Page 96 of Moonlit Thorns

Tears prick my eyes, but I nod frantically.

Preston forces me to walk with him, my arm wrapped around his, away from the direction we came in. He must be parked in the back.

When we get outside, it’s raining harder, and I’m soaked in seconds. He rushes me toward a waiting limo, and when he uses one hand to open the door, I struggle a bit in his hold. It’s not enough to really try to get away—I don’t stand a chance since he has a gun. It’s just enough to be difficult and slip the mask off my face so it lands on the ground. I have no doubt that Asher will be looking for me soon. If I can leave him any small clue as to my whereabouts, I’m going to do it.

Preston pushes me inside the limo, and I slide as far over as I can toward the opposite door.

I just have to survive this. No matter what he does, I have to survive so I can make it back to Asher. I can deal with the fallout of whatever sick things Preston has planned after.

Survival. That’s all that matters.

Preston gets in and slams the door closed, then presses a button I assume must let him communicate with the driver since the partition is up between us. “Let’s head to the airport.”

The vehicle moves, and I look out through the back window, tears in my eyes as the distance between the danger I’m presently in and the safety Asher provides increases.

“Trying for one last look?” Preston’s caustic laugh grates at my nerves, and there’s nothing I’d rather do than launch myself at him and claw out his eyes. “Maybe if I’m feeling generous, I’ll tape it when I fuck you before I kill you and send him a copy.” A self-satisfied gleam fills his eyes, and he leans back in his seat with a grin. “Yeah, I think that sounds like the perfect idea. Something to remember you by.”

“You’re never going to get away with this. Why would you throw your life away for revenge?”

His eyes narrow on me, and he shoves the gun up under my chin, gripping my one hand in his other hand so hard that I cry out. I suck in a breath and hold it, squeezing my eyes shut.

“You should have told me you were his! I would’ve just knocked you out and fucked you in the back of my car. You’re not worth the trouble you’ve caused me.”

It takes me a moment to register that the sudden sting of pain in my temple is because he’s pistol-whipped me. I feel something trickle down my face and assume it must be blood.

“But I’ll get my revenge. Oh yes, I’m sure he’ll love that tape I’ll send him, and when he’s never able to find you again, it’ll drive him mad. Meanwhile, I’ll just disappear, never to be seen or heard from again. That’s the benefit of having endless wealth.”

Tears track down my face, and my chest constricts. It’s hard to breathe as I think of what it would do to Asher to see a tape like that. I don’t know that he’d ever recover. Would he just become vengeful and eventually let his despair and hatred eat away at him from the inside?

I can’t let that happen. No matter what, I can’t let that happen.

Cowering in the corner, I try to get my bearings. That knock to the head still has me seeing stars.

The limo moves along for a while, then it comes to a stop. I can tell from the window that it looks like we’re on a highway and stuck in a traffic jam. Maybe this will buy me some time to figure something out or for Asher to find me.

I could try to jump out the door now that we’re not moving. But Preston is unhinged, and I have no doubt that he might jump out behind me and still try to shoot me. He seems like a man who has nothing left to lose.

I can tell that he’s getting aggravated by the delay. He keeps shifting in his seat until he finally punches the intercom button with his finger. “What’s going on?”

The driver’s voice comes over the speaker. “I think it’s some kind of accident, sir. I can see lights ahead, and no one is moving.”

It wouldn’t surprise me with how hard it’s raining now. Maybe this is the opening I need.

Chapter

Forty

ASHER

Nero is smiling and looking about as genuinely happy as I can recall ever seeing him.

Anabelle is right—I can’t take this from him. Even if I am right, and there’s something shady about Maude, I have to trust he’ll figure it out in time. And if he doesn’t… well, that’s what a good prenup is for.

“I promise you this is the right decision.” Nero clamps me on the shoulder.

I nod, not willing to go as far as to agree with him. “Do you know what you’re going to do?”

He grins. “I got a room for us nearby. I’ve arranged for the suite to be filled with flowers and some desserts. I plan to share a bubble bath with her and surprise her there and ask her to marry me.”

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