Page 130 of House of Lies

“Lot of people around,” Myles says. “She’d feel safe here, maybe even let her guard down.”

“I told her not to come here alone.” Smith sighs. “It’s too easy to isolate someone in a big office block like this.”

“Yeah, and I’m sure you’ve never met a more obedient woman in your life.”

Smith gives me a long-suffering stare as he hands me a Glock. “We’re coming in with you.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“The gun, or the backup?”

“Angelo wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

Myles claps a hand over my shoulder. “You know everyone has a dark side.”

What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

Myles pats my shoulder. “Rich, Smith, you two go with Ethan. I’ll keep an eye on the entrance.”

We all get out of Smith’s Bentley and cross the street. I tuck Smith’s Glock into the small of my back as I walk into the office lobby with Smith and Rich. The reception area is still lit up, but there’s no one behind the desk to greet me.

Luckily, I know where to go.

“Top floor, last door on the left.”

Smith and Rich take the stairs, disappearing without another word.

I take the elevator, heading straight for Angelo’s office. The elevator stops on one of the floors, but the person waiting outside is so busy texting they don’t even notice the doors opening.

Angelo’s office is at the end of the hall, and all the doors I pass to reach his are closed.

Thankfully I still have keys to the office, and I always carry them on the same set as my car keys. The last thing I want to do is kick down a door only to find out there is, after all, a rational explanation for all of this.

Dear God, I hope there is.

Because the alternative is that Cassidy’s life is in danger, and even the thought makes me want to commit grievous bodily harm.

The office light is on. I can see it shining through the small gap at the bottom of the door. Making as little sound as possible, I carefully ease the key into the lock and open the door.

There’s a small reception area with four doors leading off a short hallway. Two offices, a kitchen area we also used as a workshop, and the bathroom.

Empty.

My heart is in my fucking throat as I aim the Glock down the hall and make my way deeper into the office. I never realized something as innocent as an office could be this fucking sinister.

I ease open the kitchen door, then the bathroom. Angelo’s office, then mine.

As Smith and Richmond walk into the office, I turn to them and let out a frustrated sigh.

“He’s not here.”

Chapter 53

Cassidy

I cough myself awake, wincing as a sharp ache spears through my head. My vision is blurry, and the lighting is so dim that I struggled to make out anything at first.

I’m seated in a hard chair—wood or plastic maybe. My ankles are tied to the chair legs, but not in a sexy way. They’re so tight, they’ve cut off circulation. My arms are tied to the armrests, and there’s another rope around my waist, keeping my body flush with the seat.

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