Chapter Marian #2
The crowd thickened the further we got in the room.
Readers lined up at tables while others crowded around a booth in the center of the aisle, awaiting the announcement of a giveaway.
My smile stayed in place as I took in how everyone here was in their element.
They were excited. Happy. Well… everyone but Penny.
My worry had me looking back to the door, and the man seemed to catch my concern as I once again took in the surroundings.
“Is your friend okay? She looked a little pale when she left.”
My eyes connected to his, and I couldn’t help but furrow my brow as I tried to put my finger on what felt off. “I’m not sure. I hope so.”
The wife’s head tilted in concern. “Was it the people? I sometimes get anxiety when I’m surrounded by groups.”
My gaze once again swept the large room. “She doesn’t like masks. There were…” I slowed, coming to a stop as I took in the tables and readers. “Weird. There were like ten people wearing masks not minutes ago. They must have taken them off.”
“I saw the masks; they were handing them out. I wanted one, but they were gone by the time I got over there.” The husband laughed but looked around as we began to near the banner. “I think they were part of some contest or something. These authors are always so creative.”
“They are,” I agreed. “I’m sure that’s what it was.”
But with those words, a weight was taking over my stomach.
My instincts were screaming that something wasn’t right.
All I suddenly wanted to do was get back to Penny.
She was okay. Deep down, I knew that, but what if I was wrong?
No. It was just unfamiliarity for not having my guard.
He’d texted late last night. Elliot said he would call and explain soon.
I didn’t like it, but we did have Bastian’s security team.
We were fine. Penny was safe. I had to stay.
If I wasn’t here, I wouldn’t know whether Drayton had stood me up or not.
Of course, Penny could be right about him not making it inside, but wouldn’t he call if that were the case?
I could call him and then go back to her if he’d changed his mind.
I needed to know where he stood. The sooner, the better. Penny shouldn’t be alone.
I lifted the phone as the couple headed for the banner. My gaze lowered, and I tapped, bringing it to life as the backlight illuminated the screen. The words written on the wallpaper stopped my heart. I read them once. Twice. Three times.
My brain stalled.
Sickness beckoned.
The words…The fucking words…
Your family is dead.
Elliot is dead.
The back doors.
GO NOW.
You are in danger.
The phone nearly fell from my fingers. I spun for the entrance, only to feel the floor shift beneath me. I turned to the back doors again, barely noticing how the man was already approaching.
I was digging in my purse for my phone as my brain refused to believe the words. That wasn’t for me. It wasn’t. But in my heart, I knew it was. My family. They had been unreachable for days. For fucking days. And Elliot… texting? It hadn’t felt right. None of this did.
“Drayton Pennington, please come to the front. Drayton Pennington, you’re wanted at the front.”
My head whipped around at the loud announcement, but a large hand locked on my bicep.
“The doors,” the man growled, pulling me in the direction. Training had my feet bearing down, but he was still moving me, looking around impatiently as the woman came to my other side, pulling me even faster.
People were skittering, looking towards the front as chaos seemed to break out. Someone ran the opposite direction off to my side, but I was pulled through the doors so fast, I couldn’t see what was happening.
“Let go.” I jerked against their hold, twisting until I broke free from the woman. “What is this? Where are my parents? Where’s Elliot? That’s not true. Your phone. What it said—”
The man’s face was suddenly not an inch from mine. I stared into angry eyes. Hate-filled eyes.
“They’re all dead. Even your brother. And soon, you may be too.”
In the distance, coming through the doorway, stood a suit-wearing man in a mask.
It was the same man and mask Penny had been terrified of.
It had me jerking even harder as he headed towards us.
My lips parted to scream, but I couldn’t speak.
I couldn’t move as a pinch burned through my neck.
Thickness from the shot pushed into my throat, and colors began to blur and fade almost instantly.
Was the woman yelling something at this masked man?
Did she appear confused by his presence? Or was she calling to him?
Nothing made sense or registered. The hotel hall blurred as I was lifted and cradled.
Darkness quickly took over, but I knew the facts.
The blond man had me and he was running.
To fight was impossible. Fear didn’t come when it should have.
I only knew one thing. I was being taken, and one of these men had possibly killed my family.
Killed them like Penny’s.
I was being taken… like Penny.