Liz jumped into Dorian’s truck the moment he pulled into the driveway. She hadn’t expected some James Bond-esque vehicle, but she was still surprised to find that such an old rustbucket had gone unnoticed while following her about town.
“When did you last see her?” Dorian asked as he pulled out onto the main street.
“In the morning. Before school.” She placed a hand on the dashboard to steady herself from the uneven ride.
“And you have no idea where she might have gone?”
Liz shook her head, tears ready to spill. Victoria had been missing for hours now. It had been her job to protect her stepsister, and she’d failed spectacularly.
“No idea at all?” he asked again, his mouth set in a firm line as he waited for her response.
“No, I wish I—” Her response was cut off by a wracking sob. It wasn’t like Liz to cry, but it also wasn’t like her to lose a teenager—or to team up with her stalker.
Dorian yanked the truck hard to the left. The sudden change in direction threw Liz up against him, but he offered no apology or explanation.
“What’s going on? Do you know something?” she asked in disbelief.
“I might,” he said as he pushed down hard on the gas pedal, jolting the old truck forward at an impossibly fast speed.
“I don’t understand. How could you…?”
Dorian glanced her way, and she could see it then. All the fear, the worry. This man wasn’t her enemy. Perhaps he’d never been. “Let’s focus on bringing your sister home,” he said.
“Why are you helping me?” Liz stared at Dorian as they spoke, but he kept his eyes glued straight ahead.
“I wish I could tell you.”
“But you can’t?”
His entire face changed in that moment. The usual cocksure grin had been replaced by a look of melancholy. And not just melancholy, but what appeared to be genuine fear. “Not yet.”
“Not ever?” She had to know what was going on, and it seemed Dorian was the only person who had the answers.
“I don’t know.” He frowned, but looked like he wanted to say more—like he wanted to say everything.
“What is it?” she prompted. “Please talk to me. You’re the only lead I have right now on finding Tori. I’m terrified and need to feel like I have someone in my corner.”
He turned to her with a beseeching glance before turning his eyes back to the road. “Listen, if my instincts are right on this, you’re going to learn some pretty unsavory things about me. You probably won’t like me very much when you do, but please try to give me the benefit of the doubt.”
“I already don’t like you very much.”
He sighed. “Yeah, I deserved that.”
“But I do appreciate you helping me now.” She reached out to touch his hand on the steering wheel. It was the most comfort she could offer in that moment, but somehow, she knew he needed it. He tensed, then softened beneath her touch.
“Just try to remember I’m not all bad.” The truck jerked to a stop outside a hotel downtown. “We’re here now. Get out.”
Liz’s heart dropped to the floor. She left it behind in the cab as she stepped down onto the sidewalk with shaky feet.
Dorian seemed frightened, too, which only scared her more. “I hope we’re not too late,” he said through gritted teeth.
Liz tried to match his pace as he ran right through the lobby and up the stairs. This was a man who knew exactly where he was going. But how?
They exited on the fourth floor.
“Stay in the hall,” Dorian instructed, using his body to shield the door.
“What? No!”
“Please trust me on this, okay?” He wouldn’t look at her, and he wouldn’t back down.
“But what if she—? Oh, God. What if she…?”
“She won’t be,” he answered with a shake of his head. Liz could tell she was wearing on him, but she refused to be sidelined.
“How could you possibly know that? How did you know to come here? Talk to me, Dorian.” Liz hated being told what to do when it came to Tori’s safety. That was her responsibility, and she needed to be the one to set things right.
“Do you want to stand here talking, or do you want me to save Victoria?” He turned toward her suddenly, and the intensity of the green in his eyes startled her.
Liz gulped down her protests and waited as Dorian burst into the room, shoulder first. She hadn’t even seen him pull out a keycard.
“Ahh, Dorian.” An older male voice with the slightest Southern accent floated out from the room, quickly followed by a young female voice she knew very well.
“You’re interrupting my shoot!” Tori protested.
Liz didn’t need to hear anymore. She pushed through the doorway and past Dorian.
“Well, who’s this then?” the man asked with a chuckle. His well-groomed salt and pepper beard was the first thing she noticed. The second were his hands. They were rough and weathered, in stark contrast to his polished outfit and hairstyle. Who was this man? “Could it be the infamous Janie?”
Liz marched right up to her sister and grabbed her by the arm. “I’m Tori’s sister, and I’ve come to take her home.”
Victoria did not appreciate this. “But Lizzy! Mr. Warwick was taking my pictures for his modeling agency. I’m going to be a star!”
“The hell you are. Let’s go,” Liz hissed, absolutely refusing to back down or to let go. “Now.”
“Sorry, my dear. I must have had you confused with someone else.” Mr. Warwick chuckled, approaching her slowly and taking her hand before she could think to pull it away. “Liz, was it?”
Dorian pushed Liz back toward the hall, then grabbed Tori by the wrist and forced her out of the room, too.
“Hey!” Tori whined. “Your boyfriend is ruining my rise to stardom.”
“I told you to stay in the hall,” Dorian growled.
“Who was that man?” Liz demanded.
Dorian turned to her with hollow eyes. “Trouble.”