Page 126

“How about you?” He looked at Kaylee.

She offered two thumbs up.

Satisfied, he gestured for the boys to follow him. “Let’s go find her.”

My stomach tightened at the thought that there could be a team of kidnappers here. What if that man was working with others? I couldn’t imagine a kidnapper taking his captive to an art show. If I were a kidnapper, I’d ensure she was hidden.

Something didn’t make sense, but I couldn’t let that thought distract me.

I reviewed the map again with Audri, Michelle, Kiera, Natalie, and Kaylee.

I looked at my girls. “Someone needs to stay here in the entrance hall with Kaylee to keep an eye out for Aimee and that man.”

“I’ll stay with her.” Michelle volunteered, draping an arm around Kaylee. “No one will escape our eagle eyes.”

Arrow had little info on Orion Reimann and neither did his PI. Who was this man? What did he want with Aimee?

“I’ll take the West Chamber.” Audri gestured toward the hallway. “Natalie has the East.”

“I’ll cover the North, and Vivian has the South.” Kiera tucked the map into her purse. Her opal engagement ring gleamed in the museum lighting.

Shrill laughter echoed in the lobby, and I looked up and spotted Sylvia with two other women. They wore leather pants with high-heeled, knee-length boots and expensive-looking coats.

“I need to touch up my makeup,” Sylvia told her friends. As she headed toward the bathroom, she spotted me and rolled her eyes. Then she glared at Kaylee and muttered, “Bitch,” before disappearing into the bathroom.

Kaylee and my friends gasped.

Fury ignited in me. I would have let things slide between us, but no, she had to insult my sister. She wanted a bitch? I’d give her one. The immaturity needed to be dealt with once and for all. I stalked toward the bathroom.

“Oh no,” Kaylee muttered.

“Who’s that?” Michelle asked.

“Arrow’s ex. She’s a mean witch.”

CHAPTERSIXTY

VIVIAN

I didn’t hearthe rest of the conversation between Kaylee and my friends. Anger, exhaustion, and annoyance spurred me as I pushed the door open. A glance showed me no one else was inside. I locked the door and glanced at Sylvia. She had scattered her makeup supplies all over the counter. I didn’t need this immature shit right now.

Remembering my lessons from my self-defense classes, I acknowledged the turbulent emotions whirling inside me and tried to separate myself from the storm. It was the only way for me to resolve this matter efficiently. Anger only clouded my judgment. I gathered everything I had to stay calm. Inhaling a deep breath, I stepped up to her and grabbed an eyeliner from the scattered supplies.

Sylvia shot me a sharp look as I twirled the eyeliner in my hand. Then I gripped it like a weapon, stabbing the air as though it were a dagger.

“Did you know this tiny little thing can puncture easily?” I jabbed it into the air, this way and that. “One powerful stab in the right place can injure someone’s heart. Or someone’s eye.”

She glared at me. I could tell she wanted to bark at me but hesitated when I demonstrated a jab near her throat.

“What do you want?” she asked, keeping her gaze on the eyeliner.

“I want you to grow up.” I jabbed it forward as though an opponent was in front of me. Relaxing my stance, I twirled the pencil between my fingers again. “The sharp point can easily penetrate vulnerable human skin. Be careful with this thing. It can make someone beautiful or ugly.” I placed the eyeliner back with the other supplies. “As an adult, you need to be careful of what you say and do. There are repercussions to your actions.”

Sylvia pouted. “She keyed my car!”

“Was there proof?” I asked, even though I already knew the evidence had disappeared. Kaylee had confessed everything to me. “I apologize for what my little sister did. She shouldn’t have done it, and you could’ve called Arrow. He would’ve told me, and I would’ve dealt with it.” The fatigue from the past few months surged through the surface, forcing me to release a heavy sigh. “She’s only thirteen. Her actions stemmed from the fact thatyouhired two people to attack me in public. Kaylee just wanted justice for me.”

Sylvia looked away from my gaze and said nothing.