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The ding of the elevator had her jumping off the couch before he could finish whatever he’d been about to say. “That’s our food. I’ll get it.”
She was nearly out of the room when he called out from behind her. “Toni?”
“Yes?” She halted, not turning around.
“We will finish this conversation.”
She didn’t respond, just headed for the elevator.
9
The dress rehearsal for her big presentation was more crowded than Toni had anticipated. Sheik Saaed had apparently told all his contacts who hadn’t been lucky enough to score tickets to the main event to come today. Plus, there was an influx of interest from the press due to reporting of her relief efforts for the attacked village. The citizens of Jubail were showing their gratitude, and though she hadn’t been looking for praise or recognition, that’s exactly what she got. In fact, the response had been so overwhelming, it had taken over a half hour to make it from the entrance to the ballroom to the stage where her table and podium were set up, what with all the handshakes and hugs and gifts.
Spencer had thankfully kept the crowds at bay for the last twenty minutes or so, giving her a chance to make sure all the technology was working properly for her slide deck. He’d even insisted on running to the A/V booth in the corner to double-check the USB connections for her so she could stay on stage and focus on her upcoming speech rather than having to worry over technical details. She was just about to check the microphone at the podium when someone grabbed her arm from behind.
“Where is your father, Toni?” a harsh voice asked.
She whirled around to see a man she’d not expected to encounter again. Miles Arrieta had attended a few Coran Williams Publishing functions a few years earlier. Her father had introduced them, saying Arrieta was working on several projects for him. Miles had been polite enough, but there was something about him that she didn’t trust. His manner was that of a man who thought too highly of himself. And then there was his tendency to bulldoze his way over whatever stood in the path of what he wanted.
Toni pulled free from his grasp and stepped away, forcing a polite smile she didn’t feel. She scanned the nearby crowd for Spencer but didn’t see him. What was taking him so long? He should’ve been back at her side by now. She leaned this way and that and finally spotted him bent over, speaking to an elderly, stooped woman who appeared to be having some difficulty with her walker. Toni waved, trying to alert him that she needed help, but his line of sight was in the wrong direction. “Nice to see you again, Miles. I didn’t know you were in Jubail.”
“I have business in the area.” His gaze darted over the crowd. “I need to speak with Coran.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know where my father is.”
“I don’t believe you.” He moved closer to her, his black gaze angry. “I think you know exactly where I can find him—and I think you’re going to tell me. Right now.”
Before she could react, he grabbed her again, hauling her off the stage and out a nearby service exit into the kitchen area. She tried to struggle, but he had a hand over her mouth and his grip was too strong as he dragged her down a hallway, then out into a deserted employee parking lot at the rear of the hotel.
Well, deserted except for the group of men who approached them—all of them dressed in black robes and mirrored sunglasses. They were armed to the teeth with assault weapons and ammo belts.
Stunned and scared, Toni attempted to hide behind Miles, but he stepped aside, flashing her a sinister smile as one of the men pulled his gun, aiming the barrel right between her eyes. “Your father’s location, Toni. Now, before my man’s finger slips. It would be a shame to put a bullet in such a lovely brain.”
“Y-your m-man?” She swallowed hard against the tremble in her voice. “W-what’s going on here, Miles?”
“I lost many of my best men yesterday in your father’s little attack, that’s what’s going on. He owes me.”
Her thoughts whirling with adrenaline, Toni’s mind snagged on his words. “You think my father had something to do with the explosion in the village?”
“I don’t think. Iknow,” he growled.
Bile rose in her throat, and it took all her determination to remain upright. Spencer had told her that he thought her father was involved in terrorist activity, but she hadn’t wanted to believe it was true. And shecertainlyhadn’t believed he would take part in something like this. All those people dead, all those innocent lives lost.
“Now, tell me where the hell he is,” Miles barked.
“I honestly have no idea.” Her knees went weak, and the earth seemed to tilt under her. “If I knew, I’d—”
Her words were cut off by the snap of bones and pained cries as the armed men started dropping one by one.
“What the—?” Miles pulled Toni tighter against him, his own pistol drawn now and pressed to her temple as he backed away from the melee. Through a fog of fear, Toni saw Spencer choke a man into unconsciousness before throat punching another man while avoiding the fire of the one who’d had his sights on Toni earlier.
She watched in horror as the coppery tang of blood and the sharp stink of gunpowder filled the air. Her vision tunneled, and Toni wanted nothing more than to slip into oblivion, to go to a safe place with no fear, no violence, no senseless destruction.
Sirens sounded in the distance, quickly growing louder, and Miles rasped in her ear, “We’ll see each other again soon, Toni. Bank on it.” With that, he thrust her to the ground, then ran around the corner of the building, disappearing from sight.
Sprawled on the ground, Toni was aware of nothing but the sting of the concrete biting into her skin and the ragged sounds of her own sobs. The world started going fuzzy around the edges before darkness closed in. Toni welcomed it.
* * *
