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“What about the ball?”
He scowled. “It’s over.”
“Obviously. I mean, most of our guests are there. We should let them know what’s going on, or at least tell everybody to return to their rooms.”
Grayson buried his face in his palms. “His parents and siblings are in there. I can’t do this.”
Rita couldn’t either, but she’d find a way. “I’ll tell them.”
He looked at her. “You will?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t put that on you.”
She laced her fingers through his. “You’re going through enough right now. It’s the least I could do.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don't have to say anything.” She rose then helped him up. “We’re a team, and you need me. Do you want to meet in our suite?”
“No. I need to at least be there. And I’m not letting you walk these halls alone while there’s a killer on the loose.”
Grayson was hardly in any shape to stand up to a murderer, but she kept that thought to herself. Rita squeezed his hand. “We’ll go in there together.”
Sobs and wails sounded before they reached the ballroom.
Rita turned him. “I think Ariana and her dad spared us from having to tell everyone the bad news.”
He nodded. “We better get in there to console my relatives.”
The room was in complete chaos. Grayson ran over. He embraced his grandparents first, then Mateo’s parents. Rita’s feet were glued to the floor, and her mind spun out of control. How could any of this be real? The night before the wedding. If it even stood a chance of happening at this point.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Whether or not they had the ceremony tomorrow didn’t matter — only that she was here for Grayson. Someone he’d been close to since childhood had just been murdered. He needed her.
Rita raced to his family then hugged each of them. Though she hadn’t met most of them until this weekend, they all squeezed her like she’d been part of the family for years.
Alex got everyone’s attention. “I’m going to head out and find the local police station. I suggest everyone go to your rooms and lock your doors. Try to get some sleep if you can. Once the officers arrive, they’re going to question everyone, and you’ll want to be rested. Try to think if you saw anything suspicious, anything that could help them figure out who did this. That’ll make the whole process go faster.”
Some people moved toward the door with zombie-like expressions. Other people spoke at once, making it impossible to understand anyone.
Alex hurried out of the room.
Rita jolted.
Alonzo. The five-year-old was still missing, and there was a killer somewhere in the building. After hearing about the murder, they’d somehow pushed him out of their minds. The sweet little boy was okay. He had to be.
But they needed to find him.
Her grandma hadn’t turned up either.
She tapped Grayson’s shoulder.
He turned to her with a dazed look in his eyes.
“I’m going to look for Alonzo and myabuelita.”
Color drained from his face. “I’m the worst father in the world. I completely forgot about my son!”
