Unveiled(125)

“I heard him before I left. He’s not taking any chances with Miller. He can’t risk that jeopardizing his deal.”

“What do you mean?”

“Olivia…” She pauses, like she’s reluctant to give me the information. My stomach performs a full spin, making me feel instantly sick. “He’s planning on drugging Miller and feeding him to that vile Russian woman.”

“What!”

I drop the door handle, staggering back. “Oh God.” I start shaking. He won’t be able to kill Charlie. That thought alone has sent my worry into panic, but the added knowledge of what that woman could do to him has just catapulted that panic into terror. She’ll undo everything he’s worked so hard to fix. It will be like that video happening all over again. My throat starts to close off on me. I can’t breathe.

“Olivia!” Sophia shouts, snapping me from mental meltdown. “Two, zero, one, five. Remember that number. You also need to know that I destroyed the pistol. I have a flight to nowhere. Call William. You need to stop Miller before you lose him forever.” She hangs up.

I drop my phone and stare blankly at the screen. Before I can give any amount of reasonable time to consider my next move, I’m on my way to the door, panic flaming.

I need William. I need to know where the Temple is. But first I try Miller, shouting my despair when it goes to voice mail, so I hang up and try again. And again. And again. “Answer the phone!” I scream, smashing the call button for the elevator. He doesn’t. It goes to voice mail yet again and I try to gulp down some air to talk, praying he’ll pick up the message before accepting a drink at the Temple.

“Miller,” I pant down the line as the doors begin to open. “Call me, please. I’ve—” My tongue turns to lead in my mouth, and my body stills when the inside of the elevator comes into view. “No,” I whisper, stepping back from the source of my fear. I should turn and run, but my muscles have seized and are ignoring my brain’s screaming commands. “No.” I shake my head.

I could be looking in the mirror.

“Olivia.” My mother’s navy eyes widen a little. “Olivia, baby, what’s the matter?”

I’m not sure what’s telling her that there’s more to my shock than simply finding her in the elevator. I back away.

“Olivia, please. Don’t run from me.”

“Go away,” I whisper. “Please, just go.” I don’t need this. I don’t need her. I have far more important things that need my attention—things that deserve my attention, need my attention. My resentment begins to build at the prospect of her delaying me. If time wasn’t of the essence, I’d attack her with the sass I inherited from her. But I don’t have time for her. Miller needs me. I turn and rush to the stairwell.

“Olivia!”

I ignore her desperate cries and barge through the door, taking the concrete stairs two at a time. The loud clicks of her heels on the stone rings out around me, telling me she’s in pursuit, but I have Converse on, and they win over heels any day of the week, especially when you’re in a hurry. I pass floor after floor as I fumble with my phone, trying to dial William as I try to escape my mother.

“Olivia!” She’s shouting and obviously short of breath. This only motivates me to sprint faster. “I know you’re pregnant!”

“He had no right to tell you,” I seethe as I rush down the stairs, my fear and worry converting into unrelenting fury. It’s eating me from the inside out, and while I’m scaring myself with how fast it’s taking over my body, I silently appreciate that it will probably do me a favor once I’m away from this selfish harlot of a bitch and I make it to Miller. I need some fire in my belly, and she’s stoking it perfectly.

“He told me everything. Where Miller is, what he’s doing, and why he’s doing it.”

I skid to a stop and turn, seeing her slump against a wall, exhausted, though her white trouser suit still looks pristine, as does her bouncing, glossy waves. My defenses fly up like iron, and I curse William and his betraying arse to hell and back. “Where is the Temple?” I demand. “Tell me!”

“Not so you can walk into that carnage,” she says, looking adamant.

I bite down on my tongue, praying for some calm. “Tell me!” I scream, my sanity running away with me. “You owe me this! Tell me!”

She winces, hurt, but I can’t find any compassion for her. “Don’t hate me. I had no choice, Olivia.”

“Everyone has a choice!”

“Did Miller?”