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I bite my lip as Ezra lifts my shirt, and his eyes track the movement. I stare at his jawline as it jumps and hold my breath as, finally, my shirt lifts over my breasts. He lets it drop to my chest once it’s cleared the threshold, and his gaze zeroes in on the vibrating block wedged beneath my left boob.
His next movements are methodical and quick. A man on a mission. He lifts my boob from its bra cup with one hand and grabs the phone with the other. Scanning the screen for a moment, he frowns, then turns the phone around for me to see who’s calling.
Liam. My boss slash ex-boyfriend. With a picture of the two of us from last year’s Christmas party as his contact photo. I internally cringe. I really need to change that photo.
Ezra raises an eyebrow as the call goes to voicemail. “Who is he?”
“My—” Boss doesn’t sound threatening enough, and ex-boyfriend means he’s a part of my past. So I lie instead, hoping for some leverage. “Boyfriend. I was supposed to meet him for lunch today. I forgot.”
“You forgot about your boyfriend?” Ezra narrows his eyes, trying to spot the lie.
My face flushes, and I start to ramble in a desperate attempt to be convincing. “Yeah, I was so hell-bent on coming here.” I laugh a little. At least that part is true. “I totally forgot to tell him I wouldn’t make lunch. Just a ...spaz. I’m a spaz. I forgot.”
Ezra hums in the back of his throat. “Call him with apology.”
My smile freezes on my lips. “What?”
Ezra nods to Mikhail, and my bindings come free. Blood rushes to my hands, and my shoulders scream as I pull my arms back to the front.
The first order of business is pulling my shirt down. While I cover myself as quickly as possible, Mikhail laughs, like it’s the funniest thing in the world.
“Call him,” Ezra repeats, placing the phone in my palm. “Now.”
Fuck me.
I grasp the phone tightly in my fist and consider my options.
I could beat Ezra with my cell phone. Maybe he’d be so surprised that I could spring free and make a mad dash for the exit.
But then there’s Mikhail, and there’s no way I could outmaneuver two men.
I could call my grandmother. She’d know what to do. When I walked out of the chapel, her car was waiting for me. It’s like she knew what decision I’d make before I did. Ever since, she’s been in my corner and supporting me every step of the way. She’s the reason I found a job with Liam in the first place, and she’s been letting me live with her all this time.
If there’s anyone I owe an explanation to, it’s her. Not my boss slash ex.
But Ezra is watching me like a hawk, and he’ll know if I dial a different number.
I swallow and open my missed calls. Clicking on Liam’s name, I hold my breath as it starts to ring.
Ezra grabs the phone and puts the call on speaker, holding it up for all of us to hear.
“Valentina!” The relief in Liam’s voice makes my heart clench tightly in my chest. “I was starting to worry. Where are you? Are you okay?”
I’m being held hostage in my father’s estate a few states over, what’s new with you?
“I’m fine. I got caught up with this thing...with my dad.”
Liam and I have known each other for over four years now, and he knows that I never talk about my father. It’s Forbidden with a capital F, because I don’t like to tell people that I was raised by a mafia king, and my grandmother insists we remain as hidden as possible in the event that we’re ever found by my father’s men.
I send a silent prayer to my grandmother, asking for forgiveness and hoping she’ll hear it.
“Oh,” Liam replies, clearly taken aback. “I didn’t think you were on speaking terms with him.”
“I’m...trying to fix that. I should have told you I left. I’m sorry.”
There’s a pause.
“I would have come with you, you know.”
