Chapter 36 Bastian
BASTIAN
Icouldn’t take my eyes off Lark.
The dress was perfect. I desperately wanted to take it off her.
Everything in me was vigilant as I watched the packed room. There was still no sign of Dean.
I discreetly touched my ear. “Nash?”
“Nothing on cameras,” his voice came through my earpiece.
I gritted my teeth. I wanted this over.
There was still a chance Lark would run in some misguided attempt to protect me. If Dean didn’t show tonight…
My hand tightened on her hip. I wasn’t letting her go. There was nowhere she could run that I wouldn’t follow.
No cost I wouldn’t pay to keep her safe at my side.
It was humbling to realize that I’d give up everything I’d amassed for her.
She spun toward me, her hands to my chest. “You’re tense.”
“I want Dean to make his play.”
“Where’s the patience that the Reaper is notorious for?”
I cupped her cheek. Her lips were bright red to match her dress. “I’ve no patience when it comes to keeping you safe.”
“You’ve got to stop saying things like that.” Her voice was breathy.
“No, you need to get used to hearing them.” I tugged her closer. “I have more to say to you.”
I saw flicker of fear in her eyes. “Bastian…”
“In time. When you’re ready.”
“What if I’m never ready?”
“You will be.”
She rolled her eyes. “So arrogant.”
Then she pulled back. “Screw Dean, I’ll get us some champagne. I know you’ll only be serving the good stuff.”
I watched her head toward the closest server. Her red dress billowed out behind her. Dragging my eyes off her, I did another scan of the room.
I spotted all my friends and caught Nash’s gaze. He shook his head. Dammit.
“Bastian, such a lovely party,” a booming voice said.
I turned and saw the local governor. “Joe, good to see you.”
“Yes, yes.” He shook my hand and gestured at the woman at his side. “I wanted to introduce you to Kathy. Our new mayor. Kathy, Bastian here works on Chance Tyler’s team here at the Avernus.”
I made small talk and extricated myself as quickly as I could. Then I frowned. Lark still hadn’t returned.
My gaze skimmed the crowd until I spotted red.
One of the male Egyptian servers had his arm around her, hurrying her out of the ballroom. I stiffened, my pulse going crazy. From the way he was angled, he was holding a weapon jammed to her side.
Fuck. I touched my ear. “Dean is here, dressed as a server. He’s got Lark.”
I heard a chorus of curses.
She hadn’t activated her earpiece. Either she hadn’t had the chance, or she was trying to deal with him herself.
All around the room, my friends converged. I shoved through the crowd, ignoring the startled faces. Lark and Dean had disappeared out of the ballroom.
“We’re right behind you, Lark.” I knew she could hear me.
I burst out of the ballroom. A second later, Nash and the others were with me.
There was no sign of Lark or Dean.
“Where did they go?” I growled.
“Wait, I just got a message from the security team.” Nash studied his cellphone. “They’re in the stairwell. Headed down.”
“Go.” I broke into a sprint, panic riding me.
I knew she could protect herself, but I was in love with her. I blew out a steadying breath. She’d gone with him on purpose. To get him away from the crowd.
To get him away from me.
The overprotective, little fool. I opened the stairwell door silently. I heard faint footsteps on the stairs below.
“Faster,” a male voice snapped.
“I’m in heels, asshole,” Lark snapped back.
I smiled. That was my girl. I pointed down and the others nodded.
“Alessio and I will take the elevator down,” Rafe murmured. “Try to flank him.”
“Do it.”
The pair strode away.
I moved downward, staying quiet. Nash, Cole, and Landon followed me.
I heard a door open below.
“I know you’re here, Thorne,” Dean yelled up stairwell. “She’ll be dead before you find us.” The door slammed closed.
I stopped being quiet. I sprinted down the stairs two at a time.
“Here.” Nash pulled a handgun from under his jacket. It was the Glock 19 I often used. He slapped it in my hand. “Looks like they exited on the maintenance level.”
When we reached the door marked Maintenance. I gripped the handle and pulled.
The door didn’t open.
I shoved against it. It didn’t budge. Cole joined me and we slammed our bodies against it.
“Fuck.” I stepped back and raised the Glock. I shot the handle, but when I pushed, the door still wouldn’t open.
“I’ve got this.” Nash pulled something from his jacket pocket.
He flicked on the mini-torch, a blue flame flaring to life. Then he ran it along the door’s hinges.
Clicking the torch off, he lifted a foot and kicked.
The door fell outward, and I was the first through. I glanced at the heavy chain caught on the handle, then looked up.
We were in the maintenance area. To one side were shelves filled with tools, ladders, and equipment.
Everything down here was to take care of the critical systems in the casino like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and the elevators.
Not to mention the general maintenance of the rooms, corridors, restaurants, and pools.
I pulled in a deep breath. That’s when that thunderstorm scent reached me. They’d passed right by here.
Using instincts that had made me the Reaper, I moved swiftly through the machinery and the workbenches.
“Boilers and water treatment are ahead,” Nash said.
Where the fuck was Dean he taking her? “I thought he’d be trying to get her out of the casino.”
Nash’s brows drew together. “Only way out of here is the loading dock at the back.”
I touched my ear. “Alessio, Rafe, get to the loading dock.”
“On our way,” Alessio replied.
This didn’t feel right. Dean had a plan, I was sure of it.
I strode through the space, keeping my shoes quiet on the concrete. I walked past a door marked Water Treatment, then stopped.
I looked back.
On the frame of the door, I saw a smudge of red.
Red lipstick.
My little bird had left me a sign. I yanked the door open and heard the drone of equipment. There were several large wastewater tanks, and pipes running along the walls and ceiling.
I brought my gun up and entered.
The others were behind me, but I barely paid any attention. I rounded some tanks, then I cursed.
“Crap,” Landon muttered.
There was a sewer manhole in the floor and it was open. I peered down into the darkness.
“Fucking hell.” Nash’s voice was tight. “He’s taken her into the sewers.”
I didn’t hesitate.
I dropped down into the manhole.