Page 83 of Heat Hesitation

Enzo's head whips back and forth, then zeros in on Fletcher. Perfect. She's across the room with a stiff upper lip, a severe gray bun, and an outfit that screams classroom, not gala. She sees us coming and at first looks annoyed, like we're going to try and talk policy again, but when she takes in our determined expressions, her brows furrow in concern.

Before Enzo can start screaming and scaring people, I cut in, "Fletcher, we believe something may have happened to Ophelia. We can't find her, and her bond is muted. Something's wrong."

"Oh no!" A bright peach scent hits me.

“Bianca,” Enzo snarls, just as Theo and Asher rejoin us from their search. I look at them hopefully, but their solemn yet frantic head shakes tell me the obvious. No Ophelia.

"My name is Bridgette!" The girl screeches, stomping her foot.

Ignoring her, I tell Asher and Theo to do another sweep, to split up and search the party and all the back rooms. Maybe she went to visit her catering friends. I'm grasping at straws. Too much time has passed; she wouldn't have just disappeared like this.

"Your poor mate, Theo. What terrible news. I can help you search, if you'd like." Bridgette cuts in.

Theo doesn't even acknowledge the girl as he and Asher take off into the crowd.

Trying to stay calm, to be the leader, I turn to Fletcher, when she clarifies, "Why do you think something happened to Ophelia?"

"We can't find her. The bond is muted and the more time that passes the more I'm certain something is wrong." Even as I say the words, I can feel my rage building, my anger that Fletcher's not moving fast enough. "Where's the security room? We need to check the cameras. Now!"

Fletcher, her head of security, and three other perimeter officers crowd in a small room, Asher and Theo joining us a few minutes later. Thank god we're at an omega facility in High Hills; otherwise, we might not have access to this kind of surveillance.

In some cross between his typical taciturn and boiling rage, Enzo directs the security feed. The guard rewinds it based on Enzo's hunches, threads, and feelings he picked up from their bond.

"Where were you anyway?" Theo accuses Enzo while the guard filters back through the recordings.

"I was working. I thought she was safe with three of my brothers. Apparently, I was wrong," he grinds out.

"We need to work together. Anything yet?" I interrupt before they can spiral.

The guard nods. On the feed, we watch a nondescript SUV pull up outside one of the back entrances. It idles, he fast-forwards a few minutes, then my heart pounds in fury.

There are three of the four Olcenes—presumably the fourth is driving—with Ophelia draped like a rag doll over Jackson's shoulder.

My entire body turns to stone. Shuts down.

I allowed myself to be foolish, convinced she was fine or being petulant while we ran through the gala, arguing amongst ourselves in search of her. That time is over.

Color drains from Fletcher's face. I've no time for her apologies. "I don't understand how they—"

"Find out how the Olcenes got in. According to Fletcher, they were banned, but obviously, there's a crack in your system." Turning from the head of security, I look to my brothers.

The same transformation of worry and fear, horror over what could happen to her, then stark determination to do what we must to get her back passes their expressions. No more arguing, we need to work together.

I direct, "Asher, you and Theo head to the Olcene home. Perhaps we're lucky, and they were dumb enough to bring her there. Enzo, Fletcher, you're with me."

"Me?"

Asher and Theo take off with expediency. "Yes. You. Your lack of respect for the situation ten years ago is what let them get this far. They should have been punished. I don't care that they were only three years apart in age, Alma was SIXTEEN!" I scream in her face, losing control for a moment. Straightening my jacket, I take a breath.

"They've seen Alma all grown up in my Ophelia. If anything happens to her, Fletcher, I will burn this building to the ground. Now, where would they take her?"

"We should check the pool house. That's where they brought Alma."

"Directions."

"It's, it's, on the east side of the property. Here, Officer Howl, would you mind?"

The Head of Security nods and takes off, Enzo on his heels. I stop him. "I'll go. If she's not there, I'll be right back. Use their computer, figure out where else they could have taken her, what other properties they might own."

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