Page 109 of Breaking Point

I rack my brain, thinking through every place Taylor and I have been with Olivia the past few months. There’s been venues, hotels, restaurants, but there’s something deeper here… Something familiar.

R.On a whim, I type Rebren into the search bar. Pictures of the sprawling, gated estate fill my screen.

Maybe I’m restless, but the image is enough to have me grabbing my keys and holstering my pistol. I pack the notes and scratch Chesna’s ears in goodbye.

Locking up, I take the stairs to the back alley. I make it to the sprawling edge before I hear a voice behind me:

“Aye!” Ricky calls. He clambers out of his tent, still tugging on a ratty gray shirt as he approaches. “I’ve seen you come in and out of that apartment about twelve times now. Ain’t seen Ms. Livia in days n’ I heard the police were hanging out here yesterday morning.”

It isn’t quite an accusation, but from the way his eyes narrow, I can tell he’s ready to lay me out if he senses that I’m lying.

“You wanna tell me what’s goin’ on?”

It shouldn’t be difficult, but for some reason, admitting that she’s gone- admitting that I left her when I should’ve been protecting her- is hard.

“She…” I begin. “She was taken.” His eyes widen, and before he can start assaulting me with questions, Imove past him. “I don’t have time to explain this.”

“Oh, you’ll make time.”

He grips the back of my shirt, but I slip out of his grip, using the momentum to grab his arm and twist it behind his back. He’s locked in a choke-hold with no way out.

“Shit, man. Lemme go!” Reluctantly, I do, still breathing hard as he rubs his neck. “You got a mean grip.”

“Like I said… I don’t have time for this,” I warn, but before I can turn again, he says,

“When did they take her?”

It’s clear he won’t let me leave without answers, so I heave a sigh. “The hospital. Two days ago.”

“Who?”

“Not exactly sure yet,” I rub my temples, but the longer he stares, the more I think about what he just told me. He’s always been observant, and part of me wonders if I’ve overlooked it.

“Have you seen anyone around here recently?” I ask suddenly.

His eyes narrow. “If I did… I would’a said something,” he says simply, but it’s an admission that he knows things.

I’d bet money on the fact that he knows this city like the back of his hand. I stand down, taking a few steps back.

“People go missin’ all the time. But a pretty lady like Ms. Livia… People will talk.” He offers, carefully- a white flag. “Where ya headed?”

I debate whether or not to say anything, but I finally shrug. “You ever heard of the Rebren Hotel?”

“It’s only one of the nicest, schmoozy joints in Sutton,” he deadpans, and my mouth twitches in a smile. “I can ask around though.”

I shake my head before jutting my chin in the direction of the parking garage. “You got something black to wear?” I ask.

A huff comes out of him. “What do you think?”

I shake my head at the obvious answer. “Good thing I’ve got extra then.”

The place is crawling with security. There are at least two men posted at every ivy-covered entrance, and despite the onslaught of guests rotating in and out of the hotel lobby, they remain vigilant.

From the back seat of the SUV, Ricky huffs. “How the hell are we supposed to get in through all that?”

It’s a fair question. I hadn’t exactly thought through a plan before driving here.

“We aren’t,” I say back.

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