Page 88 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

“What did you think they were going to do with that information, join me for purse shopping?” she cried.

His face fell, and she shook her head. “Never mind. You have to tell someone where we are.”

“I’m going to do better than that, Julia.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out a knife, sliding it open.

Julia’s heart skipped a beat for a moment at the sight. Was he planning on killing her?

He slid it closer to her wrist before he glanced up. “I’m getting you out of here, but you have to promise me that we can talk.”

“Why should I trust you after everything that’s happened?”

“I know you have no reason to trust me, but I’m begging you. There is so much you don’t know…about me…about everything. Just hear me out. That’s all I ask.”

“Are you crazy? I’m being held hostage, and you’re using this moment to make sure you get another opportunity to make vague accusations?”

“No, there are things you don’t understand. There is so much more going on here.”

A bang in the hall outside quickened her pulse. They were running out of options. Trusting Kyle seemed insane, especially with him still insisting on spewing his garbage. But this was their only chance. She had to take it and outsmart him later. She snapped her gaze back to the knife ready to free her and bobbed her head. “Fine.”

As Kyle approached with the knife again, a wave of uncertainty washed over her. The cold metal of the chair pressed into her back as Kyle sliced the zip tie from each of her wrists before he freed her ankles. Julia’s heart hammered against her chest, every snip of the knife sending a jolt of fear and hope through her veins.

He rose, sliding the knife into his pocket before he pulled her to stand. “Can you walk?”

“Yes, but–”

“Good,” he said, grabbing her hand and tugging her toward the door.

She pulled back against him. “We have to take Sierra.”

Kyle glanced down at the other woman before he flicked his gaze back to Julia. “There’s no time.”

He pulled her again, but she refused to move. “No! I’m not going anywhere without Sierra.”

Kyle stared at her for a breath before his shoulders slumped. “Fine.”

He pulled the knife from his pocket and released her from the bonds holding her before he slipped his arm around Julia again.

“Stop!” she insisted as Sierra rose on shaky legs. “She can barely walk.”

“We don’t exactly have a lot of time here, Julia.”

“We’re not leaving her,” Julia said as she slid her arm around Sierra’s waist.

Kyle grumbled as he took a step back toward them and swept Sierra into his arms. “Out the door and to the right. Stay close.”

Julia eased the door open, peering into the hall. “It looks clear.”

“Go, to the right and straight out. My car’s right outside the door.”

Julia whipped the door open and hurried into the hall, pausing to wait for Kyle and Sierra. “Go, Julia,” he encouraged her.

She hurried in front of him toward a metal door at the end of the hall. Hope surged within her as they closed the distance.

“Hey!” a voice boomed behind them.

Julia’s heart stopped at the sound.

“Julia, go, run,” Kyle said.

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