Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 99

She yanked her suitcase out from under the bed with lightning speed, scooped Mira into her arms, and bolted for the exit on the other side of the hallway.

Just moments before, she was sure she'd seen a flash of calculation in the receptionist's eyes—a glint that couldn't be mistaken.

Something's not right here.

The thought sent a jolt down Ruby's spine, her nerves stretched taut. She didn't dare risk the elevator; instead, she darted straight into the stairwell.

The staircase was dim, the only light coming from the green glow of the emergency exit signs at her feet. Her heart pounded in her chest.

Meanwhile, at the front desk, the receptionist—who'd just bought some painkillers—suddenly stopped in her tracks. If her stomach hurt this badly… could she really stomach a snack? A frown creased her brow. Something felt off. She broke into a jog, hurrying back.

She reached Ruby's floor and immediately noticed a door left slightly ajar.

A wave of dread washed over her.

Bang—

She shoved the door open; the room was a mess, but not a soul in sight.

Her chest heaved with angry breaths.

How dare she trick me!

Her hands curled into fists. Had Ruby really been that wary? She'd been so careful—how had the woman caught on?

The receptionist's eyes narrowed. She slipped off her work jacket, revealing a discreet earpiece clipped to her belt.

"Boss, Miss Grayson is gone."

On the other end, the breathing instantly grew ragged.

Though the room was silent, a chill seemed to seep through the line.

"What the hell are you good for?" The man's voice was ice-cold, dangerous.

She bowed her head, instinctively trembling—even though he wasn't standing in front of her.

"Find her! And bring me that child!"

The man's eyes burned with fury. He barked the order and cut the connection without another word.

Only when she was sure the line was dead did the receptionist dare to exhale, wiping the cold sweat from her brow.

Not daring to slack off, she hurried to pull up the security footage, simultaneously alerting her coworkers under the pretense of a customer stealing hotel property.

Within minutes, the entire hotel was in an uproar. Staff tore through every floor and corridor, upending chairs and peering behind every door. It wasn't until someone checked the emergency staircase that they finally found a trace.

Ruby didn't look back. She crept down to the first floor, clutching Mira tightly, and stole a cautious glance at the front desk.

Just minutes ago, two or three people had been working there. Now, it was completely deserted.

A chill ran through her veins.

They must all be searching for her.

The driver on the other end heard the urgency in her voice and stiffened with concern. A lone woman with a baby, this late at night—something must be terribly wrong.

His sense of justice kicked in. Revving the engine, he shouted into the phone, "Hang on! I'm on my way!"

Hearing his booming promise, Ruby's frozen fingers finally began to thaw. She took a shaky breath and glanced around, trying to get her bearings.

The road, lit by distant streetlamps, was far away—their yellow halos blurred by the night. Everything was eerily still, the only sound the wind whispering through the trees.

Every snap of a twig beneath her feet made her tense.

Suddenly, a dark shadow lunged at her from nowhere.

She had no chance to react—someone slammed into her, knocking her to the ground.

Just for an instant, she froze. Then, in a blink, her arms were empty.

Mira was gone.

Ruby's eyes went wide with shock, her mind blank with horror. But only a second passed before she scrambled to her feet, screaming with all the desperation in her soul, "Who's there?! Give me back my child!"

She ran, suitcase abandoned, spinning around and shouting like a madwoman, "Come out! What do you want? Money? I have money! I'll give you anything—just give me back my baby, please—!"

The night answered with silence, her cries echoing through the empty air.

A gust of cold wind swept past, wrapping her in terror.

Her Mira—gone.