Page 80 of Crossfire

“Why?”

“Answer the question.”

God, he was such a lawyer.

“Everyone has neighbors.”

“The walls—do they have any soundproofing?”

“Soundproofing?” I raised my eyebrows.

“It’s a penthouse. High-end buys fancy features. Does it have it or not?” Hunter demanded.

These weren’t the types of questions you wanted to hear when you left your brother to watch over your hostage.

I eyed the bedroom door, which was suspiciously quiet, then scanned my brother. I didn’t see any obvious injuries or scratches, but that didn’t mean there hadn’t been a struggle. If there had been, what better person to help cover it up than a criminal defense attorney?

Panic flooded my veins, my heart spreading the toxin faster with an accelerated heartbeat. Had Ivy tried to escape and Hunter tried to hold her down? Had things gone too far?

Was Ivy…still breathing?

“What did you do?” I swallowed.

“Yes. Or no?”

Hunter full-on glowered at me now, waiting as I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to remember the selling features of this place.

“I think the walls are at least partially soundproofed. Why?”

Hunter looked at the ground for several seconds before shaking his head.

“You can’t keep her here,” he advised. “She banged the headboard against the walls a few times before I could stop her. Hard. Not…anormalbang, if you know what I mean.”

Normal. As in something that could be chalked up to rough sex.

Dammit, Ivy. Why couldn’t you be a good little captive?

“How long ago was that?” I pressed.

Hunter looked at his watch. “Twenty-six minutes. In theory, that rules out a 911 call, but you should get her out of here before she could do it again. If a neighbor hears it and calls the cops, it’s over.”

Great.

“You need to leave,” I said. “Now. And don’t let security cameras see your face.”

Hunter hesitated. “You won’t be able to get her out of here yourself.”

“I’ll figure it out,” I said.

“How will you get her out of here, undetected, alone?”

No idea.

“I shouldn’t have called you.” I clenched my hand into a ball. “Get out of here before this blows up your life.”

Hunter studied me for several seconds, shifting his jaw, and then, with one last sigh, he stood up.

“Don’t forget about our monthly dinner.”

---