Page 149 of Enthrall
“I’m fine.”
“You can’t go alone.” Cameron peered over at Dominic. “You’re me tonight.”
“Oh goody,” said Dominic.
“Get Scarlet over here,” said Cameron. “She’ll take your place, Richard. It’s the least she can do.” He rolled his eyes. “We’ll take the Benz.”
“What about the guests?” said Dominic.
“I’ll make an appearance later.” He took a step closer to Richard. “We’ll have Lotte come with us.”
Richard chewed his lip thoughtfully. “Good idea.”
Cameron glanced at his watch. “You sure you want to see your father today, Mia?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t Gabe Donnell have a house in Napa?” asked Cameron. “In fact I think it’s not far from Yountville.”
“One of many, yes,” answered Richard.
“Dom, tell Gabe we’re dropping in,” said Cameron. “Have a car ready for us when we arrive at his place.”
“Got it,” said Dominic. “Any preference?”
“Make it a convertible,” said Richard. “Mia loves convertibles.”
In a daze, I followed them inside.
Despite all the activity, I could do nothing but think of the words I’d say to my father. I hardly caught what Richard and Cameron were saying to me or each other. Something about the arrangements for here. Something about notifying somebody about something.
Waiting was killing me.
We made our way through the manor, passing room after room. Once outside, we walked past the swimming pool that had been lit from beneath with bright red lights the night of Chrysalis’s party.
Richard wrapped his arm around me and we followed Cameron and Lotte down the twisting pathway. Lotte was dressed in jeans and a sweater, a quick change from the black leather she’d been wearing twenty minutes ago.
A silver helicopter rested on a helipad.
“It’s an EC145 Mercedes-Benz,” said Richard. “Very safe.”
I looked around for the pilot. “We’re going in that?”
“Yep,” he said.
He assisted me into the backseat. Inside looked just as impressive with its stitched leather seating and wood trim. This day continued to spiral into the realms of revelations and unexpected risks, leaving me speechless.
Richard pulled a blue safety belt across me and strapped me in. “Comfy?”
I gave a nod, though still not sure about all this.
Richard trotted around to the front passenger side and climbed in beside Cameron. Lotte settled next to me. Her hand reached for mine and she gave it a squeeze. She handed me a set of headphones with a mouth piece and I placed them on. Richard and Cameron already wore their headgear. I could hear Cameron’s voice in my headset. He was conducting a set of checks and talking to someone in air traffic control. There were so many buttons and lights on the front panel I wondered how he’d remember them all. It all looked so complicated.
“What’s this one for again?” Cameron pointed to the panel.
“He is of course joking.” Richard’s voice echoed inside my headphones and he turned to glance back at me. He rolled his eyes.
I willed myself not to throw up over the leather seat.
