29. Veronica
Chapter twenty-nine
Veronica
Shackles and Cages.
~ The Next Day ~
Last night was terrible. All I did was toss and turn all night once I climbed into bed with Noah, waiting for Victor to appear, waiting for the sound of footsteps to approach our bedroom door. I’m not even sure I slept a total of two hours.
Even now, my mind is still all over the place and filled with anxiety.
I’m jittery and can’t stand still. I hate this, I hate this nervous and scared version of myself.
I feel like I’m once again trapped in those god-awful months after contacting Agent Callahan as I waited for the outcome I knew wouldn’t work.
I check the time on my phone before grabbing my purse from the counter and slipping into my heels, my gaze constantly flicking toward the elevator as I try to calm my nerves. I jiggle my hand, once again lighting up my screen as I wait for Morgan’s text to come in.
Once again, Gabe is out shooting a commercial for one of his newest brand deals. Mind you, it’s for a cookie brand, which if you ask me is hilarious since he doesn’t even eat any sweets. And Noah… well, I have no idea where Noah is.
When I woke up this morning after the little sleep I managed to get, he was already gone from the room.
I thought he may have gotten up earlier and headed down to the kitchen for breakfast, but when I reached the main floor, all I found was Gabe.
And the sympathetic smile he gave me when he noticed me standing by the stairs, confirmed my suspicions. Noah was gone.
I’ve texted and called him several times, left numerous voicemails, but all have gone unanswered, and that only increases my worries.
I know I need to give him time to grieve and heal on his own, but with how much he’s been drinking these past few days and how quiet he’s gotten, I’m afraid of what he might do.
I’m pulled out from my train of thought when my phone vibrates in my hand.
Morg
About five minutes out.
I sigh with relief as I read over her message, then send one off to my boys in our group chat.
Me
Heading out, Morgan’s here.
Husband #1
Okay, baby. Stay safe and call if there’s anything. I’ll be home soon.
Me
I will. Can’t wait. I miss you.
Husband #1
I miss you, too, Vixen. I promise when I get home, I’m gonna snuggle the shit out of you.
Me
I like the sound of that.
The chat goes quiet as I stare down at my screen for an extra minute, waiting and hoping for a message from Noah to come through, but it never comes in. I put my phone in my purse and walk to the elevator, my anxiety rising with each step I take as I press the call button and the doors slide open.
I’m excited to spend some time with Morgan, mostly because I won’t be by myself for much longer. But I’m also extremely nervous about being down in the lobby and in the open, even if it’s just for a minute.
I know I’m not technically alone, since there’s always someone at the reception desk and Marcos and Ricky are right outside, or whoever the two new bodyguards are that Julian promised to have added. But despite knowing they are there, it doesn’t stop the panic from setting in.
I know how quick Victor is when he has something in mind, I know how easily he can get past anything.
Last night was clear proof of that. So if he wants me to disappear in broad daylight, he’ll find a way to do it, even with people watching.
That thought unsettles me as I ride down the elevator to the lobby.
Once out of the cab, I glance around and notice there’s no one else here but Antoine, the desk clerk, and Stanley standing by the door outside.
I let out a breath and start walking toward the glass doors, knowing Morgan will be here any second to pick me up.
All my senses heighten instantly—how loud my breath is, how fast my heart is beating, how loud my heels are clicking against the marble floor.
And when Antoine calls my name out of the blue, I nearly jump out of my skin.
“Miss Masters! Good afternoon.” Antoine beams at me, but there’s always that little nervous tick happening at the corner of his mouth.
I squeeze my hands into fists, breathing in then letting it out slowly before turning to him and plastering a bright smile on my face. “Good afternoon, Antoine.”
“Would you like me to call a car for you?”
My brows raise slightly at his question, but I quickly cover my expression. “Oh, no thank you.” He asks me this every time, so it's not an unusual question. But after last night, I'm now second-guessing everything.
“Are you certain? It is quite hot outside today; you shouldn’t have to walk to your destination in this heat. Please, I insist. It’s complementary of the building, no hidden charges.”
