Page 106 of The Tower

When I emerge, Liam has shed his tuxedo jacket and is pouring champagne. It’s a simple task, but he looks damn sexy doing it, and my nipples tighten in anticipation of what’s to come.

He hands me a glass, and I take a sip, relishing the exquisite flavor and the tiny bubbles that dance on my tongue.

I start to walk toward the windows, then pause.

“Do you want me to close the blinds?” Grimm asks.

I shake my head. “No. But will you walk with me?”

I may never know for certain if my meds treated or caused or exacerbated my various phobias and nervous conditions. If it weren’t for the case against my father, I’m not even sure it matters. What I do know is that I’ve been getting steadily better. Dr. Chen thinks it’s because the meds are working their way out of my system, and she’s probably right. She’s the one with the medical degree after all.

Even so, I choose to believe it’s because of Grimm. It’s strange and unexpected, but he makes me stronger.

Now, he takes my hand, and we move to the window together. “There’s a whole world out there,” I say. “I’m twenty-six, and I’ve hardly seen any of it.” I turn from the window to face him. “My father made me a prisoner.” Out loud, the words seem absurd, because that’s not what fathers do. Unless, of course, they’re mine.

“Victor Reed will never control you again.”

I’m struck by the certainty in his voice. “You really believe that?”

“I do.” His eyes hold mine. “Your father is finished.”

The weight of what he’s saying settles over me. The possibility of freedom. Real freedom, not just a different kind of cage.

And it all hinges on tomorrow.

No. It hinges on Grimm. Without him, I’d still be trapped in my room. I owe Liam Grimm everything. More than that, I trust him.

I might even love him.

And how completely unexpected is that?

I swallow, finally certain of a decision I’ve been debating. “Earlier tonight, when you faced down Desmond … that was incredibly brave.”

“That was nothing. The man’s a worm.”

“It wasn’t nothing. Not to me.”

“Sasha—”

“And telling Leo to stay away from Ruby because I asked you to. That was also important to me.”

“He can be a huge ass, and⁠—”

“Let me finish,” I say quietly. “You didn’t have to do any of it. Our arrangement doesn’t require kindness.”

He looks uncomfortable with my gratitude, which only confirms my decision. “I want to share something with you. Something no one else knows except Ruby.” I glance around the suite. “Where’s our luggage?”

He fetches mine, and in a few minutes, I’ve set up the laptop he’d given me. I think it was Maya’s originally, but too bad for her.

“What are you⁠—”

“Elysium,” I say as I navigate to the portal. I look up at him and see a flicker of a frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he says. “I’m just curious what you’re up to.”

I’m sitting on the sofa, the computer on the coffee table in front of me. I pat the spot next to me. “Come see.”

“Elysium,” he says as he sits. “What is it?”