In Exchange [H.S.]

V

• Three Weeks Together •

Peering over my shoulder, I see Wynnie with her lip tucked between her teeth as she's looking through gowns on a rack just a little ways away from me. I was looking at suits for myself, and I think we both were kicking ourselves a bit for waiting until the last minute to pick out what we were going to wear to the gala Valen had invited her to tonight.

The reason for that being the fact we stayed in the motel everyday waiting for something to ping on the tracker, but we haven't had any luck. One of us always remained at the motel to keep watch over it, and we only took trips alone that wouldn't be more than a few minutes. We couldn't risk being out without each other for too long in case something were to happen.

We were getting close to something, we both could feel it, and we didn't want to chance someone somehow catching onto us.

Other than keeping a close eye on the tracker, we also studied every inch of the casino that the gala was going to be held in. Valen had texted the address to Wynnie just a few days after our last time at Throttle, and I actually did tap into one of my resources for them to get us the blueprints of the building. Thankfully, my guy was good, and he also had the details of where all the alarms were as well, so we made it a point to make note of those on top of everything else.

There was a particular hallway that was towards the back of the casino, near the kitchen, that didn't have an alarm on it. That was probably due to the fact the kitchen staff went in and out of that side door when deliveries would come in. The only issue was that there was badge clearance that had to be passed in order to access it.

We put the plan in place that Wynnie would excuse herself to the restroom about half an hour into being at the event, and she would try her best to sneak her way through the clearance and towards that hallway. I would be back around that side of the casino, hoping that there wouldn't be any outside security getting in my way, and she would prop the door open for me. I'd give her a few minutes to get back to Valen before making my way in - shutting the door behind me to avoid any suspicion in the process.

The plan was down pat for the most part, we just had to make sure we were hyper aware of the factors around us that we couldn't really narrow down. There were so many things that had to go right in order for it to work the way we wanted.

I look back over my shoulder after picking through some suits, and I see that Wynnie is no longer by the gowns. My brows narrow as I drape the suit I had picked out over my arm, grabbing a black dress shirt along the way. I began to make my way through the rows of dresses that she had been looking at just a few minutes ago, and I felt my pulse begin to pick up.

"Wynnie," I say, not too loud to draw attention, but loud enough to where she would be able to hear me if she were close by.

I wait to hear a response, but I don't get one. The panic starts to set in deep in my stomach as I walk further into the women's clothing area. There's no more gowns in this direction, but I know she couldn't have gone far.