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“Shit,” I squeaked, then tore down the hallway, envisioning where the best undisclosed entry would be.
Theo was on his way, and he was going to walk into a slaughter.
Still attempting to unlock my phone, I made the command, “CallSax.” When my phone brightened, and an icon popped up stating “the definition of “saxophone” is…” I nearly flung it into the wall.
“CallTheo,” I said with as much pronunciation as I possessed.
The speaker replied, “calling Theo,” and I exhaled with so much relief, my back bowed forward.
I pictured Trace, grinning at the stupidity of my farce, when all the while he knew who it was trying to get away, despite my new brunette sheen. Drea would have told him Theo had someone with him, a female. Theo wasn’t known to bring his consorts round-trip. If Trace were also keeping an eye on my activities, much like his younger brother had these past years, then he would have noted my absence and put two and two together. He must also have known that as soon as I stumbled out of the playing room, I’d try to reach Theo.
Trace would have planned for it.
Goddammit, how do you stay one step ahead of a cheetah?
“By picking up the fucking phone, that’s how!” I yelled at my cell once Theo’s voicemail clicked through. With one hand bunched in my skirt and the other holding a useless device, I stampeded up the stairs, around the corner, and through the kitchen. Two surprised chefs looked up at my flurry, but I was through the service entry and outside before either of them could say much.
I flew onto the terrace, peering through shadows since those were the only pockets Theo would stray. I couldn’t spot the shape of him, the slope of his shoulders or his broad back, nor his scar, a crack of white against the black. He wasn’t coming through the landscaped trees or the privacy fence, there was no sound of footsteps up the small staircase leading to a perfectly tended vegetable garden. Theo wasn’t here, not where we agreed upon. He wasn’t meeting me at our designated meet-up point, our escape plan scratched.
I spun, glancing up at windows, grazing over clouds, thinking maybe I’d gotten it wrong. This wasn’t where we agreed.
“Think, Scarlet,think.”
Tilting back to the door, I thought maybe there was a side entrance I got mixed up, or another service entrance I’d missed.
Then I heard the gunshot.
