Page 14 of Bound in Promise
I need Liam to take us back to the hotel. There’s zero chance he’ll protect me from a bunch of horny dudes high on who-knows-what, especially not after I shot him. I’m far from safe with Liam, but I’m better off with just him rather than staying here.
Sitting on the edge of the stained tub, I fish the cell phone out of my bra and power it on. It feels as though it takes forever for it to load but when it does I pull up the GPS app, find my location, and send it to Ellie.
There’s a text from her in the message chain.
Not sure if you’ll see this, but be careful. I’m worried. Told Dante and gave him your number. He’s on the way.
I exit out of the thread. She’ll know what to do with my location data. I scan the rest of the conversations in the man’s phone. I can see previews of several messages asking where the man is. I bite my lower lip, trying not to cry. It’s my fault?—
As I scroll, I find a text from a number that isn’t saved as a contact.
I’m coming, wife.
A heavy knock lands on the door, shaking it in its frame, and I jump as I hide the phone at my side.
“Hurry the fuck up, Vee,” Liam barks out. “We need to talk.”
A mix of emotions is churning in my gut. Rage, fear, hope… I don’t know what to do with them and my hands shake as I return the phone to my bra. I wish I had had a little longer to myself, even just a moment to bask in the fact that Dante texted me. That he’s coming for me.
Resisting the urge to growl or stomp my feet, I quickly flush the toilet before running the water and wetting my hands. I bite back a moan of dismay as I see that my cheek is a riot of blotchy reds and deep purples. No black eye—yet—but there’s no hiding the beating I took earlier.
When I open the door, I’m met with Liam’s glare.
“What?” I ask, acting innocent, but I’m afraid hope is written all over my face. “I had to pee.”
“You’re fucking around,” he accuses. “What are you doing?”
I’m not sure what he wants me to say. I’m not about to admit the truth, and a ridiculous lie is my only chance. “Sending a smoke signal to the cops?”
He steps forward and bumps into my body, pushing me backward as he takes another step, closing us both inside the bathroom.
“What are you doing, Liam?” I ask, my voice dropping to a demanding whisper. “That dude is going to think something’s wrong!”
“Why would you say that?”
“If we’re supposed to be together, why are we having secret conversations in the bathroom?”
He shrugs his shoulders dismissively. “Maybe I wanted a quickie before I got this bullet you put in my shoulder dug out by some wanna-be doctor.”
“Funny how that story changed.”
Liam shoves me, almost making me trip into the tub, but I don’t regret my sass as he winces. He’s weak, as weak as he pretends not to be, and he’ll never be any different. Yet, here I am, his hostage while he traipses across the country.
“I should give you one to match,” Liam threatens. “But I’m not about to have to deal with all the blood.”
Right.
Let’s keep it that way.
“When are we leaving?” I look at the door behind him, imagining the disastrous kitchen it opens up to.
“Ready for some couple time, just the two of us?” Liam taunts. He rolls his eyes before adding, “This asshole is helping me get your passport together. But maybe he shouldn’t bother, since you shot me.”
“Stop fucking with me, Liam,” I snap back. “Let’s just get back and—” Liam shoves his phone at me.
“Check your bank account. I want to see if the money’s there.”
My jaw locks as another dose of adrenaline dumps into my bloodstream. If the money’s there, I’m out of time.
