Page 128 of Captivated

“Mr.—”

“Room 202,” Joe barked, “did you see the woman from room 202 leave this morning?”

“Um … just a second, s—”

“Just think!”

The guy stumbled over his words, and then Joe heard something rustle against the phone. Likely the man’s hand covering the speaker. Seconds later, he was back on.

“A young woman ordered breakfast a couple of hours ago, but no one answered the door when we knocked.”

Joe deflated.

His heart shattered.

Two hours ago?

If she had ordered breakfast, and it hadn’t been delivered two hours ago, but she still wasn’t in the room with Joe … that only meant bad things.

Terrible fucking things.

“No one saw her leave?” Joe asked. “She’s hard to miss—tall, willowy, dark blonde hair half way down her back, and hazel eyes? No one saw her at all?”

The man pulled the phone away, and Joe heard him barking questions to whoever else was around. He knew the man’s answer before he even came back to the phone. And yet, when the concierge delivered those words Joe already fucking knew, they still killed him like a knife driven straight into his heart.

And then the blade was twisted, too.

“Not through the front, sir. Is something wrong?”

Was something wrong?

Oh, no.

No … just his entire life being gone.

His soul ripped to shreds.

Nothing fucking big, or anything.

“How many exits are in this building?”

“One for every floor, sir, and one for every room.”

Joe’s gaze drifted to the small patio that was connected to their room. Yes, it, too, had a small metal ladder that could extend to the ground if needed. Shit.

“How much would it cost me to get a look at your security footage for this morning?” Joe asked.

“Excuse me?”

“I didn’t fucking stutter. How much?”

SIXTEEN

THE POUNDING BASS drum beating inside Liliana’s skull was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Painful enough to keep her from speaking, but still allowed a strangled groan to slip past her dry lips.

Dry … like her mouth.

And her eyes when she tried to peel them open.