Chapter 146

Alexander Pierce stood in the ballroom of the Grand Plaza Hotel, watching his security team transform the elegant space into a fortress. Men in black suits installed hidden cameras in crystal chandeliers. Others tested metal detectors disguised as decorative archways. Every entrance, every window, every air vent was being secured.

“The sniper teams will be positioned here, here, and here,” his head of security explained, pointing to locations on the blueprint spread across a table. “Full view of all approaches. No one gets within a hundred yards without being spotted.”

Alexander nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. Rose Lewis had vanished completely. No sightings. No trails. It was as if she had disappeared into thin air. And that worried him more than if she’d been openly threatening them.

The silent threats were always the deadliest.

His phone buzzed. Stefan Rodriguez’s name flashed on the screen. Alexander stepped away from the security team to take the cal