Page 80 of Keeping Eveline

Although, at the same time, an idea was forming in her mind.

What did he mean watch her?

He couldn’t mean it as in a movie. That would be ridiculous.

“Come with me, I’ll show you where you need to go, but first—” Gerald pulled out a knife and squatted.

Eveline tensed, waiting for the sharp blade to slash across her skin, but it never came. Blood rushed to her feet, followed by the harsh sensation of pins and needles when the ropes fell away. Her hands were released next, and she bit back a groan.

It didn’t matter that her feet and hands throbbed as circulation returned to them and all she wanted to do was cry. She contained her emotions and locked them down; she wasn’t going to give Gerald the satisfaction of knowing he’d caused her such discomfort.

“Paul, can you take Eveline to the room at the end of the hallway? They’re waiting for her there. And don’t leave her alone.” Again, Gerald’s tone was affable, as if it was a normal day and he hadn’t masterminded her kidnapping.

What had happened to her boss? It was clear that something had for him to be acting this way.

Was it drugs?

Paul gripped her arm again and hauled her down the hallway.

If Gerald had gotten addicted to drugs, his behavior could have changed drastically. It would also explain everything. The need for more money. His association with the gang. They were probably the ones who supplied him and to keep him under control he’d been forced to employ them.

As ridiculous as it might seem, the more she thought about it, the more Eveline was convinced that that was what’d happened to cause Gerald to change his business practices.

Why had he kidnapped her?

“Oh dear, we’ve got to do a bit of work to get you ready for the next scene. Was acting out the kidnapping scene harrowing?”

Eveline was pulled from her introspection to find herself in front of a woman standing by a table that was covered with makeup, brushes, sponges, hairbrushes. Everything used in the makeup trailer on a movie set.

Then what the woman said sunk in. “Was acting out the kidnapping scene harrowing?” The woman fully believed that Eveline had been acting and hadn’t actually been kidnapped.

What the hell had Gerald told her? What had he told the crew?

She now stood on a movie set, after all.

All she could do was go along with it. Would the woman believe her, if she told her the truth?

In the mirror behind the woman, Paul stood sentry by the door, arms crossed, watching her every action.

Nope, telling the truth was out. There was a reason Gerald had instructed Paul not to leave her alone—if she attempted to say anything, he’d shut her down quicker than a movie set after funding was rescinded.

All she could do was go along with everything and look for a way to escape. At first the opportunity, Eveline had to take a chance. No matter what the consequences were.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Darkness crept over the city, but Ox didn’t notice. His attention was focused internally. Waiting for Cass to say she’d found something.

Anything that would lead him to the woman who held his heart.

Eveline had to be alive. He couldn’t fathom anything else. Wouldn’t allow any other thought to take over his mind, no matter how often it tried.

“Here.”

Angel stood next to him, a mug of coffee in his hand.

The thought of drinking the normally welcome drink turned his stomach. “Thanks, but no,” Ox said.

“You know Cass won’t stop. We’ll find Eveline, and whoever took her.”

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