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Shivers transcended to a full-body seizure by the time the doors finally opened and the meeting let out. Scout cursed herself for not changing into her jeans before leaving the hotel, but her humiliation urged her to escape quickly and she hadn’t been thinking. Already, the effects of living in the lap of luxury were affecting her common sense and making her forget the need for practicality. Curled into her sweatshirt, she tried to find a hidden pocket of body warmth. It crossed her mind that Lucian would be aware by now she wasn’t coming back.
A few women bustled out of the building, followed by a man in an expensive trench coat with shiny leather shoes. He looked vaguely familiar. As he slowed, he removed his phone from his pocket and stood for a moment to press a few buttons. That’s when she recognized those piercing eyes. Slade.
Shit. She ducked her head so he wouldn’t recognize her. Out of her peripheral she saw him walk away.
“Holy shit! Scout! You’re back.”
Goddamn it Parker!
Scout looked up and behind a smiling Parker stood Slade, staring at her through narrow blue eyes.
“Hey, Parker,” she mumbled, standing up and walking quickly through the doors of the school.
“Where you going? Aren’t we gonna eat? Scout, wait up . . .” He followed her into the shadowed hall of the school. “What’s going on . . . ?” His question faded as he followed her gaze. “You know that guy?”
“Not really.”
Slade stared into the shadows after them and then turned and climbed into his car. When he pulled away she breathed a huge sigh of relief. Turning to Parker, she smiled.
“So . . . looks like I’ll be staying here again,” she said with false cheer. “Let’s eat.”
Chapter 17
Intruder
Scout awoke with a start and her back protested against the hard tile floor. Something was going on. It took a moment for her sight to adjust to the dark shadowy room. Eyes wide, she studied the door of the gymnasium. Bodies lay out like guests of a morgue after a natural disaster, creating an obstacle course around her.
Unseen voices carried over the sound of bodies breathing. She listened. She couldn’t make out the words being said, but she sensed the hostility of the situation.
“Shit.”
Scout quickly untied the shoelace around her wrist. Her fingers fumbled over the knot. The voices grew louder, coming closer.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” she hissed.
The knot came loose and she turned onto her knees. Rushing with fumbling fingers, she untied the laces attached to her bag’s zipper. Footsteps echoed in the hall.
She recognized George’s voice. “Sir, you can’t go in there. If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police.”
More voices added to the commotion, but others had begun to rouse. Moving blankets and whispered questions made it impossible to hear one thing clearly over another.
When the knot around her zipper came loose, she hurried to slip on her unlaced shoes. Preparing to sling her bag over her arm and haul ass out of there, grabbing Parker on her way, she turned.
“Evelyn!”
“Sir, you can’t—”
“Scout!” Parker yelled as Lucian turned and grabbed George by the collar. She worried for George’s heart condition, but Lucian released him the moment Parker tore into the gym. “Scout, run!”
What happened next had everybody screaming. Lucian grabbed Parker and Parker turned and punched Lucian right in the nose. Women screamed, men shouted, babies cried and suddenly Dugan and Slade were there as well.
Scout lowered her shoulders and pulled up her hood, trying to remain unseen. Parker was pushed aside roughly and Lucian marched over mats as women from the shelter scurried out of his way. The gym was dark aside from the light spilling from the hall.
Lucian approached a woman with long dark hair. She gasped as he drew her close and he discarded her quickly.
Parker pushed away from Slade and shouted, “Scout, get out of here!”
She made to stand. Lucian towered over the fright-filled room and looked around. “Evelyn, don’t move.”
She froze. The sound of heavy dress shoes clicking over the linoleum came close until she found herself, once again, staring into their shiny surface.
“We’re leaving.”
Scout looked up at Lucian. He looked terrible. His hair was a mess and tension gave his dark eyes a haggard look. Parker skidded up behind him and jumped between them.
“Get away from her,” Parker growled and Lucian cocked his head.
“Aren’t you cute? Move.”
Parker’s eyes narrowed into a menacingly evil expression she had never seen before. “Fuck you.”
“Evelyn, you have one minute to get your ass out of this building and into my limo. One second longer and I’ll haul you out myself.”
She didn’t understand why he’d come looking for her. She gave him an excuse to let her go. He clearly didn’t want an inexperienced virgin, or recently devirginized woman, in his bed. And now he knew exactly where she had come from. Her many kept secrets were getting exposed faster than she was comfortable with. Scout didn’t like being so transparent.
