6. Caden
Caden
I sat in the dark.
My suite at the Windward was nice. A generous size, and done in classy creams and browns, with touches of wood and stone.
It suited the mountain location. The best thing was the view out the windows.
The mountain was breathtaking, and I’d watched the green leaves give way to the vibrant fall colors.
But right now, all I saw was darkness.
It matched how I felt inside. A muscle in my jaw flexed. I just kept staring at nothing. I didn’t get nightmares. Instead, I just didn’t sleep.
I didn’t bother going to bed and staring at the ceiling. I didn’t need much sleep, anyway.
Staring at the darkness usually dredged up old memories, old failures. I heard my mother’s sobbing and saw my sisters staring at me like I was a stranger. The memories nipped away at the edges of my consciousness, like predators trying to find a way in.
But not tonight.
Tonight, like many nights since I’d come to Windward, my head was filled with Allie Ford.
My fingers curled. I could picture her long legs, her lean, intriguing body. Her eye roll. Her smile.
Her panic when she thought she’d be late to get her nephew.
I cursed. I wasn’t going there.
Jerking to my feet, I snatched up my key card and phone off the side table and headed for the door.
It was midnight and the corridor was empty. Piper was in the suite next door to mine. She’d be sleeping. She always said she needed a solid seven hours.
Ignoring the elevator, I took the stairs. I did wonder if Allie got to Ollie in time after I’d gotten her out of the elevator. My footsteps were silent as I headed down the stairs.
Pushing through the door at the bottom, I found the lobby empty and quiet. I loved hotels in the dead of night. All hushed and in go-slow mode. There was no one at reception, but I knew someone would be around to deal with any late-night check-ins or emergencies.
Not all hotels were this quiet at nighttime. Some in the big cities never quite turned off.
Crossing the lobby, I absorbed the different vibe the place had when it was empty.
“You’re up and about late.”
I lifted my head. Enzo stood nearby, leaning against the concierge desk. I hadn’t heard or sensed the man, and that disquieted me.
It was clear the guy had training. But I’d been special forces, and no one fucking snuck up on me. Except Enzo.
“I couldn’t sleep. Figured I’d do a walk around.”
Enzo lifted his chin. “It’s a quiet night. That’s the way I like it.”
I cocked my head. “You worked in Las Vegas before here.”
“Yes. It’s never quiet there.”
Our gazes met. I saw the demons in his. It took one to know one.
“Any problems, let me know,” I said.
He gave me a nod. “It was good of you to help Allie out of the elevator earlier.”
I stilled.
“She’s all about that boy. She’s been through enough, then losing her brother. Now, she’s juggling so many balls. I don’t know how she does it.”
I turned. “What’s she been through?” I’d read her background report and nothing had popped.
Enzo shrugged. “Not my story to tell. Her parents… They’re not terrible, but they weren’t great either.”
I frowned. “I heard her talking with her mother on the phone.”
Enzo made a sound. “From the two times she’s visited, Clarice Ford doesn’t seem like good mother material, or grandmother material. Allie’s brother was her real family.”
And she’d lost him.
For a second, I thought of my mother and sisters, but I locked that down really quickly. “I’ll always help out staff members when they need it. That includes you, Rossi.”
“I don’t need help.”
I didn’t reply to that, and continued on into the staff offices. In the conference room, one of the new guards, Paul, nodded from his seat in front of the screens.
“All quiet, boss.”
“Good.”
I snatched up a stack of files off the conference table. I’d spend some time reviewing the resumes for the head of security. So far, no one was what I was looking for.
I headed into an empty office and clicked on the lamp. Settling into the chair, I set the folders down, then started flicking through.
Several hours ticked by and finally, tiredness tugged at me. I closed the files and turned off the lamp. I’d try to snatch a few hours sleep now, then get up early for a workout in the hotel gym.
Rising, I headed back into the corridor, but I paused, turning to look back at the door leading to the staff locker room. I pivoted and changed directions.
In the locker room, I punched in the code on my locker. It contained my gym gear but on the top shelf was the small parcel I’d purchased in town today. I opened it, hesitated, then pulled out one bar of chocolate wrapped in white and gold paper.
It only took me twenty seconds to find Allie’s locker and pick the lock. I placed the chocolate bar inside, then relocked it.
I didn’t let myself think too much about why I’d visited Tessa’s aunt’s store and bought the chocolate.
Back in the lobby, I was nearing the elevators when I heard loud voices, followed by raucous laughter that echoed across the lobby.
I swiveled.
A group had just entered through the front doors. They’d clearly been in town, drinking somewhere. There were four guys and three ladies. Three very young ladies. Two were clinging to guys, and the other was holding hands with one.
“Let’s continue this party upstairs.” One dark-haired guy threw his hands in the air. “ Yeah .”
I assessed the girls. The best I could tell, while they were young, they all appeared to be adults.
The guys looked like frat bros out for good time, ignoring all responsibilities. They clearly lived a privileged life, and hadn’t suffered responsibility slapping them in the face.
We had plenty of groups like these ones that came to Windward and other Langston resorts for a good time, but something about these guys set off my radar. I crossed my arms, watching them wait for the elevator.
“It’s late,” I said. “It’d be good if you to keep the noise level down.”
The group jolted and the laughter dwindled.
“Dude, where did you come from?” one guy said.
Another of the guys got a belligerent look on his face, while the girls looked wide-eyed and worried.
“Man, we’re just having a good time,” one man who looked like an unkempt surfer said.
“It’s three o’clock in the morning. The hotel guests are sleeping. You can still have a good time, just do it quietly.”
One of the guys—tall, fit, and blond—caught my gaze. We shared a look, and he nodded. He wasn’t as drunk as the others. He had a little redhead tucked under his arm.
“We’ll keep it down, sir.”
A moment later, the group disappeared into the elevator. They resumed talking loudly, but were quieter than before. The doors closed and the noise faded.
My gaze narrowed. I’d add them to my list of things to keep an eye on.