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A text pinged on my phone, and the address appeared on the screen. I shoved Red Venom aside for the moment, put on my high-tech Rolex, and headed out.

CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR

FORREST

I drove a rental SUV and arrived at the seven-story brick building with a sign for Quality Printing & Marketing. This was no printing business. I studied the industrial surroundings. They all looked similar.

I pulled into the parking lot and the valet, dressed in black, scanned my ID.

He gestured to the lot. “You can park anywhere.” I chose the spot near the back door.

As I got ready to leave, my phone slipped out of my pants pocket, dropping to the floor. I bent down to pick it up and cursed, “Fucking hell.”

I glared at my mismatched socks—a black sock and a light gray one. I’d never been this out of sorts. Leaning back into the seat, I inhaled a deep breath and released it heavily.

Get it together. Kiera needs you.

Getting out, I surveyed the lot. There was only one way in and out. A good number of cars were already parked. I didn’t see Levi’s car.

This industrial district was near where Kiera had been abducted. It couldn’t be a coincidence. I lifted my Rolex watch, pretending to look at the time, but I was scanning all the parked cars, getting their license plate numbers. Maybe the kidnappers had driven here in one of these cars. Right now everyone was my enemy.

The drive to this area was secluded except for a few men walking up and down the streets in T-shirtsand jeans, as though guarding their territory. Werethey spying for uninvited guests? Or were they looking for someone else?

I entered the lavishly decorated banquet hall. Unlike the mundane exterior, the interior portrayed marbled floors with chandeliers dripping with crystals. The men in gray suits at the desk scanned my body, took my phone, put it in a black container, andlocked it.

“Don’t worry, sir. No one will touch it. You’ll get it back when you’re ready to leave,” said the man with a tattoo on the side of his neck.

“I’d better, or else my grandmother will be coming after you. There are baby pictures on that phone that she’s dying to get.” I smiled. “You don’t want her wrath.”

“There’s nothing like the wrath of a determined Nana,” said the guy with a scar on his chin.

“Thanks for understanding.” I patted his shoulder and gave him a generous tip.

Because I didn’t know what to expect at this banquet, the phone they just took was only a spare. If it got lost, they could have fun looking at a bunch of stock photos of adorable babies.

The security men didn’t take my watch because it wasn’t a smartwatch, or so they thought. The intricate face of the Rolex resembled an old-fashioned watch, but in reality, it possessed advanced technology. Remi had given me and each of my friends a Rolex to take down the conglomerate.

The video recordings from the watch synced to a secure shared drive that my friends could access. For efficiency, I would alert them to access the recordings if something were off. If this banquet turned out to be just that, with no hidden agenda, I didn’t want them wasting their time.

I walked into a ballroom with high ceilings and metal bars above. It was well-lit like the main entrance. The dim lighting gave off a mysterious ambience. Sheer red curtains draped stylishly between the bars, coming to join at a large chandelier dripping with sparkling crystals. The suspended red curtains looked like blood vessels, and the fabric flowing down to the ground looked like bloody waterfalls. A black rug covered the floor, making me feel like I was browsing through hell. I didn’t see any cameras, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there.

Several men hovered around a standing table, chatting and laughing. More men browsed the room looking at Renaissance paintings.

The ballroom reminded me of the videos I’d seen when Grayson visited Club Diablo. That had been an underground club. However, this space was twice as large. Glass pillars stood in various corners, with lights glowing from within. A tray of hors d’oeuvres sat next to a wide candle.

Apart from the appetizer stands, there were about fifteen round dining tables with black covers and matching chairs. Crystal cases glowed as center pieces.

“Hey. Sorry I’mlate.” Levi approached, dressed in a black suit, sporting a hickey on his neck. “I had to convince my lady friend that I’d see her tomorrow. Anything interesting?” He looked around. “Wow, this is a lot fancier than the gatherings I’ve been to.”

Everything about the setup had The Trogyn’s signature on it. A thrill rushed through me. I surveyed the area, looking for anyone who could be Andromeda and Black Moon Lilith. No one stood out. Maybe those names weren’t relevant to this private party.

Orcus was another name Red Venom had used. Could he be here tonight? Was he running the show? Or was he at another party in Texas right now?

“Want anything to drink?” Levi asked, gesturing to the bar with a blonde bartender wearing a white shirt, a black vest with matching pants.

“I’ll take a Scotch. Neat.”

While we headed over to the bar, I scanned the growing crowd.