I feel my heart pounding a little harder in my chest the longer I stand here out in the open. “No, really, it’s okay. My friend is picking me up; she should be here any second.” I smile tightly and continue walking to the doors, not letting him get another word in as Stanley pulls one open.
“Miss Masters, always a delight to see you. Where are we heading to today?” Stanley gifts me his usual charming grin that reminds me of my grandfather’s when I was a child before he passed away.
“Afternoon, Stanley. Just spending the day with my friend before my boys get home. Talking about them, have you happened to see Noah leave this morning? It would have been quite early.” I stand beside him, looking down both sides of the road for Morgan’s car.
“I have. I believe it was just past five when Mr. Adler drove by the front of the building after exiting through the garage.” So he left the moment I fell asleep…
Which means he was just pretending to sleep while I was awake all night.
“Honestly, I’m quite surprised either of them agreed to leave your side today. ”
His question startles me and I slowly turn to look at him. “What?” That uneasy feeling returns instantly despite how hard I try to hide it.
Stanley smiles tenderly. “As you know, I’m here very often.
And with how much time I spend outside these doors, I notice things.
Lots of things. Like cars parked along the sidewalk every day in the exact same spot, yet no one ever enters or leaves the car except to grab something from the little café right there or use their restroom.
” He nods toward the cute coffee shop. “And how that same car follows behind every single time you leave this place. Although it’s a different one when Mr. Adler or Mr. Ellis leave. ”
My mind races with a million thoughts as every word he speaks crawls up my skin like an unwelcome touch. What is he trying to say? Does he know about Victor? Has he seen him? What isn’t he saying? Oh God… I need to get out of here… I’m going to be sick again… I need this fucking nightmare to end!
“I also happened to have been here last night when those three gentlemen arrived. I recognized them from the paper I read daily. And well, the last fella that came in a few minutes later looked exactly like what you’d expect an undercover cop to look like.” He’s talking about Agent Callahan.
Something in my gaze must show how close I am to freaking out, because in the next second, the sweet old doorman places his hand on my arm as the look in his eyes softens yet fills with worry.
Stay calm. Act normal. Stay calm. Act normal.
Stay calm. Act normal. I repeat the words the Storm brothers instructed us to do over and over in my mind.
“I’m sorry, Miss Masters, I did not mean to frighten you.
All I meant to say was that I hope everything is all right and that if you ever need anything, I am always here.
I may be an old man, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeves.
” He winks and removes his hand from my arm as I let out a breath.
I’m just paranoid. He’s only being kind and watching out for me.
Nothing more. I mean, if I were the one to witness the events from last night, I’d offer my help to the victim too, and I’m sure that’s why Antoine was so insistent on getting me a car as well.
Just like Stanley, Antoine works a lot and is here more often than any of the other receptionists.
I could put my hand down that he was here last night when Jessie and Agent Callahan demanded to use his computer.
I’m just being paranoid…
I force another smile and nod just as Morgan pulls up in front of us. Finally! My body instantly relaxes as she waves through the passenger window with that bright grin lighting up her face.
“I need to go, my friend’s here.” I point to Morg’s car and walk down the three steps.
“I have the evening off tonight, so I won’t be here when you return. But I do hope you have a wonderful day, Miss Masters,” he calls after me.
With my hand on the doorhandle, ready to pull it open, I focus on relaxing my nerves and look back at the kind old man who means no harm. “Thank you, Stanley, you too. And while you’re at it, you should take the week off. You deserve a little break.” My next smile is more genuine.
He laughs and places his hand over his heart. “I’ll definitely think about it.”
I finally climb into my friend’s car and let out a heavy sigh while buckling myself in.
“Sorry it took a little longer to get here. I was stuck behind a delivery truck trying to parallel park in a spot that was WAY too small for the size of his cargo. And no matter how loud I shouted at him that he wouldn’t fit, he didn’t listen.
” Morgan rolls her eyes and pulls away from the sidewalk.
I chuckle at her frustration. “It’s okay, I didn’t mind waiting.”
She glances at me quickly before refocusing on the road, but I don’t miss the hint of worry in her eyes. “You sure? You seemed a little pale and lost back there when I pulled up.”