Behind Closed Doors (Behind Closed Doors #1)(67)

“Right,” I say, typing: Yes, and Daniel is making sure I get to the room safely.

The elevator sways, and I grab the wall, but right now, my fear for Ella seems to be prevailing over my fear of confinement. “They ripped my furniture to shreds.”

Daniel’s lips thin. “I’d say it’s safe to assume that someone thinks you found something they want in that storage unit.”

The chip, I think, though it wasn’t in the actual unit. And while I’m feeling safer than before with Daniel right now, I’m not even close to a place where I’m willing to share this kind of detail with him. “Why let the unit get sold at auction, then?” I ask, thinking out loud. “Why not pay it off before that happened? It makes no sense.”

The doors to the car open. “It makes plenty of sense,” he says, as we exit and start down the hallway. “Stephanie isn’t driving this boat anymore, if she ever was at all. One of these pricks is jealous of Jason and is trying to f*ck with his game, and I don’t like it.”

As logical as his summary is, it just doesn’t feel quite right, and I don’t know why. A tidbit I open my mouth to express, but discomfort forms with the realization that we’re at the door and he’s still holding my key. He reaches up and swipes the key card, opening the door, and now, my discomfort turns to outright concern.

“Here,” he says, and as if he’s read my mind, he hands me the key. “Do not,” he says, as I take it, “I repeat, do not leave the room without me or Jason, until we get a better handle on what is happening.”

“I won’t,” I promise, but he just stands there.

When I do the same, he gives me one of his scowls. “Go inside and lock the door,” he orders.

My heart thunders in my chest with the impossible-to-ignore idea that he could follow me into the room. But that’s silly. Jason knows I’m here. Daniel knows this. Still, adrenaline surges through me as I turn and head into the apartment, whirling around to face my would-be attacker, only to have the door firmly shut in my face. “Lock it,” Daniel calls out, but it’s some fancy lock I can’t figure out. I shove the button from black to red.

“Done!” I shout, and I don’t wait for his reply to head to the bedroom and the closet, where I grab my suitcase, set it on the bedroom floor, open it, and then hurry to the bathroom to start placing toiletries in a travel bag.

“Skye!”

At the sound of Jason’s voice, I set down the items in my hand and start walking. “I’m here!” I call out, rounding the corner as he enters the bedroom.

“Daniel just told me,” he says, crossing to pull me close and kissing me, that tiny action telling me that, at least right now, I’m not alone, and no matter how safe alone feels, Jason feels safer. “We’ll handle this,” he adds, easing back from me, his hands settling on his hips. “What are the police saying?”

“My furniture and pictures were shredded, but nothing obvious was taken. They said it looked like someone was looking for something.”

“And nothing from Ella?”

“No. Nothing.”

“Pack,” he says. “I’m going to get the plane ready and we’ll be there in three hours.”

“Yes. Thank you.” My cell phone rings where I’ve left it on the bathroom counter. “Please let that be her,” I say, rushing to the other room, relief washing over me when I find Ella on the caller ID. “It’s her!” I announce, shouting as if Jason hasn’t just shown up in the doorway.

Relief washes over his face as well. “Thank God.”

“Ella,” I answer.

“Skye, honey,” she says. “I’m here in the hotel. Can you come get me?”

“You’re here?” My eyes meet Jason’s, and we share a look of confusion. “Why are you here?”

“I wasn’t handing this ‘item’ off to anyone else, and an old acquaintance of my father’s not only lives here, he’s well connected to the underbelly of the gaming world. He’s with me, and I think he might be able to help.”

Ella’s father is connected to the underbelly of the gaming world? “I’ll come get you,” I say.

“Tell her Daniel will bring her up,” Jason instructs, already selecting Daniel from his contact list. “I’ll have the doorman help them with a key card.”

I nod and say, “Jason’s manager, Daniel, is coming to get you. Where are you?”

“I’ll meet him at the elevator banks. What’s your floor and room?”

There is a back-and-forth between me, her, and Jason before Ella and I hang up and I describe her to Jason for Daniel. “Red hair. Twenties. Pretty.” I cringe, adding, “She has a friend of the family with her she thinks can help us.”

“What?” Jason asks, in a rare moment of unbridled reaction from him.

“I’ll explain when you hang up,” I say, and listen as he relays the information to Daniel and then disconnects the line, immediately asking me, “Why is she here and who is this man?”

“It’s a little odd,” I confess, “but it seems well intended.”

I relay the conversation, but he doesn’t seem any more pleased about this news than moments before. “How do you know Ella, and how well?”