Page 131 of Love Collided

I set down the cup, already nodding. No part of me liked his dad, but his mom seemed pleasant enough. Maybe she felt alittle more open when his dad wasn’t around. Not that I would blame her.

We headed up the wide staircase as she told me more about their house and Chase growing up there. It was clear she loved him, and each kind word was making me wonder if it would be possible to have a bit of a relationship with his parents.

His mom, at least.

“Right here, dear. This door.”

She pointed to a door on the left and I pushed open the door to step inside. The room was a deep blue color, and my eyes immediately began to roam over every inch.

“Now!” she yelled.

Two huge arms wrapped around me, squeezing me hard and lifting me off the floor. I yelled and kicked, but adjusted his grip and put one giant, sweaty hand over my mouth.

“Take her downstairs, and one of you go hide the car.”

“And our money?”

“Oh shut up and do the job before you even think about getting paid.”

The chilling demand echoed through the room. I tried to breathe in fresh air, but his huge palm covered my mouth and most of my nose.

The lack of air was making me dizzy, my mind screamed with a single, chilling realization—I had been lured into a trap, and now I was at her mercy with no one knowing where I was, and no one ever thinking to look for me here.

THIRTY-EIGHT

SCOUT

The bloodthat trickled down my neck was starting to tickle, the slow drips making me twitch to touch it, but my hands were tied behind me to a chair, so there was nothing I could do but rub my cheek against my shoulder. A scarf was tied around my face, gagging me and keeping me quiet.

The room was chilly as when I finally looked up, I realized why.

She put me in a wine cellar.

Apparently, wine cellars were the new dungeons for rich people.

I was alone still, but I didn’t think that would last long. I could faintly hear people talking, but I couldn’t make out a word, let alone who was saying it.

Another minute went by before the door slammed open. Chase’s mom stepped inside. The brute who grabbed me, stepping in next to her, and I recognized him immediately. One of them came over, ripping the scarf down along with a clump of hair.

“You asked for help from those guys?” I asked, looking each of the gambling goons over.

She gave a soft smile and turned to them. “I was told that you owed them some money, and they were happy to help me in return for that debt being paid. Sorry dear, it seems they were a little rough getting you down here.”

“You paid off my dad’s debts in return for them tying me up? That seems like an incredibly unfair trade,” I said, still fighting at the ties on my wrists. My knife was in my boot and there was no way I could get to it until one hand was free.

“When you add in the fact that I will be getting you away from my son, it seems like a perfectly reasonable trade.” She turned back to them, handing over one big envelope. “I see you tied her up well, so you two are free to go. I will take it from here.”

They smiled and waved before heading back out. She stood unmoving, looking me over and seemingly coming to some sort of conclusion.

“I wondered for hours if this was the right choice, but here now, looking you over. I think it was exactly the right decision. You are not fit for my son.”

“So you are just like his father, then? Making his choices for him and telling him exactly what to do with his life?”

“Hisfather? You mean the man I have been telling for weeks to take care of this issue and can’t seem to get a handle on it? The one who said hetriedto take care of it, but Chase was being difficult? Of course, the boy is going to be difficult when he thinks he’s in love.”

“Have you thought about the fact that he actually is in love with me?”

She gave a deep laugh, her chest shaking. “He might think he is, but I assure you, my son is not in love with any whore mechanic girl. Just because you have sex with him does not mean he is in love. And then you think you’re going to tell him to ruin his life, and let you move into his condo together? Didyou forget that we won’t be paying the bills when he’s acting like this? That he will come to resent you when he looks back on his life, and realizes he settled for someone like you instead of pursuing a career as a lawyer?”

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