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“I can’t believe this,”I said as we entered the lobby of Mermaid’s Cove. “I had my reservations about coming down here, but I never even imagined something like this.”

“I’m sorry you got dragged into it,” Mason said as he slumped back against the glass of the elevator. “Computer, what room are the Lakewood girls in?”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Bennet,” Nicole’s voice greeted him. “The Lakewoods are in room five forty-eight.”

“I can’t take that anymore,” Mason said with a shudder. “I hear her enough. Computer please change voice.”

“What voice would you like me to use, Mr. Bennet?” Mason’s voice asked.

I raised my brow.

“No one I actually know,” he said.

“Very well, Mr. Bennet,” said a woman’s breathy voice. “What floor would you like?”

“Floor five. We need to speak to the Lakewood girls.”

The doors slid closed, and the elevator jolted upward, making me grab for Mason’s arm. “What the hell was that?” I asked, bracing myself against the walls as the elevator flew skyward.

The car stopped suddenly, and it made me stumble. With a cry, I landed in Masons arms. His expression was just as shocked as I’m sure mine was.

“Computer,” I said. “What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Meadows, but I cannot allow you to visit Caitlyn and Mellissa Lakewood.”

“You have to let us out.”

“I fully intend to let you out, of course, Miss Meadows. You misunderstand. I am under strict instructions not to let anyone in or out of room five forty-eight. Not even you, Mr. Bennet. I feel I should warn you, if you attempt to force entry, everyone in the room will be purged.”

“Purged?” we both repeated.

“Are they okay?” I asked.

“Currently,” the computer answered, “as long as no one attempts to break into their room.”

Mason and I stared hard at each other, both trying to process this information. “Who gave that command?” I asked. The girls may be unharmed, but threatening what sounded like violence was no small thing.

“There is no need to be nosy, Miss Meadows. I’ve just saved your lives. You should be grateful. I could have not bothered to warn you.”

Lovely, the computer was getting pissy with me.

I opened my mouth to retort, but Mason tucked my head to his chest and spoke instead. “Thank you, Computer. Please take us to the fifth floor.”

“You have no reason to be on the fifth floor, Mr. Bennet.”

“I do,” I said, pulling away from Mason and checking the time on my wristband. “It’s five, and I’m supposed to meet Travis for dinner.” I recalled him getting on the elevator with me at the fifth floor the night of the gala.

“Very well.” The elevator lurched into motion again.

“You have a date with Travis Gould?” Mason asked.

“I think we have more important things to worry about here,” I said, not in the mood for a testosterone fight. Then when the doors opened, “You know him, don’t you?”

We rushed out onto solid ground, and Mason stopped me. “We’ve crossed paths.”

I folded my arms and waited for it, sure he was about to warn me about Travis, just like Travis did him.