Page 16 of Trapped In Wonderland

The nameless man takes the camera from Raul and swears. “These people will pay.”

Oracle spreads her arms regally, the hostess again. “I thank you both for your help in the matter. My apologies that you were forced to play a game neither of you signed up for. I hope you understand we don’t condone that type of behavior.”

I appreciate Oracle’s sentiment, though the fault isn’t hers to have to apologize for. Plus, the experience gave me quite an unexpected thrill.

“Toro and I agreed it was the best course of action,” I assure her.

The other woman nods with a small smile. “Please, you’ll have to excuse us. We have urgent matters to take care of.”

The menacing way she utters the last three words raises goosebumps on my arms, sending a clear message she and her men are about to hunt Fox. Oracle and her family aren’t the type of people anyone should mess with.

The goosebumps also make me realize I’m basically standing here in lingerie. Before I can reach for my coat, Raul drapes itover my shoulders. He’s already fully dressed again, though the bulge in his pants is still quite prominent. If he’s in pain from having no release, he doesn’t show it.

Deciding not to address that, I stick to what we’re there for in the first place.

“Knowing this family, things will go down sooner than later. You and Princessa should go home and be nowhere near this. I’ll have the plane waiting at the airport as soon as we get there,” I tell him.

“Agreed,” he replies simply.

We move urgently after that. Núria protests that her night is cut short and has to leave Knight without an explanation, but once in the car, we tell her what really happened. Shocked and visibly shaken at the news that she was almost exposed, Núria can’t wait to get into the private plane I arranged for them.

With a small window for a discreet departure, I rush both Raul and Núria to board the plane as soon as we arrive at the hangar.

“Kate,gracias,” Núria tells me as she hugs me. “You gave me a night I’ll always remember. Thank you for not judging me.”

I smile. “Despite what happened, I’m glad you got what you needed.”

“Next time—”

“We barely survived this one, Núria,” Raul groans and urges her up the stairs into the plane, leaving him alone with me. He takes in my unmasked face finally. “Ah…thank you for—”

I can’t stand goodbye, so I cut him off. “Of course. It’s the job. I’m glad it worked out.” I hold out my hand to him to shake.

He looks at it, but then gives me a half-smile as he takes it with both of his and lifts the back of my hand to his lips.

“Hasta la próxima, AmanteKat.”

Until next time, Toro.

10

Kate

Two weeks later

Well, that was refreshing.

I walk out of the cool ocean and grab my wrap sitting on the white sand. Tying the cloth over my black bikini bottom low on my hips, I start for my little cottage barely a yard away at the edge of the beach shaded by coconut trees. I step into my outdoor shower and rinse the sand off before drying myself and walking into the tiny sitting room, kitchen, and eating nook. It’s small, but perfect for my kind of vacay.

After the Club Wonderland job, I almost immediately joined my boss on another job in Washington state. This corporate client wasn’t as fun, just more tedious. Nope, extremely tedious. After a week of that, I’m in desperate need of some R&R. It’sbeen a long stint of work, business travel, and lots of hours on the computer.

Though my job is great, I need to cut myself off from time to time. That’s why this place is perfect. It’s warm, beautiful, quiet, and most importantly, off the grid. And only a couple of people know I’m here. With enough supplies to last me the week, I won’t need to get into town to restock and see another living soul, not even the neighbor in the next cove.

I pad into the one and only bedroom to change into something dry, thinking of making myself a tropical drink after and enjoy the sunset before dinner. When I pull out a drawer to rummage for a breezy cotton dress, my fingers catch on something cold—my cat mask from the club job. I must’ve forgotten to unpack it when I was home.

With a grin, I put on the mask and stare at my reflection in the mirror. Memories of Raul naked from that night crowd my head and my kitty reflexively clenches in reaction.

God, that was some night.

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