9. Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Caleb
I’ve been all over the Paris. I even sent Cruz an encrypted message to locate places where Katerina may have hidden the Framework, but nothing has panned out yet.
I have to find it before they find me, or I’m a dead man. I have to keep moving. Or find a better place to hide. It won’t be long before they piece together Katerina’s useless clues and catch me here.
My burner rings with a familiar number. Cruz. I answer immediately.
“There are some luggage lockers a few blocks from the Paris called ‘Paris Station’. Not associated with the hotel,” she says.
I shake my head. “She wouldn’t be stupid enough to hide it somewhere so public.” She’d be able to grab it easily, but those are far from safe.
“Really?” Cruz continues, “Because it was just broken into two minutes ago.”
“What?” I freeze, my feet stuck to the casino carpet. That can’t be a coincidence. Was it Evan? Did he know where it was all along?
“Security footage is terrible, but I’m sending over the file now,” Cruz says. “Also, I’m on my way. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“No. I’ve got teams here. You stay there.”
“Like you stayed away when I was in trouble? Don’t think so. My plane leaves in five.”
It’s pointless to talk her out of it. So I don’t. I hang up and look at the picture. The man must have known where the cameras were because he kept his head down the whole time. He’s not overly tall, under six feet. Wearing all black and has no markings on his skin. He appears squat but nimble.
Nothing to narrow it down.
I mutter a curse and stomp through the casino, back toward the Strip. What am I going to do?
I’m twenty feet from the front door when it opens, and a woman comes walking through barefoot. I do a double-take. There’s a pound of makeup on her face, doing its best to mask her identity, but I’d know her anywhere. That’s my woman.
My stomach bottoms out.
No, no, no. This cannot be happening. Why is Amelia in Las Vegas?
That woman has an affinity for finding danger. And I have to keep her out of it. I can’t let her see me and get dragged into this mess.
At least that’s my plan. Until I register the man behind her.
My father.
The air evaporates from my lungs and I pull my hat further down, covering my face. I can’t be seen talking to them here. But I will be talking to them.
When they head for the elevators, I do too, slipping sunglasses on as I go.
What on earth is happening? Did she come here to find my father because she still thinks I want a relationship with him? And now he’s fed her some lie, telling her how he’s broke, and she’s going to hand over her wallet out of the goodness of her heart?
Things could not possibly get worse.
***
Amelia
“I can walk back to my room by myself,” I say to Thane. He’s giving off some super creepy vibes right now, and all I want to do is get away from him. What is he going to do? Rob me? I hope Maddie is already there, then it will be two against one and we can surely fight him off. Caleb and I have been practicing takedown maneuvers…or have we? Usually, we just end up kissing, and I don’t feel like that’s an appropriate surprise attack in this situation.
“Not if you’re drunk,” Thane mutters, glancing over his shoulder but pushing me forward toward the elevators.
“I’m not drunk!” I nearly stomp on his foot in retaliation.
Thane glances around pointedly. “Sure honey, no need to get upset.”
Ooh, this man is infuriating. “What did you steal from that place?”
“I didn’t take anything,” he mumbles, hitting the button for the elevator. No way am I getting in a metal box alone with him. What if he kills me? Where’s the pepper spray Caleb gave me? Probably lost in my car somewhere and totally useless to me right now.
“Um, forgive me for stating the obvious, but why are you still here?”
The elevator opens and he doesn’t answer, just walks right in, pulling me with him. “I want to talk about Caleb,” he says.
Four other people enter the elevator behind us. One guy looks familiar, but he keeps his head down, his hat and glasses hiding his features as he faces the closing doors.
“You haven’t wanted to know Caleb for years. Why now?” I ask, loud enough everyone in this elevator can hear me. That’s the plan. Maybe someone will realize I’m in danger and help me.
Thane grabs my arm, pinching it a little harder than necessary.
“Ow.” I exaggerate my pain, causing two of the people to look over in alarm. Thane immediately drops my arm.
“He’s my son,” he hisses. “You’re the one who was looking for me, missy. Clearly you want to tell me what trouble he’s gotten into, besides dating you.”
“You think I’m trouble?” I scoff. That’s rich coming from the man I just witnessed stealing something.
He glances down at my dress, where a large purple stain covers the right hip from when I jumped off the stage and collided with someone’s wine.
“You’re a walking catastrophe. But that son of mine always did like to be the rescuer. You must make it incredibly easy for him.”
My jaw drops. But he’s not wholly inaccurate. I’m easily distracted and often spacy. I’m a mess from my apartment to my clothes. But Caleb loves me exactly as I am.
“Now, tell me why you’re really here,” Thane growls, inching closer.
My heart rate kicks up a notch and I take a step to the right but bump into one of the other people on the elevator. The woman gives me a wary look, but I turn my attention to Thane.
“ That son of yours is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s a shame you didn’t stick around; he could have taught you how to be a better man. It’s no wonder he wants nothing to do with a criminal like you. Now get out of my face, Thane.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he snaps.
The ding of the elevator is a knife cutting through the silence. A beefy guy in front of us turns around. “I’d do what she says.”
Thane sputters. “She wanted to talk to me.”
“Clearly she’s done.” The guy pulls his jacket to the side, revealing a badge. The blood drains from Thane’s face. “Let’s go.”
“Wait!” Thane grabs the back of my dress.
“Let go of me!” I yell. The police officer yanks Thane off of me and hauls him out of the elevator. One after the other, the rest of the guests in the elevator pile out. Either this was the floor they needed, or they’re curious to see what happens next. Everyone leaves. Except for the man in the hat. He stays silent as the doors close again, and we continue our ascent.
I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m safe from a psycho man, at least for now. I’ll have to change hotels. And tell Caleb. He’s going to kill me.
The elevator stops, and then the man in the hat turns and rushes for me.