Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Thank goodness, most of the guests were at dinner. She tried to erase the terror from her face so she didn’t alarm them. Who could she get to help Hawking?
Phoenix appeared and raced past her. “Keep going. Get in the basement.”
She skidded to a stop at the resort's entrance, not wishing to make a scene. Something inside her told her the fewer people who noticed her, the better. Spotting Sadie behind the desk, Celeste looked at her, letting her see the panic in her gaze. Sadie immediately called someone to take her place. Moving to Celeste’s side, Sadie wrapped an arm around her to guide Celeste to the service elevator and jumped inside with her.
“Are you okay?” Sadie asked urgently, running her hands up and down Celeste’s arms as she checked to ensure her friend was okay. “Oh. Your shirt is torn!”
“They jumped us. A bunch of guys. Hawking sent me back. He’s still there.”
“Is he alone?” Sadie asked urgently.
“Phoenix ran past me to help. There were a bunch of guys, like four. They’re outnumbered,” Celeste shared, wringing her hands.
“Four to Hawking wouldn’t have been outnumbered. Four to Hawking and Phoenix? That’s a walk in the park,” Sadie reassured her as the doors opened into the basement.
“Are you okay, Celeste?” Magnus stood at the entrance.
“I’m okay, but Hawking’s still out there.”
“Those would-be goons took off when they spotted Phoenix running to join the party. They’re on the way back. Come sit down.”
The girls settled on the couch. Sadie sat close with her arm around Celeste as she shivered in reaction to the encounter.
Celeste’s brain whirled inside her head. Those guys had been after her. If Hawking hadn’t been there…
“Why are they doing this?” Celeste asked, not really talking to anyone and feeling absolutely bewildered.
“The knowledge in your head must be astronomically valuable,” Sadie guessed.
“I’ve got to figure out a way to announce my findings to the world in a way that they can’t prevent,” Celeste muttered. All thoughts faded from her mind as the elevator dinged and the doors opened to reveal Hawking and Phoenix.
Without thinking, Celeste jumped to her feet and ran to leap into Hawking’s arms. “Daddy!”
He caught her securely and hugged her slender body to his. “It’s okay, Cuddle Bug. I’m here.”
“I didn’t want to leave you.”
“You did exactly what I told you to do. You’re safe. I’m fine, and Phoenix got to scare the bad guys. They saw him running and took off. I tried to snag one to question, but he got away.”
“He tore my shirt!” Celeste reported.
“I’ll get you another shirt,” Hawking promised, rubbing a comforting hand up and down her back. “You’re safe now. I should have never allowed us to run past the gates. They were waiting for us.”
He carried her over to sit on the couch with her cuddled on his lap. She wiggled to get comfortable on his hard thighs as she searched him for injuries. Finding him unharmed, she relaxed against his chest.
“How is this ever going to end?” she muttered.
“We’ll figure out a way. In the meantime, you’re going to stay safe here with me,” Hawking stated.
“I can’t even go running,” she moaned. “I’ll go stir crazy locked in this basement. Can’t we just call the police?”
“That will just put you in the spotlight, Little girl,” Caesar said, shaking his head.
Celeste sighed. The first time she’d called, the police hadn’t helped her much. They were right.
“You’ll have to use my secret weapon,” Magnus suggested. He pointed toward an industrial treadmill by the exercise equipment. A large screen hung on the wall above it. “I have a trail set in the hills in Hawaii that is synced to the incline of the machine. It’s as close as you’ll get to running outside.”
“Really? That’s…neat. I’d try that even if I could go outside,” she said, smiling for the first time since she’d returned to the basement. “Thanks, Magnus.”
“I’ll coordinate a few more paths for us. You might get tired of being on another island,” Magnus suggested.
“Thanks, Magnus,” Hawking said, grateful for the computer guy's skills.
“No problem. If there’s a Little out there twisted enough to want me for her Daddy, it appears I’ll need everyone’s help as well,” Magnus suggested.
“Oh, there’s someone out there for you, Magnus,” Celeste stated firmly. “I doubt she’s even twisted.”
As if unable to help himself, Magnus asked, “Why?”
Celeste looked at Sadie, who nodded. “We won’t tell anyone, but you’re the nicest guy here. Kinda like the team babysitter—or mom. You’re always watching out for everyone.”
“Magnus is mom!” Phoenix about fell out of his chair laughing while Magnus simply shook his head and muttered, “Littles. They like everyone.”
Their giggles dispersed the lingering haze of danger in everyone’s expression.
Chapter Fifteen
Pizza from the stone ovens at the resort filled their stomachs for dinner that night as they watched a movie. The two Littles had stared at the pile of pizza boxes that had arrived and swore there was no way just the eight of them could eat that many slices. Hawking deliberately chose a light-hearted comedy that made everyone laugh as they inhaled the cheesy treats.