Page 74 of Captive Lies

The pressure weighing heavy on his chest lifted as he left the bedroom, but the work of winning Blaire back had only just began. He saw Tyler and Jake hanging around the kitchen, peeking down the hallway as he emerged from herbedroom.

“Tyler, keep an eye on Blaire. Donotlet her leave the house for anyreason.”

“Mr. Thorne?” His bodyguard’s brows drew together inconfusion.

“She has it in her head toleave.”

“Are you saying I should physically restrain her if she wants toleave?”

“Yes, but if you harm a single hair on her head, I’m going to kill you.” He looked at Jake who was trying to control a grin. “You won’t think this is so funny after I talk to you. Let’s go to myoffice.”

When they reached his office, he motioned for Jake to close thedoor.

His security lead had a wary look on his face. “Are there problems, Mr.Thorne?”

“Who did you task to bring back Liam’s body?” Grantasked.

Jake told him that one of Liam’s crew took responsibility and promised to let them know when the feds would release his remains. Since the shootout at the storage facility was under investigation, Grant had no control over the evidence collected, but he was going to do his damnedest to make sure Blaire’s friend got the burial he deserved. He saved his woman when he couldn’t. Grant owed himeverything.

“I have another request, Jake,” Grant said. “I want you to put a tracker onBlaire.”

“On her purse? Her phone already hasone.”

“No. On herperson.”

Jake grunted a laugh and shook his head. “Does sheknow?”

“She wants to leave me. You think I’d tellher?

“Mr. Thorne, with all due respect, that violates too many privacylaws.”

“Fuck privacy,” Grant growled. “I’m not going through that shit again of not knowing whether she’s alive or dead. I could take it when she left me voluntarily, but to have her taken from me, Jake? That fucking killed. The image of her beaten up and broken with a gun pointed at her head is forever seared into my brain. I’m obsessed with her safety. So either you do what I tell you or I’ll find someone who will. Would you trust someone else with thisjob?”

Jake glared at him. “I don’t like you forcing my hand, Mr. Thorne, but in the interest of Ms. Callahan’s safety, I’ll doit.”

“Good.”

Jake pivoted to head out the door and Grant could tell from his head of security’s rigid back that he was pissed at him. When Jake’s hand was on the doorknob, he called his attention. “Donovan.”

His man paused and turned his headslightly.

“Thanks for taking care ofOrlov.”

Jake nodded. “My pleasure, Mr.Thorne.”

29

Four weekslater

Blaire

Grant was breakingdown my walls. It was getting increasingly difficult to ignore his presence and his gestures of sweetness. Oh, there’d been a moment three weeks before—a few days after arriving in New York when he’d exhibited his insufferable, arrogant self. In fairness to him, I did elude my security and had almost gotten on a bus to Denver. Grant showed up at the Port Authority bus terminal murderous with rage. He immediately spotted me in line to get on the bus and headed straight for me. He gripped my bicep and hauled me from the line as I thwacked him with my big heavy hobo bag filled with my essential stuff. I’d left with no suitcase. I still had clothes in mycabin.

It didn’t work to Grant’s advantage that he looked furious and I still bore bruises from my time in Orlov’s dungeon and my wrist was in a splint. My whole look screamed abuse victim. Grant got tackled by a guy who had the physique of a linebacker. Another man kicked him while he was down. I screamed for them to stop hurting Grant and tried to pull the giant off him, but Grant, blind with fury and fighting back fiercely, yelled at me to “stand the hellback.”

It was fortunate that Jake, Tyler, and a few port security officers arrived at the scene before anyone got seriously hurt. Grant was bleeding from the lip. I couldn’t help but approach him to cup hisjaw.

He smiled. Actually smiled at me and said, “Can we go home now, baby?” He said it as though he hadn’t just gotten into a brawl. I huffed in irritation. The port authority officers didn’t release Grant and I until they made sure he wasn’t holding me against my will—which in reality, hewas.

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