15
Alexis didn’t know what the hell she was doing. Her heart thundered so hard, she wondered if she’d have a heart attack before the evening was over. Suggesting they use her as bait was psychotic. Even she knew that. But what choice was there? She knew Vic wouldn’t stop until he got her. And she was tired. Tired of living in fear. Tired of hiding who she was. Tired of not being able to enjoy her life. And finally having a life to fight for with people she loved made her want to stay. Made her want to fight.
Plus, it didn’t hurt to have a group of badass security members on her side.
Amy joined Alexis in the ballroom. Lonnie informed them that they needed to act as if they were good friends. Amy wasn’t to show that she was part of the security detail assigned to Alexis that night. They only hoped she wouldn’t be recognized from the viral video.
They initially worried about Melissa being involved, but fortunately she had friends show up at the ball. Alexis insisted she hang out with them, and Melissa was all too happy to oblige.
Clint had also shown up in the ballroom. He looked good in his black tuxedo. Lonnie told her that all the security members had a vast arsenal of formal attire in their closets to blend in at a moment’s notice.
Clint kept his distance from Alexis, but she could tell he was keeping her in his sights. She briefly heard one of them call this Operation: Cupcake, and she would have laughed if she hadn’t been so terrified.
Alexis didn’t know who she was looking for. Vic could have sent anyone, and it likely wouldn’t be someone she would recognize. He was going for the element of surprise. They were halfway through the Valentine’s Ball and something had yet to happen. She relaxed, thinking that maybe she hadn’t been found.
Amy leaned closer to Alexis with a large smile on her face as they danced with several other people.
“We’re going to create an opportunity for them to show themselves, if you’re up for it,” Amy said. The smile on her face contradicted the words she said, but it was for show. They didn’t know who was watching, so they needed to be careful.
Alexis laughed before leaning in, matching Amy’s energy, despite not feeling the excitement. “Let’s do it.”
Amy leaned forward as if she were speaking to Alexis and filled the team in on the plan with the earpiece in her ear. Alexis nodded along with a smile on her face. Her hair stood on end, and she suddenly had the feeling that she was being watched.
“I think they’re here,” she said.
Amy stared at Alexis as she repeated what Alexis had just said. “We think we’re being watched.”
Alexis didn’t know what was being said, but she wanted it all to be over. Amy smiled brightly at Alexis. “We need you to walk to the bathroom outside the ballroom.”
“What’s the plan?”
“We suspect that they’ll try to snatch you.”
Alexis’s heartbeat ramped up. She briefly caught Lonnie’s eye across the room and instantly knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. “So just go to the bathroom and then come back?”
“Yes. And don’t worry. We’ll keep you safe,” Amy said.
Alexis trusted these strangers. She didn’t know why, but she knew that if something went wrong, they would come after her. And she was willing to take that risk if it meant getting her life back.
Alexis pointed at the bathroom as if she were telling her friend she’d be right back and then walked toward the door. She forced herself to keep her eyes straight and not look around. She didn’t want to tip them off that she knew they were there.
Alexis walked out of the ballroom and toward the bathroom. It was at the end of the hall, and several people were walking between them. Most of them were drunk, but she wasn’t sure how this would give anyone the opportunity to grab her without being obvious.
She stepped inside the bathroom, where a few women were standing at the vanity touching up their makeup. The bathroom was fancy with its tall stall doors that left no gaps for people to see inside. She walked toward the back, but before she could get there, a hand clasped around her and a cloth covered her mouth. She struggled for only a few seconds before everything went dark.
“Hasshe come out of the bathroom yet?” Lonnie asked into his com. The earpieces were obvious to anyone looking at them,but he was dressed as security for the event. For Amy, hers was hidden since they didn’t want to tip anyone off that security was with Alexis.
“Negative,” Clint said.
Lonnie stood near the back exit of the hotel, expecting to see people fleeing with Alexis, but it remained quiet. He was getting antsy. She shouldn’t have taken that long. “Amy, go in.”
“On it,” Amy said.
Lonnie waited for someone to speak as he heard a car peel out of the back lot. He pulled open the back door to see the same van from earlier disappearing down the road. His heart thundered, and he raced for the exit. He had his car keys already in hand as he sprinted through the lot.
“She’s not in here,” Amy said.
“She never came out,” Clint said. “Are you sure?”
