Page 89 of Knot a Thief

I squint, trying not to catch the attention of the security who followed me.

My heart races as I watch him more closely.

“Seb,” I murmur to myself, hardly daring to believe it.

He’s making deliberate movements, signs meant for me.

I watch intently as he places the fishing rod on the stand and takes out his binoculars. Now I’m sure it’s him. My Seb is here, watching over me.

With trembling fingers, I tap out our secret code on my leg and hope he sees it.

One finger, one tap, then four fingers, one tap again, and finally, three fingers. ‘I love you’ in our private language, developed for moments just like this when we’re separated during a job.

I omit the okay sign that usually follows, because until I’m with Seb, I’m not okay.

Seb nods slightly.

He’s received my message. Then, he moves his fishing rod in a specific pattern. I squint, focusing hard to decipher his message.

Five abrupt movements.

I think about what he’s trying to tell me. He does it again.

The number five.

Five o’clock.

An hour before I walk every morning.

Does he know that?

Has he been watching me?

My heart soars with hope and fear simultaneously. Seb has a plan. He’s coming for me. But what if I can’t get away? Will he try again the next day?

Can I keep this secret, knowing that every move I make is being watched?

I glance around at the bodyguards, but they are waiting for me to move.

When Seb lifts the binoculars again, I give him the okay sign, and just hope he is waiting for me at five in the morning.

Slowly, casually, I stretch and stand up, as if I’m just taking in the view. I can’t risk staying here too long, it’ll only raise suspicion.

As I make my way back to the villa, I notice Max is watching me again.

He does things to my body that I hate.

It’ll be over soon. When I’m free.

I have to stay strong, stay alert, and be ready. Seb is coming, and this time, we’re going to make it out together.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I have hope. Real, solid hope. And that’s enough to keep me going.

Max can throw anything at me at the dining table tonight. I don’t care.

I’ll smile. I’ll laugh.

I’ll do whatever it takes for him to drop his guard again.

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