Felix is tied to a chair with a gun pressed to his head.
No, no, no, no, no. Not Felix. Please.
Noticing our arrival, Ferguson swings the gun in our direction. A deranged smile spreads across his face. “Ah, Tyler Blackwood. Lovely to finally meet you, and what perfect timing. All three of you together.”
Tyler holds me tight, shielding me with his body. He’s silent, piecing together the scene in front of us before muttering to me, “This is Quentin Ferguson?”
“Yes,” I whisper, frozen in place, not fearful for myself but Felix and Tyler. Ican’tlose them, not when I just got them back. I’d rather die than be without them.
“She’s so precious to both of you, isn’t she?” Ferguson laughs, mocking us. “Step out from behind him, girl.”
“You won’t fucking touch her,” Felix snarls.
Ferguson strikes Felix in the head with the handle of his gun. My hands fly to my mouth, terrified. Tyler flinches, holding me tighter. Helplessness claws at my chest while Felix hangs forward, knocked unconscious.
“Why so shy all of a sudden, sweetheart?” Ferguson cocks his head, peering around Tyler to me. “You were vicious thefirst time we met.”
“Don’t talk to her,” Tyler warns.
“Oh, but I want to play. Maybe your whore would like to know how it feels to have a knife stabbed and twisted into her body.”
“You’re not getting anywhere near her.”
“Unless you want a bullet in your head right this second, you’ll do exactly as I say. Pull up a chair next to your brother and watch the show.” He nods to Felix while keeping the gun pointed at me and Tyler. “The bitch will tie you to the chair.”
“No. Absolutely not.” My voice shakes.
I jolt as he fires a bullet off to the side before pointing the gun back at Tyler.
“You have ten seconds to do as I say before I shoot Tyler in the head.Ten. Nine. Eight.”
Tyler turns to me with urgency, muttering, “I’m going to distract him so you can run away. Get out of here and save yourself.”
