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We all replied no too. My stomach clutched.

Forrest:He’s probably in an area with no reception.

Grayson:Maybe he’s taking a shit.

Kaylee laughed, and Natalie called her man on the phone to remind him and his friends to watch their language because a thirteen-year-old was in the group.

He apologized, and the group chat went quiet.

What happened to Arrow?

At that moment, I saw a girl with long dark hair walking with a man. They were with a group of people.

“Look,” I whispered to the girls. “Near the mosaic artwork.”

After texting the guys that we spotted someone resembling Aimee, we made our way over.

CHAPTERSIXTY-THREE

ARROW

As I rushed downthe hallway toward the room, I debated stopping to alert the group. But one split second could mean the difference between following Aimee and losing her again. Where did the room lead? I’d inform them once I got inside.

I reached the door at the end of the hallway with a metal plate that read Employees Only. Something was off here. The girl was definitely Aimee, but why did she run into this room?

Because she doesn’t know you. She probably thinks you’re another creepy kidnapper.

That was a possibility. She didn’t look terrified like I had expected. Had she escaped Orion? If so, why hadn’t she run to an adult to ask them to call the police or her parents?

Despite the details not connecting properly, I had no choice but to follow Aimee. Vivian had been stressed looking for this little girl, and she was within my grasp.

I stepped into a dimly lit room with comfortable chairs in a lounge area with a big screen TV on a table. This wasn’t the conference room appearance I’d expected. I pulled out my phone to alert my friends, but there was no reception.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

Though the connection jam confirmed my suspicion, it still annoyed me. This was a high-tech phone that used advanced internet from the government. “How the fuck did he manipulate it? Is he working for the military?”

“Language, Arrow,” said a voice from the dark corner. “There’s a minor in this room.”

Since when did a kidnapper care about profanity around a child?

I’d already sensed his presence when I’d entered. But I wanted to see his next move.

The familiar voice irked me. A part of me felt betrayed, but the other part scolded me for not being more careful—for not seeing the obvious.

Orion Reimann flicked on the lights. He had dark hair and wore a tailored gray suit, looking wealthy and sharp like the man I’d seen at the wine convention. Aimee sat at a table, coloring something. She looked at me and smiled. Guilt splashed on her face, and I knew Orion had made her lure me here.

But why?

Orion gestured to the phone in my hand. “You can alert your boys to come to Conference A now. Ask the ladies to take Aimee downstairs.” He looked at the girl. “You can go home now. Thank you for your help.”

She nodded and offered him a hug. “Thank you.”

Why was shethankinghim? She should run out the door right now.

When the girls arrived to get Aimee, Vivian had questions in her eyes, but she didn’t ask them. She only glared at Orion through the open door.

“We’ll talk later.” I brushed a hand down her cheek. It had been a chaotic few weeks, and fatigue showed in her eyes.