Page 1 of The Veiling

The Jester

“Three-hundred thousand dollars!”

The bidding war between the elite continued as scheduled, keeping everyone distracted from the disaster transpiring around them. Slowly rotating in the ballroom behind the attendees, I scanned the crowded event space for any sign of Felipe or Jesse.

Emilio had alarmed me more than I wanted to admit, but my only focus right now was making sure my fiancée remained unharmed. In the years I had been alive, I had never panicked like I had over her wellbeing. It was the single most important thing to me.

We had alerted security, and they were combing the interior and exterior of the hotel. They left no stone unturned as the masquerade ball went on as scheduled. Tonight, I would win the war.

“Sold!” Sharon exclaimed from the stage, shattering my concentration. “Five-hundred thousand dollars!”

My gaze shifted to where I had told Isabelle to stand, but she was not there. Tanya zipped through the crowd, holding her floor-length gown up as she rushed for the exit.What the hell?!

I hurried toward her, alerting no one. I squeezed her shoulder, startling her. She whirled around to face me.Just as I was about to ask where she was going, her expression turned to terror.

“What’s wrong?” I darted my eyes back and forth between her and the stage.

“I was going to check on Isabelle.”

“What?” My gaze widened, and my fists clenched at my sides when I finally processed that Isabelle wasgone. “Where is she?!”

“She went to the bathroom, but it’s been over five minutes and—”

“Alone?!” I gawked over her head, seeing a paper sign on the bathroom just inside one of the ballroom doors.

Closed for Maintenance.

I swiveled around toward the secured exit. “Where is she?!” I stomped toward the armed security guard at his post. “Did you let someone out?”

“Sir? Oh, yes, sir.” He barely dipped his head. “An emergency, though. Some pregnant woman wanted to use the bat—”

“Merda!” I shoved him out of the way, forcefully pushing the metal bar, hurling the door open.

Tanya followed, vigilantly at my side.

“Stay close and stay behind me.” I moved her back. Unbuttoning my jacket, I hovered my hand over my holstered pistol as I sped down the hallway. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“Valentino,” she hissed, struggling to keep my stride, “what’s going on?”

Without another word, I hurried to the closest hall bathroom. A makeshift sign hung on the door.

Closed for Maintenance.

A clear indication something bad was happening since the hotel has branded signage for every occasion.

On guard, and ready to draw my weapon at any moment, I shoved open the door. Silence. I crept through, hurling each stall open. Still nothing. Alarm swelled inside me as I stepped back into the hall.

“She’s not in the men’s room either,”Tanya exhaled.

“Why would you go in there alone, Tanya?!”

“Sorry,” she whispered, “I was worried.”

“I said to stay close,” I murmured as we hurried to the next nearest bathroom.

“Boss!” Noah appeared just behind us, maintaining my pace. “Isabelle’s not in the ballroom.”

Yet again, Another sign.

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