Enthralled: Tainted Book Four

22. Crashing Down

Gemma

After going over our plan several times, we finally crept out of the supply closet, me first with Thoreau on my heels, and I had to admit I was grateful I wasn't alone.

Pausing to peer around the corner, I quickly drew back when I spotted a janitor yawning as he unlocked a door. Waiting a few seconds, I snuck another peek and saw he'd flipped on the light switch in the room and was dragging a vacuum cleaner behind him. I waited until the door swung closed behind him before I motioned to Reau with one hand, then sprinted across the open space to the empty hallway across from us, praying I was heading in the right direction or at least toward something that could tell me where we were.

So far, this building seemed to be nothing but a maze of hallways studded with doors.

By some miracle or other, we ended up a bank of elevators where a large map of the building was posted with the typical "You are here" red dot. It appeared we were four floors underground with even more floors under us, making me wonder if that was normal.

Shaking off my curiosity, I scanned the map, noting where the security offices were, then dragged my eyes up to the top floor.

"There!" I pointed at the seventieth floor, which was marked as executive offices. "He'll be there."

"What if he's not?" Reau asked.

"Then we can wait. If Kerry and your papa get here before he gets back, we could try setting off an alarm to get him to respond. That way, the cavalry will already be here to bail us out if the wheels fall off."

I turned to grin at him, feeling that this might just work after all, and found him blinking at me.

"Gemma, you are very pretty and a smart girl, and I know we're going to be great friends, but I don't understand what you're saying," he said. "What is a cavalry? And what wheels? We're walking, not driving!"

"Oh, my goodness," I murmured, my heart clenching in my chest. "Another one."

"Another what? Car?" Reau shook his head. "I don't think a car will help us, although these hallways are wide enough for a couple of dirt bikes if we find any. I can drive one, you know! Arch and Wayne taught me, and Bubble convinced Dad to get me one!"

"Is your dad the same person as your papa?" I asked since he'd called Angelo della Morte Papa earlier. While I was at it, I asked about the bubble, too, since he'd mentioned that earlier in connection to a dragon.

"No, scema! Dad is Dad and Papa is Papa! And Bubble is my older brother, Kon."

I didn't know what a scema was, but now I understood a little more about Reau, and I held up both hands to show I meant no harm with my questions.

"You have two dads. Sorry. Still trying to get a handle on you."

"A handle on me?" His handsome face wrinkled up as confusion clouded his blue-green eyes. "I'm a boy. Why would I need a handle?"

"So like Kerry." I smiled, but tears stung my eyes without warning, making me sniff a bit. "I miss him so much."

"Don't cry! You will see him soon!"

Next thing I knew, he had me gathered up in a tight hug, and I gave in and enjoyed the comfort for a few moments before I sighed and got my head back in the game. When I patted his back, he understood I wanted loose and dropped his arms right away.

"Thanks, Reau. I needed that." Stepping back, I wiped my eyes quickly, then marched to the elevator. "Let's finish our mission, okay, cutie pie?"

With a nod, he followed me, and I pushed the up button. As we waited for it, I decided I needed to be honest with him.