Page 37 of Escape You

Manny’s face fell into a frown. “I did. It isn’t right.”

“What happened?”

“I unlocked the files. They’re in the mobile.”

“Yeah, I got it. I’ll take a look when I get back. You did great.” I patted his leg, and he jerked up into a sitting position. “Oh, you big baby.”

“It really hurts.” He cradled his leg.

“Okay. I’ll let Pam know you’ll need one of her special cocktails.” I waved goodbye and strode back out. I didn’t bother going through the back entrance.

Out in the parking lot, Vic waited by the SUV with the mobile clutched in his hand. Had he read the files Manny had unlocked for us? Judging by the look on his face, my guess would be yes. What was Rossi involved in that even Vic would be disgusted by it?

“Are we clear?”

“Yeah, they’re gone. Come on. I’ll fill you in on the way home.” He pointed his chin toward the back seat, pocketing the phone.

The rumble of a motorcycle made me turn around. Chase cut through the empty car spaces and headed straight for us on his Harley. He was out of his usual dark suit. Instead, he wore jeans, boots, and a leather jacket. The way he leaned on the handlebars showcased his wide chest and hard pecs. Chase on a bike was hotter than all hell. As if my life wasn’t complicated enough. I swung open the car door. Whatever he or Rossi wanted could wait.

“Mia,” Chase called out. There was a strain in the timbre of his voice, a mix of anger and something else. “Mia, wait.”

“I’m headed back to the penthouse. Though I’d like to remind you, I’m not your prisoner.” I shoved a strand of hair away from my face. Having him this close put me on edge.

He threw his leg back to dismount and then removed his helmet. If his tone with me was stern, his eyes were shooting daggers. I stepped back toward the car. To my surprise, Vic relaxed his hip on the side of the SUV. When did Chase become worthy of his trust?

“What the hell are you doing at the hospital?” His gaze surveyed every inch of my face and body before he gripped both my elbows.

“That’s none of your business.”

His steely blue gaze pierced through me, and for a moment, I felt like he knew all my secrets. “As per our agreement, everything you do is literally my business.”

I glanced over at Vic. He’d gone inside the car and sat waiting patiently for me. Had he resigned himself to going through with this wedding business deal? Of course he had. Even if Manny had found something in Rossi’s files we could use, the wedding was tomorrow. I pushed Chase away from me. Mostly, so I could think straight.

“I came to visit someone from my crew. He got hurt on our last run.” I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for him to apologize for the abrupt hello. I hadn’t seen him since last night, since our kiss in Rossi’s office. When my gaze fell to his lips, he let out a breath of surrender and cradled my neck.

“Jesus, Mia. I was worried sick. I thought you’d left me to…”

“Leave you? Let’s get something straight here. Our agreement, as you called it, isn’t about you and me. It’s just business. So no, I didn’t escape. My crew deserves better. Why are you here? How did you even find me?” Was Rossi tracking me somehow?

A deep crease spread across his forehead as he spread his arms wide. “Why am I here? I came for you. To make sure you hadn’t backed out on our deal.”

“Well, I haven’t. You can go now.”

He relaxed his stance and flashed me a warm smile. His woodsy scent assaulted all my senses at once. “Get in the car. I will follow behind.”

“We’re not married yet. You can’t order me around.”

He grabbed my wrists and placed them behind my back. His whole body wrapped around mine, as he breathed me in. For a split second, I thought he was going to kiss me. He didn’t. Instead, he let his mouth hover over mine. “You keep saying that. Are you saying you’ll do as I say when we’re married?” A wicked grin pulled at his lips. “I’m very much looking forward to that.”

“What?”

“The second part of our agreement. I’ve thought of nothing else this week.” His voice was smooth and full of promises.

I pulled my hands free and wedged them between us. He didn’t loosen his hold on me as he waited for his words to sink in. The second part of our agreement required a wedding night.

“Have you forgotten about that? Because I haven’t.” He sighed.

A small part of me wished things with Rossi wouldn’t get this far. But another bigger part had not stopped thinking about sex with Chase. Fleeting images of our night together flashed in my mind: his lips soft and demanding on my chest, his hands on my body so confident and all consuming. The blaring siren of an ambulance knocked me back to center, and I snapped out of whatever trance Chase had put me under. “There will be no baby.”

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