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Chapter One
Gwen
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Gwen, but we are short-staffed on the floor and Stacey needs to take her lunch break. Could you come out to help?”
I look up from my desk at my co-worker, coming out of my paperwork induced tunnel vision slowly. “Sure, Debbie. Give me just a minute to file these, and I’ll be right out.”
“Thanks, Gwen. You’re a lifesaver.”
I smile at her then turn back to the mortgage loan application I had been reviewing. I quickly file the paperwork and clear my desk before heading out to the front of the bank. As I walk across the marble floors, I take in the grand lobby of the old building, which never fails to make me smile. I huff a small laugh as I pass our elderly security guard, Hank, who has fallen asleep on his stool near the entrance. My father’s warning about working at this old bank, with its outdated, lax, and often failing security features, briefly crosses my mind, but I push the thought away. This bank is in one of the cornerstones of the city, and the building has always felt like home to me. There is nowhere else I’d rather be.
There are only a few people in line, but I move quickly to a teller station and login to the computer so I can help the next person. He’s a tall, sharply dressed man with raven hair and green eyes. He looks to be in his late thirties or early forties. Despite his clean-cut appearance, there is something off about him that makes me uneasy, but I force a smile to my lips.
“Hello, sir. How can I help you?” I ask as he approaches the counter. He returns my smile, and I can’t stop the uncomfortable shiver that runs up my spine.
“I’d like to open a safety deposit box, please.” As he speaks, he leans one elbow on the counter, and my eyes are drawn to his hand where I notice a large tattoo that disappears up his sleeve. I can clearly see the tail of a snake in black and yellow ink.
“Um, of course,” I stammer as I grab the necessary forms. “If you could just fill these out, I can get that process started for you right away.”
He smiles again as he takes the forms, and using the pen chained to the counter, he fills them out quickly and passes them back to me along with his ID. I glance at his driver’s license and quickly input the information into the system. When I’m finished, I look back at the man in front of me and ask, “Do you have anything you’d like to put in the box today or would you just like to take your key?”
“I’d like to see the box, please. I have a few things with me today.”
“Of course, follow me.” I lock down my station, then wave at Debbie to let her know I’ll be off the floor for a few minutes before leading the man through the bank to the vault that houses our safety deposit boxes, stopping along the way to get our master key and the one for his assigned box as we go. I lead him to his box, and using both keys, I unlock the small door. I remove the box from its locker and walk it to a wooden table in the center of the room. I open it with his key before turning back to him.
“Would you like me to wait, or would you prefer some privacy, Mr. Krait?” I ask, using the name I’d seen on his ID.
He looks at me for a moment before answering, “I’d like a moment alone, please.”
“Of course. I’ll be right outside when you’re finished.” I leave the room and wait just outside the door. While I wait, I check my emails on my phone and respond to a text from my sister. After a few minutes, I pocket my phone again and glance back toward the door to the safety deposit box vault. What is taking him so long?
Suddenly, I hear the sound of shouting from down the hall. I push away from the wall and begin to walk toward the noise, aware that Debbie is alone in the lobby, but I only make it about two steps before an arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back against a broad, hard body. I open my mouth to scream, but the arm cinches tighter around my waist, and a low voice whispers in my ear.
“Don’t make a sound. I don’t want to have to hurt you.”
Shit.
His words have my eyes widening in alarm. Does he mean—
My unspoken question is answered as I feel the cold press of metal against my temple.
A gun.
I’m twenty-two and only just started living, I can’t die. I haven’t even had my first boyfriend yet or tried alcohol. Having adoring but overbearing parents who followed my every move meant no one in high school ever invited me to parties, and I was far too shy and awkward to be popular with my classmates in college. Now I’m finally living on my own, and to think my life could end so suddenly without doing all the things I’ve missed out on sends a shudder through my body.
I don’t move, I barely even breathe as I wait for the man behind me to say something else. He releases the arm around my middle and takes a step back before putting a hand on my shoulder and directing me to turn around. He never lowers the gun, and I can feel it brush my forehead as I move to face him, though I keep my eyes on the ground.
“What’s your name?” he asks.
“G-Gwen.”
“Well, Gwen, this will all be over in a few minutes. As long as you do what I say and don’t cause me any trouble, you’ll remain unharmed. Do you understand?”
I nod meekly.
“Give me the master key,” he demands in a calm, quiet voice that’s more terrifying than if he’d screamed at me. I quickly pull the key from my pocket and hand it over.
“Good girl. Now go stand in that corner and face the wall with your hands laced behind your back. Don’t move or say a word.” He gestures to the far corner of the room, and I quickly comply. The shouting I had heard from the lobby has died down, and I can only hope that Debbie is okay.
