18. Caden
Caden
“ A llie! Allie!”
The line went dead.
Let me go! Her words echoed in my ears. Someone had grabbed her.
My throat closed, my pulse thundering in my ears. I shot to my feet and grabbed my jacket and shoes, and I was out the door of my suite in an instant.
I jogged down the hall and ran down the stairs. I tried to call her back, but it went to voicemail. I tried again and again. By the time I reached the conference room, I hadn’t calmed down.
“Hugh, Paul, with me.”
The men rose.
“Problem, boss?” Paul asked, his brow creased.
“It’s Allie.”
“From housekeeping?”
I nodded. “I was talking with her on the phone. She was walking home, and someone grabbed her. The call dropped out.”
Both men cursed.
“I’ll bring the SUV around,” Hugh said.
My jaw tight, I watched him race off. I had to get a grip on this. I had to find my control.
Paul stepped closer. “We’ll find her.”
I glanced at him.
“I’ve seen the way you look at her. I know she’s yours.”
She wasn’t mine. But I couldn’t let that matter too much. My fingers clenched into fists. All I knew was I had to find her.
And I wouldn’t stop until I did.
“What’s going on?” Ro appeared in the doorway, his face serious. His jacket was gone and his sleeves were rolled up, but he must have been doing some work in his office.
I dragged in a breath. I needed to go. I needed to find her.
Get your fucking head on straight. Allie needs you.
“Allie was taken.”
Ro frowned. “Taken?”
“We were talking on the phone, and someone grabbed her as she was walking home from Tessa’s.”
“Shit,” Ro said.
I shouldered out past him, Ro and Paul falling into step with me.
“Who’d take her?” Ro asked.
I had my suspicions. I knew that Moreland had threatened her.
But it wasn’t enough. I needed proof.
“Paul, I need you to monitor the listening device for the men on level three. See if they mention Allie.”
He nodded. “I’m on it.” He turned back and headed for the conference room.
Ro and I swept through the lobby. When Enzo spotted us, he frowned.
“What happened?” the concierge demanded.
“Someone snatched Allie,” I gritted out.
He cursed in Italian. “I’m coming with you.”
I lifted my chin. Outside, Hugh was in the driver’s seat of one of the hotel’s Yukons. I slid into the passenger seat while Ro and Enzo hopped into the back.
A second later, we drove out.
“What the hell is going on?” Ro asked.
“Allie’s been poking around the ESG’s rooms.”
“The suspected drug dealers?”
I nodded. “She wanted to help, so I had her help me plant a bug. I wanted to keep an eye on her.” I raked a hand through my hair. “The ringleader suspected she was poking around, and threatened her. Not in any detail.” A muscle ticked in my jaw. If that fucker was behind this, if he’d hurt her…
“Okay. Keep a lock on it, Caden. Let’s gather the facts and find her. If this is the dealers, they’re not going to do something stupid.”
We didn’t know that. I knew they’d want to protect their lucrative little business.
Ahead, her condo building came into view. Hugh pulled into a parking space out front.
I got out and scanned the street. There was no sign of Allie.
“Hugh, see if she’s inside. Condo number 14.”
“On it.”
I knew she wasn’t in there. My instincts were screaming at me. My chest felt like it had been filled with rocks. I walked down the sidewalk. “She said she could see her building. She was walking back from Tessa’s.”
Ro and Enzo spread out, both scanning the ground.
“Maybe she just dropped her phone?” Ro said hopefully. “And it’s broken?”
“No, someone grabbed her.”
“What’s that?” Enzo asked, pointing.
A glint of metal on the ground.
I strode over. It was a set of keys. The keychain had a small plastic tag on it and inside was a photo of Allie and Ollie.
I scooped them up, grinding my teeth together.
“These are hers.” I turned in a circle, and a second later, I spotted her phone.
I snatched it up. The screen was cracked. “Fuck.”
Ro gripped my shoulder. “We’ll find her.”
I pulled out my cellphone and called the security office. “Paul, do you have eyes on the men on level three?”
“Only two of them are in their rooms. They just ordered room service.”
My chest expanded. “The other two?”
“I did a quick check. They left in their car. Blue Honda Civic.”
I bit back a curse. “Thanks.” I turned. “Two of those guys aren’t at the hotel. They took her.”
Ro’s face hardened. “We don’t know that for sure. We need to ask them some questions.”
We climbed back into the SUV. “We can’t tip our hand.” My hand flexed. “We can’t risk putting her in more danger.” I had to think. Where would they take her?
We pulled back in at the Langston Windward. As I sliced out of the SUV, I saw Blake Moreland. He and his friend had just exited a car. They looked relaxed, were smiling.
He caught my gaze.
I glared at him, and the smug asshole just smiled back. He thought he was so smart.
I took a step forward, but Ro grabbed my arm and Hugh stepped closer.
“Take it easy,” Ro murmured. “I don’t need you locked up for assault.”
Moreland gave me another long look, then sailed inside.
I hurried over to the valet. “Is that their vehicle?”
The young man nodded. “Yes, Mr. Castro.”
Enzo waved at the young valet. “Will, I’ll park it.”
“Oh, okay, Enzo.” He handed over the keys.
Taking them from Enzo, I slid into the driver’s seat. Enzo sat in the passenger seat, looking through the glove box.
Ro leaned in the open door. “Any clues?”
I saw takeout wrappers, sports gear, old receipts.
“Pigs,” Enzo muttered.
Leaning forward, I tapped on the navigation screen.
A map appeared. As I looked at it, my chest expanded. Bingo .