Page 74 of Love Me

“Celine…” Mia’s voice softens.

Hunter snaps his head to her and says, “Give us a few.”

“I’m sorry, but no. We don’t have time. Felix could notice the key card is gone at any moment.”

I take a couple of steadying breaths. “I feel better just knowing you’re here for me,” I say to Hunter.

He pulls his earpiece from his suit jacket and I from my clutch. We put them in as Mia returns to the party to be our eyes inside and make sure Felix stays where he should.

Hunter and I pretend to be a little bit drunk as we slip outside. We walk toward the backyard.

“It’s clear,” he says.

I take off my shoes and pull my dress up. I hate these stupid heels, and with them dangling from my fingers, we take off, running.

When we reach the tunnel, Hunter unlocks the door. Yanking it open, we take the narrow stairs down.

“We’re fucked if someone is inside. I doubt there are no guards.”

Hunter points to his back, indicating for me to hop on to avoid dirtying my feet further. Plus, we don’t know if someone is patrolling the tunnels, and they could hear my heels clacking.

We follow the path to the right. Finding the door, he lets me down before he slips a small camera cable below the door. He surveys the room on his phone, but there are no signs of cameras.

Feet-thumping echo in the distance.

I look around me. There’s nowhere to hide.

Hurrying, I insert the card, and the door lights up with a keypad.

We have sixty seconds until the alarm blares.

This double security measure means Felix is hiding something. I believe my father when he says my mother is being held captive.

Steps approach while I stare at the keypad, trying to come up with the damn numbers. Hunter’s body turns stiff with tension, ready for a fight.

“I thought you might be here,” Kaden says.

I let out the breath I was holding. Relief to see my tormentor––so stupid yet an undeniable fact.

“If you don’t know the password, we’re fucked,” Hunter says, his stance more relaxed now.

Twenty seconds left. Kaden reaches us and starts typing. It takes him two attempts, which skyrockets my nerves.

When the countdown stops at four seconds, ease travels through me, and I feel lightheaded.

I should have known that it’s the date Felix became the head of the finance company. It must be the narcissist’s favorite day.

Hunter and Kaden stare at each other, jaws set in hard lines.

“Now, leave.”

Kaden ignores my request and slips inside.

“Why didn’t you inform us?” Hunter yells at Mia through the com. We enter the room only to come face to face with multiple computer screens.

That’s it.

Kaden smirks. “Is it Mia? Say hi.”

---