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“Stop!” I shove at him, fighting the knee that wants to slam into him, but I know I’ll endanger lives, including mine, if I blow the night’s plans. “Stop now.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he growls.
Voices sound just inside the doorway. He pockets my panties. The brute steps onto the patio. “They’re asking for you inside the event, sir.”
“I’ll be right there,” he says dismissively before he flips his attention back to me. “I got us a room. We’re going to go fuck away your anger before I leave tonight.”
I can almost feel the blood run from my face, but he doesn’t notice. He catches my hand again and starts walking, dragging me along with him again. I end up in the hallway again, sandwiched between him and the brute as we travel back toward the party. The idea of having to have sex with Gabriel turns my stomach and I know that can’t happen. Whatever is in motion, I decide, is in motion. That’s it. I’m leaving. I’m getting out of here.
But already we’re entering the ballroom and we’re escorted to a stage. I endure being guided to the top and center of that stage to stand beside Gabriel, I even wave at the crowd, though it demands real effort. To my utter relief, Smith is to the right of the stage and Adrian is there, directly in front of me, and I try to tell him with my eyes that I’m going to run. I don’t know how he understands, but he gives a little nod. Finally, finally, I’m off the stage, and Gabriel starts talking about our military and prepares to hand out a few awards. I rotate away from the stage and run smack into the brute.
His hands come down on my arms, big hands, dangerous hands, at least that’s the thought that pops into my head. “Where are you going?” he demands.
“I have to go to the ladies’ room.”
His expression hardens but there’ a flicker of something in his eyes—satisfaction, maybe?—and he motions me forward. I don’t understand that look and I don’t like it, but he’s going with me. There’s no way out of it. I hurry toward the exit door, the one I’d taken to meet Rick earlier, with good reason. I remember seeing a fire exit near that bathroom. I don’t look back or wait on the brute. He’s there. I feel his hard stare prickling my skin. The bathroom door is a blessed escape, and I push it open and seek the sanctuary of an empty bathroom. Everyone else is at the party, listening to Gabriel speak. Immediately my phone rings. I answer without looking at the caller ID.
“Okay, sweetheart, listen up.” It’s Adrian. “Savage just called me,” he continues. “That asshole following you sold out to Tag. His order is to kill you if Savage crosses Tag. Savage has a gun to Tag’s head. We don’t know if Alejandro knows or not. We can’t risk the wrong move.”
My heart starts to race wildly and I’m breathless when I say, “Oh God. I’m alone in the bathroom.”
“I’m going to try to distract him with the fake photographer story Savage came up with, but I believe we’re beyond that. If he doesn’t bite, I’m going to get in his face and start a fight. You run for the stairwell because I will likely be arrested. Go to the lobby. Stand in the center of the lobby. Do not leave that public location until Smith walks in to get you. Understand?”
“Yes. Yes, I understand. Thank you, Adrian.”
“Thank me by getting the fuck to the lobby safely. I’m moving now.” He disconnects.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Candace
The sooner I’m out of the bathroom, the sooner I will be on a plane with Rick.
I draw a deep calming breath and then creak the bathroom door open. Adrian is standing in my line of sight, which I have no doubt is intentional. He’s also talking to Alejandro, but I can’t make out what’s being said. Well not until he raises his voice, and pokes at Alejandro’s chest. I know it’s Alejandro’s chest because the beast steps into Adrian, and holy wow, he makes Adrian, who is not small, look tiny. If Adrian notices he doesn’t act like it. “You pervert. You’re a pervert hanging out at the women’s bathroom.” Then even louder, he shouts, “Security! Security!”
Adrian shoves him and the beast actually stumbles backward, out of my view. There are more voices now, and I can feel the chaotic energy, even if I can’t see anymore. I open the door and when I find several men in suits standing with Adrian, all of them surrounding Alejandro, my heart leaps, but I move , quickly darting to the right to run for the stairwell.
“Hey! Stop right there, Candace!”
Oh, God. It’s Alejandro. I grab the doorknob to the exit, and it won’t open. I tug again. Still, it won’t open. I glance right and Alejandro is running at me. Adrian tackles him and shouts, “Run!” I run, down another hallway and thank God, there is another exit sign. Please let the door open. Please let it open. It does. It opens. Relief floods my adrenaline-laced system and I all but fall flat-faced inside the stairwell, but I catch the railing. We aren’t high up and I start running down the stairs. I’ve just turned the corner when I stop dead at the sight of a man sitting on the ground on the next level I must pass. And not just any man. It’s Rick’s father.
