Page 36 of A Midnight Romance

River

R acing down the highway, I’m approaching a hundred miles an hour. Rage has taken over. Lux is the most amazing woman I have ever met and I can’t let anything happen to her.

All those nights sitting outside her townhouse, watching her from the cameras on my phone, hoping one day I’d get to touch her—until I finally did.

To say being with her is like heaven would never be close enough to how it feels.

The softness of her skin, the intensity in her eyes, and the way she looks at me like I’m not the monster that I am.

I grip the steering wheel, staring down the narrow, windy highway with my thoughts clouded. The impulsivity of my darkness is what fucked it up. Andrew got to her, because of me. I vowed to protect her, and I didn’t.

I feel nothing but everything all at once.

Andrew doesn’t know who the fuck he is messing with.

My phone rings through the car. “Did you check into the planning and zoning databases?” I ask before Sebastian has a chance to say anything.

“Yes.” Sebastian clears his throat, then in a rushed tone he names off a long list of local Hughes’ family properties. “We could start one by one. Or simply check his primary residence? ”

I nod, pulling into the underground garage at the manor and skidding to the spot closest to the elevator. “He wouldn’t keep her at his house. He might be a twisted fuck, but he isn’t stupid.”

“You’re right.” Sebastian pauses. “Seems like a dumb move, even for him.”

I grab my phone, step out of the car and head straight to my office. “I’m here. Meet me in my office,” I tell him before hanging up.

By the time I make it to my office, Sebastian is right behind me, furiously typing on his computer that’s held in one hand.

“What about new construction?’ I continue our conversation.

“Or a building they’ve just closed escrow on? Can we check the MLS for any property updates?”

He takes a seat on the leather couch. “Already on it.”

I sit next to him and bring my hands up to my face. “Fuck!” I yell with utter frustration spiked raw fear.

“We’ll find her,” he reassures me without looking up from the screen.

Suddenly I remember Fester and leaving him in the building. “Did you send the crew to take care of—”

“It’s already done,” Sebastian interjects. Then he leans in with a worried expression. “What the hell happened today?”

I rise to my feet, unable to remain still and walk over to my desk. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I tell him as I grab my laptop to look into any CTV footage that could help us while Sebastian works on the properties.

“I think we should.”

“Not now.”

“Fine,” he says. “I just sent you the list of local properties.”

I open his encrypted email and scroll through the properties on the planning and zoning databases. “We should also check lien holders and proposed structures, not only titles.”

Sebastian comes to stand next to me and leans over my shoulder, his finger pointing at one of the properties. “Check out this one. It’s in escrow with the Hughes Enterprises.”

My eyes narrow. “That’s The Henderson downtown.”

“Weird,” Sebastian mumbles. “I didn’t know his family owned that piece of shit.”

I highlight the date of purchase. “They recently acquired it.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Sebastian says. “I can hack into the commercial security system to see if there was any movement.”

I shake my head. “You think Andrew would go in a regular door?”

“They probably have cameras all over that place.”

“He would not walk by a spot where there are cameras. Especially if he took her there, he would have felt comfortable with the security.”

“You could be right.”

As we’re planning to check out the first location, I recall the conversation I had with Andrew. My eyes dart up to my cousin’s. “Andrew called and he wants me to come alone.”

His eyebrows snap together. “Not happening.”

“Yes. I can’t risk Lux’s safety any more than I already have.”

He slams his hand on the wooden desk. “Absolutely not. I’m not letting you walk into a suicide mission.”

My eyes bore into his. “That’s not your decision to make.”

“River, that is insane,” he argues. “You don’t know what he has planned or what you’re walking into.”

“I can take care of myself.” My arm muscles flex, knowing full well I’d burn this fucking world down for her.

“You’re such an egotistical asshole,” he spits. “Let me and the team take the perimeter. ”

I rub my lips together, contemplating what I know would be the safe move, but I cannot risk Andrew getting word of it. “I’ll keep you updated.”

Sebastian squares his shoulders. His expression hardens. “When we first put this operation together, we agreed we’d be a team. But you slowly took the lead. And I was fine with it because you’re like my older brother—by only three years, but it’s something.”

“Your point?”

“My point is, I stepped back from being CFO at TI in order to run this,” he continues, his fingers gripping the edge of the desk. “I am in charge of what goes on with the night team, which means I’m going with you. And if you have a problem with that, then you can fuck off.”

I blow out a breath of frustration. Sebastian is my brother and partner, which leaves me little room to protest. “Fine, but be careful and maintain a good distance.”

“This isn’t my first rodeo,” he retorts smugly.

Knowing we’re running out of time, I stand from my chair and say, “Download the PDF and send it to Stevie. Tell her to look for any more locations. If he has one in escrow, he might have more.”

“Okay?” he says, confused by me involving Lux’s sister. “Should I tell her about Lux?”

I nod. “Yes, but reassure her everything is going to be okay.” Then I turn and race out of the office and back down the hall, before tossing over my shoulder, “Oh, and keep her here.”

“River, wait!” Sebastian chases me out the door. “We need to come up with a plan first.”

“The plan is I get back my woman and kill Andrew in the process. ”

Sebastian’s boots hit the tiled floor behind me, mirroring the weight of my steps. “This isn’t like you.” His voice sounds sour and frustrated the farther away from him I get.

“Do you guys know where Lux is?” Stevie asks softly in the background.

