Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 476

“What’s wrong?”

Feeling the heat of his breath above her and hearing his low voice, Ruby ignored the sting on her nose and jerked her head up.

Cassian was so close, their faces less than a foot apart.

For a split second, Ruby froze. Then she hastily stepped back, putting space between them. But as soon as she did, something clicked in her mind. Her eyes sharpened. “It’s pouring out there—where did you go?”

Cassian met her gaze, unflinching. He spoke first, his voice low and direct. “What happened?”

Fanny caught up with them then. Seeing the two facing off, her first reaction was to frown, then she stepped forward and pulled Ruby behind her. “Mr. Veyne, you’re just getting back?”

Her eyes were wary, suspicion coloring her tone.

Cassian realized immediately—something had happened.

Landon hurried in behind. “But when we left, you were still at the hotel, weren’t you?”

“I was about to head out, but saw the rain and came back,” Cassian replied coolly. His eyes, though, stayed on Ruby, as if he were speaking only to her.

“So you’ve been here the whole time?” Fanny pressed. “Did you hear anything strange? The boy we found—he’s missing.”

“Missing?” Cassian’s expression shifted as he registered the seriousness of it. “Wait here. I’ll go check the surveillance footage.”

Seeing how quickly he sprang into action, Ruby hesitated for only a moment, then followed. “I’m coming with you.”

“Me too!” Landon chimed in.

“And I!” Fanny added, as if afraid to be left behind.

Ruby glanced at Cassian. He had no objections—perhaps he was annoyed, but he didn’t say a word.

They soon arrived at the security office.

Ruby had no idea how he managed to get them into such a secure area so quickly. Maybe that’s what money could buy—the privilege of access.

“Pull up the surveillance from ten o’clock,” Cassian ordered.

Ten o’clock—that was when he’d supposedly left and gotten into the car.

The security officer reacted with obvious deference, nodding as he clicked through the monitor feeds, a nervous tremor in his hands.

At first, the footage showed nothing but a quiet, empty hallway.

This floor was mostly made up of luxury suites, rarely fully booked, and lately, only Ruby’s group had been staying there.

The sped-up video showed not a soul—like time itself had stopped. Until, nearly an hour later, a figure dressed head-to-toe in black, face obscured by a mask and hat, appeared at Asher’s door.

In the footage, the kidnapper hefted Asher into the trunk of a waiting sedan, then drove off.

“There—zoom in,” Fanny said, her voice all business as she tapped the screen.

The officer followed her instructions, revealing a blurry shot of the license plate.

“I’ll send this to Bennett. He can contact the Stormhaven authorities on my behalf,” Cassian said, already dialing his phone.

Ruby pressed her lips together, silent. Even with the license plate, official channels would take time. Cassian, she had to admit, was their best option—even if she resented relying on him.

She was already halfway through the time she’d bargained for with the press. Time was the one thing she couldn’t afford to lose.

“Thank you,” she murmured, forcing the words out.

Cassian’s fingers stilled on the phone, then tightened slightly.

“It’s nothing,” he replied, lowering his gaze.

“Nothing at all, Mr. Veyne?” came Bennett’s voice from the other end of the line.

A dangerous glint flashed in Cassian’s eyes.