Chapter 219

Gideon's unease continued to build. He tried calling Giselle on WhatsApp video, but each time it rang out unanswered until the call cut off on its own. That was when the dread fully settled in, his heartbeat kicking up hard and fast. Without another second's hesitation, he jumped in his car and headed for her place, pushing the accelerator to the floor. He tore through the city at 80 miles an hour, running two or three red lights before pulling into her complex as quickly as possible. He took the elevator straight to her floor and pounded on her door—first lightly, then harder, until he was hammering on it with his fist. She never answered. Only her dog barked frantically from inside. The sound made his chest tighten even more. He bolted back to his car and drove to her clinic, cornering the store manager. "Ms. Holt left a little after seven last night," the manager said, looking puzzled. "She didn't come in this morning. I called her a few times about something, but her phone was