Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I want to push on the words he’s just said, but it’s evident he caught himself. I’ll need to encourage him to drink again since he loosens up when that happens.
We drink a round while Theo points out people, explaining who’s who, who betrayed who, and who slept their way around to nasty, expensive divorces. I pay attention to every name, every detail, every story. Nothing in Theo’s demeanor tells me he’s lying, so I take his words as truth, memorizing all of it.
Since Gareth doesn’t come back and Caius is nowhere to be found, I find myself relaxing in Theo’s presence. Gareth is a wildcard. He may or may not help me with finding Megan. Theo, however, can’t hide his interest in me. Whenever a man looks too long my way, Theo guides me out of their sight or steps in front of me to block their view. Again, it’d be cute and attractive if he were some regular guy I met rather than my kidnapper.
Dinner isn’t formal. It’s grab and go from a buffet table set up in the middle of the room. Thankfully, Theo grabs us a couple of plates so I don’t have to walk through the groups of strangers. After we eat and drink more strong cocktails, I notice Theo openly touching me in a possessive way—a lingering hand on my hip, a brush of his fingers over my cheek, standing close enough to sniff my hair.
“We should go somewhere,” I tell Theo, giving him a sly smile. “We can get in your car and leave. Just the two of us. Don’t you want to be alone?”
Theo groans. “You’re killing me, babe.”
“Please,” I beg, voice breathy. “We both want it.”
Before he can answer, a man approaches. I can sense fury emanating from him. At first, I think it’s Caius, finally noticing his brother staking a claim on me. It’s worse. Orion Crowne glowers at me with such contempt I’d stagger away if it weren’t for Theo’s strong body blocking me.
“Oh, hey, Dad,” Theo says in an easy tone. The sudden stiffness of his body claims otherwise. “What’s up?”
“Your obscene behavior, Theo,” Orion growls, “is an embarrassment. I knew this would be a problem.”
This being…me.
When I see Gareth from across the room, I take my leave, abandoning Theo with his furious father. “I, uh, need to visit the ladies’ room.”
Neither of them stops me. I unsteadily make my way over to where Gareth stands, shoulders tense, an edgy glint in his eyes. His hand is fisted beside him, and I pray it’s a key fob.
“Did you get it?” I murmur once I’m close.
He nods. “Open your purse.”
I unsnap the flap and he quickly drops the fob into it. Once I’ve safely closed it, it takes everything in me not to take off in a sprint toward the elevators.
“You’ll need me to get you down to the basement floor.” He scans the crowd and then nods toward the elevator. “Ready?”
“Yes,” I say, following after him when he heads for it. “What about Megan? Where is she?”
“That’s a little more complicated,” he says as we enter the safety of the elevator. “I’ll get you downstairs and then grab her. Just get out of the garage and turn right instead of left once you’re out. I’ll meet you on the side of the lodge with her.”
This seems too good to be true.
But it’s not.
He gave me a key fob, he’s getting Megan, and I’m being taken to the garage.
I can’t believe this is happening.
The elevator tilts and I curse myself for drinking too much. In my effort to soften Theo up to loosen his lips, I overindulged, and it might hinder my escape.
Stupid!
Desperation chases away the buzz. The elevator doors close, and I watch Gareth swipe his code on the panel, though I’m too unfocused to memorize it.
It won’t matter after tonight.
Freedom is so close I can taste it.
We reach the basement floor and I stumble in my heels as I rush to exit the elevator. Gareth has to grab both my shoulders to keep me from face-planting into a wall. A surge of panic rushes through me. Did he change his mind? Is he going to drag me off to some dark corner to have his way with me? Stifling a scream, I scramble out of his hold, putting distance between us. To my surprise, his features fall as though I’ve broken his heart.
Crap.
I can’t mess all this up now when freedom is literally steps away.
“Sorry,” I blurt out, rushing over to him. “Thank you for everything, Gareth. I mean it.” I hug his massive frame. “I won’t forget what you did for me.”
He squeezes me back. “Be careful, Ro. It’s dangerous out there.”
I manage to pull myself from his arms. He turns on his heel without another word, much to my relief. Once he disappears back into the elevators, I start for the garage door.