Page 198 of Embriagado

He gave me that warm smile again with a short head nod. “The pleasure was all mine.”

I smiled at him in return, then turned around and took the call.

“Hello?” I said, already on the move.

“Hey, Santiago, it’s Taylor. I’m sorry to call when you’re off work and all, but Ariyan isn’t here, and I can’t find the check for the flower vendors that are supposed to come this afternoon. Thought maybe you’d know where it is?”

“We already paid them last week,” I said, following the trail leading to the main road from the beach.

“Oh, that’s great, thank you.” She sounded as bubbly as ever. “So I’ll let you be⁠—”

“Hey, you said Ariyan wasn’t there?” I asked before she could hang up.

“Yeah, he’s been out since this morning.”

My brows drew together because it wasn’t like him to be out of the hotel at this hour. Not to mention, he didn’t answer me earlier. “Any chance you know where he is?”

“The police officers who were here at the start of the week came by again, and this time, Ariyan left with them for the station.”

My blood went cold, and I stopped walking, holding the phone tight.

“What?”

“Oh, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Ariyan said it was no big deal.”

Not a big deal? The fuck was she saying?

Already on the move, I hung up, my heart racing as a thousand different scenarios that most definitely were a big deal went through my head. The worst of them all was the thought of seeing Ari, my Ari, being led away in handcuffs to a place I’d never see him again.

ARIYAN

“I’m afraid that no matter how many times you ask me the same question, my answer will remain the same, Officer.” My lips stretched into a smile. “Still, I’ll repeat myself in case I’ve yet to make myself clear: I have no idea what happened to Ms. Pérez,” I said, leaning back on the cheap metal chair they’d forced me to sit on for the past hour or so. “And while I do understand your concerns for her well-being, assuming I had a hand in her disappearance simply because she attended a party at our hotel that same night is circumstantial at best, especially after the video evidence we provided you with.”

Having the same sour expression he’d had this entire time, Officer Sánchez, also known as Santiago’s ex, pulled back the chair across from me and sat down.

“You must admit it’s suspicious. A girl going to a big, fancy party, and a day later, nobody hears from her?”

“It is.”

“And?”

“And what?” I held my head high, locking eyes with him. I sure saw what Santiago found in him, considering his honey-like irises and sculpted jaw. Not to mention those full lips, which I bet gave wonderful blowjobs.

“And I don’t trust you,” he hissed, voice low.

Resisting my urge to laugh, I offered him another smile. “Forgive me, Officer, and correct me if I’m wrong, but unless you hold evidence against me, which you don’t, or at best have probable cause, which you also seem to lack, then detaining me any further would constitute a blatant violation of my most basic rights. Therefore, whether you trust me or not, I’m afraid it’s time I get back to my hotel.”

“I’ll decide when it’s time,” he said bitterly.

My eyes darted to the recording device placed on the table and back up.

“Will your supervisor agree with you?”

Officer Sánchez’s jaw twitched, and I wondered how much longer it would take him to finally crack. Still, I knew not to take him lightly. Ever since my first encounter with him, I figured that sooner or later, he’d be an obstacle. After all, he was young, dedicated to his work, eager, and above all, in love with Mr. Rivas.

Crossing his arms, he leaned back in his chair. “May I remind you, you’re here voluntarily? So no one’s breaking any laws. If you feel stressed, you’re free to leave.” He cocked his head in the direction of the door. “Although it will make me wonder why you’re so nervous, especially after we’ve been so friendly to you.”

My brows rose. “Do I look nervous to you?”