Chapter 87 THIRD DOOR ON THE RIGHT
••Roman••
I kept searching for Luci, pushing through every person that stood in my way. The music from the dance floor continued playing loudly, couples laughing and spinning across the floor as if nothing was wrong, but all I could hear was the pounding of my own heartbeat.
Something was wrong.
My instincts had been screaming it from the moment Marco took her away from me.
I moved quickly through the crowd, scanning every corner of the hall, every doorway, every hallway entrance. My men were already spread across the place, but none of them had given me any useful information yet.
No one had eyes on Luci, and that was a problem.
I pushed past another group of guests, ignoring their irritated looks as they stumbled aside. My eyes kept moving from face to face, hoping to catch even the smallest glimpse of her, but she was nowhere.
My jaw tightened.
Marco had planned this. I could feel it.
Then my eyes landed on a door at the far end of the hall.
It looked ordinary, nothing special about it, but it led away from the banquet area. Without hesitation, I walked toward it.
When I reached the door, I pushed it open slowly. On the other side was a dark hallway.
The bright lights and music from the banquet faded instantly behind me. The corridor was dim, almost silent, with only a few wall lights casting weak shadows across the floor.
I stepped inside carefully. My eyes scanned the hallway from one end to the other.
Empty.
Still, I didn’t relax.
My hand slowly moved behind my waist, touching the gun strapped securely to my belt. The cold metal against my palm and my sense heightened. If Marco thought he could play games with me tonight, he was wrong.
I began walking down the hallway, my footsteps slow but steady as my eyes searched every corner.
Then suddenly a voice echoed behind me.
“Well… see who we have here.”
I stopped immediately. My body turned sharply toward the direction of the voice.
Standing a few feet away was Maya. Her arms were folded casually across her chest, and that same arrogant smile stretched across her lips.
“You,” I said coldly.
She tilted her head slightly, studying me with amusement.
“What may you be looking for away from the party?” she asked, her tone light but mocking.
My patience was already gone. “Where is she?” my voice became stronger.
Maya raised an eyebrow as if she had no idea what I was talking about. “Who?” she asked innocently.
My temper snapped. “Don’t fucking play with me,” I shouted as I took several steps toward her.
Within seconds I was standing right in front of her. Only a few inches separated us now.
She had to tilt her head slightly upward to meet my eyes.
“I said, where is Luci?” I demanded again.
“I don’t know,” Maya replied calmly.
Then she attempted to walk past me.
I moved instantly. My body stepped in front of her, blocking her path before she could get away.
“You’d better answer for your own safety,” I said, my voice now rising with anger.
Maya suddenly laughed.
A sharp, mocking sound that echoed through the quiet hallway.
“My own safety?” she sneered.
Her eyes looked around the hallway before returning to mine.
“You forgot where you are.”
I said nothing.
She watched me carefully for a moment, trying to read my reaction.
“Well,” she said after a short pause, “I think you should get out of here for your own safety.”
Then she tried again to walk past me. I moved another step in front of her to stop her.
“I see you still don’t understand,” I said quietly.
Before she could react, my hand shot forward and grabbed her by the neck. My fingers tightened around her throat.
Her body slammed back against the wall behind her as I lifted her slightly.
“If you don’t talk now, you’ll see what I can do to you,” I growled, my teeth clenched tightly.
Maya immediately began struggling. Both her hands grabbed my wrist, trying desperately to remove my grip from her neck. Her nails dug into my skin as she tried to pry my hand away, but my hold was stronger.
She began hitting my arm repeatedly, trying to make me loosen my grip, but I didn’t even flinch. All I wanted is to know where Luciana is.
Her face slowly began turning red as the air left her lungs. Her eyes widened slightly as panic began creeping into them.
Still, I didn’t release her.
Then finally she gave up. “I’ll tell you,” she gasped.
I loosened my grip slightly, giving her just enough air to speak.
“Speak,” I ordered coldly.
“She’s with Marco,” Maya said between breaths. “In his office.”
My heart tightened instantly.
“And where is the office?” I demanded.
“Down the hallway,” she replied quickly, her voice shaky now. “Third door on the right.”
For a moment I simply stared at her. Then I released my hold completely.
Her body collapsed slightly as she gasped for air, coughing and holding her neck.
“Took you long enough, bitch,” I muttered.
I shoved her backward with enough force that she stumbled a few steps before catching herself against the wall.
“I’ll be back for you,” I added coldly.
Maya slowly straightened herself. Then, to my surprise, she began smirking again.
“You’d better hurry,” she said calmly.
Her eyes glittered with something dark. “If you don’t want to find her dead.”
My chest tightened.
Without another word, I turned around and stormed down the hallway. The door behind me slammed loudly as I pushed through it.
My mind began racing.
Marco has Luci, and if he laid even a single finger on her…
I am going to burn his entire world to the ground.