Page 106 of Code of Heart

Owen

Owen took one look at Levi and instantaneously recognized the signs of where his mind was headed.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath, his gaze snapping back to Selene. The coolness in his eyes made her flinch.

“Thank you for your help,” Owen said, his voice clipped and cold. “If you see her before we do, please tell her we’re looking for her.”

He didn’t wait for a response. Grabbing Levi by the arm, he pulled him toward a less crowded part of the room. With his free hand, he fired off a quick text to Isaac:Need you at the manor. Now.

Seconds later, Isaac responded:On my way.

Owen’s sharp eyes scanned the ballroom, locking on Charles across the room. Without missing a step, he changed course, pulling Levi toward him. Charles took one look at Levi’s pale, panicked face and instantly knew something was very wrong.

“Selene says she walked her out for air, and then Aurelia started chatting with some guy. She left her there and hasn’t seen her since,” Owen explained in a low, urgent voice.

Charles inhaled sharply, his concern written plainly across his features.

Owen turned back to Levi, his voice quieter but no less firm. “I know what you’re thinking…but she wouldn’t do that to you.”

Levi only managed a robotic nod, his eyes distant. That worried Owen more than anything else.

“I’m sure she’s still here somewhere,” Charles offered, though his tone betrayed his doubt. “Why don’t we start searching the grounds?”

Levi straightened slightly, a glimmer of hope returning. “That would be great.”

As Levi and Charles started toward the ballroom entrance, Owen held back.

“I’m going to stay here in case she shows up,” he called after them. “Charles, I need a favor before you go.”

Charles paused. Levi kept walking, too far gone in his thoughts to notice.

Owen pointed to a tall, broad-shouldered man stationed at the ballroom entrance. “Can you tell that security officer over there to follow any instructions I give him? Something isn’t right, and I’ve got a hunch I need to follow up on.”

Charles studied Owen for a long moment, searching his expression for something unspoken. Then, with a single nod, he agreed.

“I’ll let him know. Good luck.”

Charles jogged after Levi, pausing briefly to speak with the security officer and point toward Owen.

Owen approached the guard and introduced himself. “Owen Voss. I’m a close friend of Aurelia’s and head of security at her husband’s company.”

The officer extended his hand. “Edwin McFale. How can I help?”

“We can’t locate Aurelia, and we don’t know when—or with whom—she was last seen,” Owen explained, his voice tight. “Charles and Levi are combing the property, but I need your team ready in case this escalates. Also, a man named Isaac Nolan should be arriving any minute. Let him through when he gets here. He’ll help me support Levi if things…don’t go well.”

Edwin nodded, immediately radioing his team to coordinate.

“In the meantime, I want all surveillance footage from noon today through tomorrow morning pulled and prepared for review. Charles will need it. And if my instincts are right, the police may too.”

“Understood.” Edwin took Owen’s contact information and disappeared into the crowd.

Finally alone, Owen moved to a quiet corner of the ballroom and let the gravity of the situation settle on him.

Something was off—deeply, obviously wrong. And Selene…

That nagging thought wouldn’t leave him alone.

Then clarity slammed into him.