Page 8 of Forever

Please, Matt. I need you.

Chapter 3

Friday

Matt

When Mr. Pruitt had taken Brooklyn from her uncle’s funeral, I’d tried to come to her rescue. But I’d gone to the wrong apartment. I’d had no idea that Mr. Pruitt had a second hidden apartment where he’d taken her. I’d tried to show up. But I’d failed her.

The second time she was kidnapped, I’d thought she was dead. I’d had this hope in my chest that maybe…maybe she was still alive. I’d done everything in my power to find her. But I was just a kid. And I’d failed her again.

Now though? I knew exactly where she was thanks to Nigel’s network of houseboy spies or whatever the fuck he’d said. And I wasn’t a dumb kid anymore. I wouldn’t fail this time.

I looked up at the Locatelli Hotel that was just down the street from Club Onyx.

“We shouldn’t walk through the front doors,” Tanner said. “They probably have cameras everywhere.”

Rob nodded. “I hate it, but Tanner is probably right for the first time ever. Maybe we can sneak in the back door?”

“No, the back door will be tightly guarded,” Tanner said. “Every man knows you must protect your back entrance from intruders.”

“What exactly are we talking about right now?” Rob asked.

“Proper etiquette for locking doors.”

“Are you sure that’s what you’re referring to? Because it kind of sounds like you think Magnus King has a very specific fear of being taken by behind from a stranger.”

“Get off it, old chap. This isn’t a time for jokes. My best friend’s fiancée has been taken.”

“Matt’smybest friend. And you’re the one procrastinating by talking about back doors…”

“The kitchen,” I said. Brooklyn told me that when she had to sneak into the hotel at homecoming, she’d gone through the kitchen entrance.

“Magnus King takes it in the butt in the kitchen?” Rob asked.

“What? No. We can sneak in through the kitchen. What the hell are you two talking about?” I was trying not to pay attention to their bickering.

“I have no idea,” Tanner said. “I actually have a list of all Club Onyx members sexual preferences and Magnus King has never once taken part in…”

“Stop it,” I said.

“He started it,” Tanner and Rob said at the same time and pointed at each other.

For fuck’s sake.How did they not realize how similar they were?I should have asked James and Mason to come with me instead.

I walked past the first alley. There weren’t any trash bins, so that must not have been where the kitchen was located. I hurried toward the alley on the other side of the hotel.Bingo.There were trash bins back here, but you could barely smell them over the aroma of freshly baked bread. The kitchen door was propped open with a brick. Brooklyn was a genius.

“Wait.” Tanner grabbed my arm. “What’s the plan now? Should we…”

“Dress like waiters?” Rob and Tanner said at the same time. They glared at each other.

It wasn’t a bad idea. We were practically dressed the part already. I pulled off my tux jacket and tossed it to the side. Rob and Tanner did the same. Except Tanner folded his and gently put it on top of Rob and my discarded jackets.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“It was expensive.”

“You cheap ass, you’re a billionaire.”

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