Lux’s sister’s concern stops me in my tracks. I take in a painful breath, slowly turning to face her. As my posture straightens, my eyes burn with revenge. “I’m going to get her right now.”

Sebastian is suddenly at my side, and his expression is firm as tensions run high between us. “River will handle it, Stevie.”

“What does that mean?” Her voice shakes with fear. “Does someone have her?”

Sebastian steps forward, cupping her elbow. “Andrew took her. He’s the guy whose group we’ve been hunting.”

I need to set her mind at ease. Searching for the more human side of me with my eyes locked on hers. “There is no place on this fucking earth Lux can go that I will not find her.”

Stevie’s eyes are misty with worry as she nods. “Okay, River.”

“Sebastian has a job for you. It’ll help us find her,” I say in a tender tone. “Do you think you can handle it?”

She cocks her hip to the side, irritation flashes across her face. “Of course I can handle it.”

Sebastian chuckles at Stevie’s response, but his focus is on me. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“I figured you would.” I turn away from them, head into the elevator and down to the garage.

In no time, I’m speeding down the hill. My breath becomes shallow and steady as I pull onto the highway.

A light drizzle and clouds rolling in at dusk, makes for a dreary evening not unlike the many summer rains that have come before it.

I am the most collected, controlled on days like these, and with nightfall creeping in I’m coming alive.

A threat hangs over a life more precious than any other, changing the energy this time, and I will never forgive myself if I cannot get her back. Lux represents the closest thing to love I’ve ever experienced. She pulses through my veins and I don’t know how I’d survive this world without her.

The highway opens for me, clearing a path into the bright lights of the city and directly to the dated hotel downtown.

A quick glance in the mirror proves Sebastian has already caught up with me. Despite believing that I can handle this on my own, I need him more than I’d like to admit.

I reach The Henderson in record time and look at the deserted hotel. As I drive up, my eyes dart to each floor, examining the dark windows until I find one with a dull yellow glow.

I doubt Andrew would be this obvious, but maybe there’s a hidden room somewhere. A basement, perhaps?

My head falls in frustration with how this doesn’t fit and lacks sense to be the correct location. I pull my car to the curb, parking in front of the desolate entrance, because I need to clear the hotel anyway, just in case.

I yank the door open and climb out. With a brisk walk into the lobby, I am met with a view of fabric couches littered with holes and covered in stains.

“Hello.” An older man with a beard stands behind a check-in desk.

“I’m looking to have some company tonight.” I smirk. And with a subtle gesture at the women standing on the corner outside the entrance with ripped fishnets stockings that have seen some action in recent days. They must still be able to operate from the previous owners .

He grins mischievously, showing yellowed teeth with one missing on the top left. “Say no more,” he says. “The Henderson is the perfect location for your nighttime activities as we pride ourselves on being a discreet hotel.”

“Wonderful.” I lean in and rest my elbows on top of the counter. “I also want to make sure we’re able to be loud, if you know what I mean. Are there a lot of guests booked here for tonight?”

The man smiles once again, understanding exactly what I mean. “There’s only one other guest checked in for the night,” he whispers. “And let’s just say, you both are here for a little nightcap before heading home to the misses.”

“Great,” I tell him with a smile.

“I can put you on the fourth” His fingers tap the information onto the keyboard. “He’s on the third, so you two shouldn’t hear each other.”

“Do you have a restroom?” I ask, needing to get to the third floor.

“Yep.” His finger comes up to point down the back hall.

I nod. “Be right back.”

I walk past the first set of elevators in the lobby, and then turn a sharp corner to find another next to the bathrooms. With a quick look behind me, I approach the doors and hit the arrow going up.

It comes in handy that these old hotels don’t need room keys to roam the property.

Once I’m on the third floor, I scan the area before stepping out of the elevator.

Red wallpaper lines the hallway and the air is musty and humid, like water damage has done a number on the structure.

Keeping my movements slow and calculated, I listen for any movement or noise I can detect.

Turning to the corner to head down one side of the hallway, I hold my ear up to each tan colored door.

My breath halts, moving from one room to another until I reach the end and switch sides.

Before long, I am down the opposite side, with only five doors left.

Anger bubbling inside, I’m about to punch a hole in the door when I hear the faint sound of a man panting.

“That motherfucker.” Panic and rage seizes hold of limbs as everything turns to deep red. I will burn this fucking place down if he touched her.

I rush the door, lifting my boot to kick down the door. The wood snaps but keeps the deadbolt in place.

“I’m going to fucking kill you!” I climb through, pushing wood beams aside.

A scream comes from behind a wall, and before long I am face-to-face with a naked man on top of a woman with her skirt hiked high.

“What do you want?” he cries out with fear while his dick is still inside of her.

Blinking a few times, I gather my thoughts, adrenaline coursing heavily through my veins.

It’s not them.

Relief washes over me, but also fear because I am still on the hunt.

My hand goes up into the air in surrender. “Sorry, wrong room!”

The woman scurries to the back of the bed.

“Get the fuck out of here!” the man yells as I rush out through the broken door.

Once I’m back in the hallway, facing the sickening wallpaper once again, my anger takes on a new fold. “Fuck!” I grit out, my hands brushing through my hair in frustration.

I have to find Lux. There is no me without her.

I push open the door to the fire escape, taking the stairs two at a time, as it leads me into an alleyway behind the hotel. And with one deep breath of cool night air, I refill my lungs before thundering around the building back to my car.