Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“I don’t want your name on it either,” Killian says, staring down at Teddy. The hardness that’s been etched into his face lessens, softness peeking out for her. It’s adorable.
“No problem.” Teddy grabs the phone, and I already know what she’s up to.
“Who are you reaching out to?” Killian asks.
“Ro,” I say before Teddy can.
“Yep, that man can get anything.” She clicks away on the phone, and it dings.
“He said it will be done within the hour. Let him know which airport.” Once that is sorted, Teddy and Killian fill me in on their plan. I mean, it sounds great in theory, but I’m up for doing whatever I need to.
I tell her she can go ahead and text me when they are moving. Tristan should be across town by then, so if he sees my phone activity, he won’t be able to do anything about it. By then I should be in the air.
I hurry to make sure I have what I need, not much but a few things. When I’m ready, I sit down on my bed and watch the minutes crawl by.
The penthouse is quiet. I keep waiting for Tristan’s footsteps, his voice calling my name, or some last-minute change of plans that will stop my plans right in their tracks.
Then I hear it. The front door and the ding of the elevator.
He’s gone.
My fingers fly across my phone screen.
Me: He’s gone.
Teddy: You sure?
Me: Yeah, I’ll wait ten and then message him about the doctor’s appointment.
I count. Six hundred seconds of pure agony, my knee bouncing the whole time, waiting for any sound to come. But it doesn’t. No footsteps, no elevator, no Tristan bursting back in to catch me mid-escape.
Me: Ten minutes. Clear.
Teddy: Go time. Remember the back stairs, not the lobby.
That had been the change of plan they told me about. I thought I’d be going out the lobby, but Killian had other ideas. I go with it. Teddy trusts him.
Then I do my part.
Me: Forgot I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon.
The reply comes faster than I expect.
Tristan: I’ll send Nathan. Be ready in 20.
I stare at the screen. That was easy. Too easy? He must be distracted with his meeting. What if it wasn’t a meeting, but he went to meet Sasha?
The thought sends a strange pang through my chest and helps light a fire under my ass for the small amount of guilt I was having over doing this.
Me: Thanks.
I shove the phone in my pocket and head for the back stairs. I push through the door and come up short. Killian is standing there. He’s even bigger in person.
“This is not going according to plan,” I say, hating the change of plans.
“Keep moving.” He orders me down the stairs. If I thought Tristan could be cold, Killian could give him a run for his money.
“I’m not a hostage, you know?”
He grunts a response. My heart sinks when we pass men lying on the ground. I don’t see blood.
“Are they dead?” I ask, stepping over one. Please don’t say they are dead. I would not have done this if we were killing people! What is Killian, a freaking hitman? That thought doesn’t land in my mind as absurdly as it should.
“No,” he says flatly.
“Would you tell me if they were?”
He grunts another response.
“I don’t think those grunts are as sexy as Teddy told me,” I mutter, making him only grunt again.
“This way,” he orders me as we enter the parking garage, freedom close. Killian pulls out his phone. I watch as he calls and calls again. I shift on my feet. What’s happening?
Suddenly Killian’s full attention is laser-focused right on me. His eyes are almost black. Holy shit, he’s fucking scary. “How did you know Tristan had a meeting today?”
“He told me. Why?” I glance back toward the door we exited out of. “Shouldn’t we—”
“Was it on his calendar?” He fires off another question, and I can tell we’re not moving from this spot until he gets his answers.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Fuck,” Killian grits out. “We’re going back in.”
“What?! No.” I start to back up, and he reaches out, grabbing my forearms. Instinct takes over, and I wrap my hand around and grab him right back. He’s quicker to lock me in his deadly hold. It was a stupid move on my part. He’s too big for the move to work.
“Now you’re a hostage.”
I feel the blood drain from my face. What’s happening?
He spins me, locking his hold on me tighter. “Holy fucking shit, asshole,” I hiss, already thinking about what my next move will be because he’s lost his fucking mind.
“Tristan has my Zolotse. Let me be perfectly clear with you.” His eyes bore down into mine. “There is nothing or no one I won’t sacrifice to get her back.”
“What?” I whisper and stop fighting him, letting my body relax so he knows that. “Why didn’t you just say that? I’m not leaving Teddy behind.” He’s completely lost his mind if he thought I’d leave without her.