Page 46 of Captivated with Them

I was about to turn to Kodee when I caught sight of movement inside. Gordon appeared around the corner, a set of keys in his pocket. He spotted the SUV and frowned then quickly looked away again and focused on opening the door.

“Gordon—” I started as the door opened.

He didn’t let me finish.

“Get inside, both of you.”

My stomach flipped. What the fuck was going on? His face was pale, and he seemed jittery in a way I’d never known him to be before. I glanced over my shoulder, back toward the SUV. Did Gordon know there was something not quite right about the vehicle? How could he? Had the Capellos threatened him or something? For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out any reason that would have happened, unless the Capellos had suddenly decided I was better off staying in the wheelchair and had cancelled the production of my new limb.

As I wheeled myself inside the building, Gordon locked the doors behind us.

I shot Kodee a look, trying to convey my thoughts via eye contact alone, but Kodee just shrugged, as clueless as I was.

“Come down to my office,” Gordon said, brushing past us to lead the way.

I followed, Kodee at my side. “What’s this all about?”

Gordon didn’t glance back. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

He reached the office and opened the door then stepped out of the way to allow us both through.

Standing in the middle of the room was someone I’d been worried I’d never see again.

“Dillon!”

“Dillon,” Kodee echoed from beside me. “Fucking hell, Dillon.”

Four steps brought Kodee directly in front of our friend, and he wrapped his arms around Dillon and held him tight. Then he pulled Dillon away from his body to look into his face, and then down the rest of him, as though checking for injuries.

“I’m fine, Kodee. Seriously,” Dillon assured him.

Dillon crossed the room to me and pulled me into a hug as well. I was still stunned from seeing him there, a part of me wondering if I was imagining things.

“You smell like shit,” I managed, choking past a lump that had formed in my throat.

He dropped to one knee, as though he was about to propose. “Yeah, I know.”

God, he was a mess. His face was partially obscured by dark beard growth, and his thick hair stuck out wildly. His clothes were filthy, too, but in that moment, I thought he might have been the most perfect thing I’d ever seen.

“What—” I struggled to find my words. “What the hell are you doing here?”

I looked to Gordon, who was still standing by the door.

“I escaped from the Capellos’ restaurant. They had me tied up in a portioned off part of the cellar, but I managed to get away. I didn’t know where else to go. I couldn’t risk going to the apartment, or even phoning you myself, in case someone was watching or listening in, so I needed to figure out a way of getting you to meet me somewhere the wasn’t going to make the Capellos suspicious.”

“He held a gun to my head,” Gordon said from the doorway.

“Aye.” Dillon nodded. “Sorry about that.”

Kodee looked to him. “You have a gun?”

“I took it from the guy who was holding me captive. I don’t know if anyone has figured out I’m not down there any longer, but when they open the cellar door, they’re going to find Meathead locked up in there instead of me.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Meathead?”

“Aye, affectionate little pet name I had for him.”

“Sounds like a delight.” I gave an amused smile.

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