Page 77 of The Twilight Theft

I took two steps toward the guard by the staff door.

The lights went out.

Gasps and startled voices filled the room. Dim light filtered through the main and bathroom doors as people streamed out. Even the patio lights shut off.

“Fuck.” I halted. “Wyatt, the lights are off down here.”

“They’re on up—” He grunted, followed by a thud and a sound as though his phone skittered across the floor.

“Wyatt?” I flipped on my phone’s flashlight—as did many others. With no response, I hurried to the guard at the door. “I’m with Bishop and Associates. Get someone to the fourth floor. One of the thieves is up there.”

He turned on his own light and glowered at me, but used his comms to order one of the security team to help Wyatt. Part of my brain begged me to go up there, to ensure he was okay.

But I stuffed that inside the locker, too.

Jayce said Noah’s group were thieves and kidnappers. Would they do more than disable Wyatt?

My stomach churned uneasily, memories of Alex flooding back to me.Put it in the locker, Drew.Had he been alone when the Flame of Khvarenah found him? Had he called for backup from someone who didn’t come for him?

“Lights off, everyone.” A female voice carried through the sound system, along with quiet music. “It’s time for what you all came for.”

Camera lights winked out throughout the room, plunging us back into near-darkness. A low-pitched hum filled the room, joined by a single violin, drowning out the crowd’s whispers.

Liana had promised a show.

Hopefully, that’s all this is.

Chapter 30

Jayce

Thiswasmyelement.

Light so low, most people couldn’t see.

Everyone too distracted by Liana’s spectacle to notice the world around them.

Music quiet enough I could hear any cues I needed, but loud enough to mask my movements.

“Liana’s shut off the lights,” I whispered to my team. “I’m going in. Radio silent.”

“Be careful,” said Brie over my earpiece. “The cameras can’t handle low light. I can’t see anything.”

Rav, Emmett, and Zaria were still searching for Noah upstairs—how many rooms were there? Wyatt was another floor up on someone’s tail. Malcolm had Scarlett sequestered in the main dining room—the man was more paranoid about Noah coming after her than Rav was.

That left me.

I stepped out of my shoes and hunched my shoulders, making myself as inconspicuous as possible.

A flash from a sequin here, a jostle of keys there; I could visualize every person I navigated around. Noah was too smart. He’d have us chasing our tails all night and swoop in at the right time.

But he wasn’t getting the best of Reynolds Recoveries again. I’d be standing next to that sculpture if he tried anything.

The lights being out would be a perfect opportunity—did he know it was going to happen?

Two hands landed on my hips, and I froze. Something deep inside told me it was Drew.

“I picked up your shoes.” He must have spotted my movement before he turned off his phone light. “I think Wyatt’s in trouble.”

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