Mom and Dad told me all of my captors had been disposed of.
They lied.
Of course they lied.
He’s here.
He has me.
I won’t be free.
I’ll never be free.
Someone picks me up and tosses me over a shoulder yet again like I’m nothing more than a rag doll. I’m belatedly aware of a rough arm clamping around my thighs, holding my legs still. Someone runs in front of me and reties my hands. Reapplies the blindfold.
I don’t fight back.
I can’t fight back.
I’m drowning.
Drowning.
Drowning.
Drowning.
And this time, I won’t be able to claw my way back to the surface.
2
RIDGE
My collar ishot and itchy, and I head out of the ballroom with my index finger stuck down inside it, scratching at my neck as I debate whether or not Brylee gives a fuck about this stupid tux. I want to lose this tight jacket as soon as possible…unless she likes it.
Where is she?
My dress shoes slide annoyingly against the marble floor of the random hallway I’ve entered, and I hate the sound. Hate the feel. There’s no grip on the sole, just smooth leather. How can anyone stand to wear this crap regularly?
I turn a corner, and the golden glow of crystal chandeliers dangling overhead fades to a deep gray abyss. I realize that the next hall has a few burnt-out bulbs. That, or there’s another switch at the end of the hall and someone accidentally flicked it off.
Starting in that direction, I decide to check, since it seems like a better use of my time than another round of fake-smiling as I walk through the ballroom and wait for my mate to arrive.
I didn’t used to care about fake-smiling at women. Hell, most of my smiles were designed like fishhooks to reel them in.
That was before I knew how good a real, raw smile could feel. Like sunshine but on the inside.
My only real smiles are reserved for her now.
My mind wanders back to the motorcycle ride we shared, and the urge to find Brylee, revel in her scent, and get her to grin shyly up at me becomes more insistent. Some tiny little piece of me is unnerved by the fact that she went to get ready for the dance with Teddie and he’s already arrived.
I saw him in the distance and immediately scanned the crowd for her. But there were only dozens of omegas in sparkling dresses who held absolutely zero appeal to me. As far as I can tell, Brylee hasn’t shown yet. That seems...off. Wouldn’t she have come with Teddie?
She’s not the type to make a grand entrance, not unless her parents are forcing her to.
Oh. Maybe that’s what’s happening.
The king and queen are back there in the ballroom, after all, eager to help Teddie get his award and show off their son.
