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The arm around Tamara's waist tightened, pulling her closer to the warm, long line of Isaac's body as she tried to orient herself in the dark room. The first rays of dawn were peeking through the blinds. It wasn't bright enough to wake her up…but something had. There wasn't any movement in the room beyond the rhythmic rise and fall of Isaac's chest and his deep, steady breaths were the only sound.
Nerves? Anxiety? Stress? Probably all of the above.
It'll all work out. It has to. She repeated the mantra and relaxed back into Isaac's arms, the springy curls of his chest hair tickling her back.
That's when she heard it. The soft buzz of her phone vibrating. Heart hammering against her ribs, she jackknifed into a sitting position. Completely awake and utterly terrified, she grabbed the cell off the bedside table. Only one person would be calling the burner phone.
"Essie," she answered. "Are you okay?"
"Oh she's fine," a man said.
A cold shiver worked its way up her spine. "Jarrod, you bastard. How you get this number?"
"You've given my little girl some very devious ideas." He didn't sound happy about it. "She actually managed to hide her phone up until now. One of the ladies helping her get ready for her big day found it and handed it right over to me."
Isaac sat up next to her, scooting in close. She tilted the phone out far enough for him to lean in and hear both sides of the conversation.
"Let Essie go," she said, fighting to keep her voice as neutral as possible.
"Don't worry, I will. First thing tomorrow afternoon after the minister pronounces them man and wife. She'll be on her way out of the country right after the ceremony."
Fear shoved her stomach down to her toes. "You can't."
"I surely can. You two have caused me quite a bit of trouble. My followers expect a show of strength."
And the bastard would give it to them. It didn't matter what happened to Essie. For Jarrod, it was all about doing whatever it took to maintain his control over the Crest Society. It always had been. He could have his little cult. She just wanted Essie safe. There was bargaining to be done or else he wouldn't have made the call.
She glanced over at Isaac. He was still naked, his hair was going every which way and a shadow of dark stubble on his jaw, but he was the picture of focus. She could practically see him memorizing every syllable Jarrod said. No doubt a plan was already starting to form in Isaac's head. She just had to do her part—and she would.
"What do you want, Jarrod?" she asked.
"You. Here. "
"I'm in Texas."
He laughed. It wasn't a nice sound. "Don't lie to me. Bryson, your waiter at the diner, told me you only wanted coffee. The brown hair was a nice touch, but you never were skilled enough to pull of any kind of role beyond that of gold-digging beauty queen."
"Why wait until now to reach out?" Her pulse sped up in alarm and her palms became clammy, making her adjust her hold on the phone. Did he know about Marko and Elisa? Where they in danger now, too? "You know I've been here since yesterday."
"This might come as a shock to you, but you are not the center of the universe. Anyway, I have nothing to fear from you and your latest idiot boyfriend," Jarrod said, the confidence in his tone bordering on self-delusion. "Now get your ass up, ditch your latest sugar daddy loser and get over here. I want my followers to come to breakfast this morning and see you sitting by my side. You will confess your wrongdoing. You will beg for mercy."
"I suppose you'll be in a generous mood." Like he even had a clue what that meant.
"Always. In fact, I'll announce that I'm so glad to have my daughter back in the fold that I just can't bear to let her go just yet. The bridegroom will be disappointed, I'm sure, but he'll have no choice but to accept it."
She glanced over at Isaac, the calm look in his eyes settling her and making it easier to think. Jarrod hadn't mentioned Marko or Elisa. If he'd known they were in on the rescue mission, he would have used them for extra leverage. That meant they'd still be able to get Essie out of there this afternoon as planned. All she had to do was let Jarrod think he had all the power. The megalomaniacal jerk already thought he did so it wouldn't take much convincing. She just couldn't give in too easily.
"And if I say no?" she asked.
"You don't want to say no. I know Essie's hoping you won't. Her groom will be thrilled though, he can't wait to take her home…wherever in the world that may be. You know, he was really hoping for a morning wedding. I told him no, but I could change my mind."
She couldn't let Essie get taken out of the country. "Fine. I'll come"
"One of my followers will pick you up in front of the diner in five minutes," Jarrod said. "Be ready."
The phone went dead.
She bounded out of the bed, grabbing her clothes from the floor and pulling them on—a real trick when her hands were shaking as badly as they were.
