Page 52 of Perfect Match
“What do you want, Tori?” he asks in a low, soft voice that I have to lean closer to hear.
You,I scream in my head, but that’s where I leave it. It’s difficult to think straight when he’s standing only a few feet away.
“The way I treated you was unforgivable, and I’m sorry.”
My resolve is weakening, and I’m sure he senses that too, but I’m not ready to forgive him just yet. I straighten and look him in the eye. “You asked me what I want … Well … it’s time. I need more time to process everything that happened. For three months, I thought you had deceived me, and it’s only been twenty-four hours since I discovered it was a fake engagement.”
He nods, his eyes searching mine for more hints of softening, but I force steel into my heart and spine. I want to trust him, but I don’t know that I can.
“Okay, that’s fair. I’ll wait for you. I’m back in the city for good this time, so when you’re ready, just call me.”
“Does this mean I’m going to keep running into you?”
“I’ll give you the space and time you want.”
“Thank you.” I turn to roll up my yoga mat, and by the time I’m done, he’s gone.
***
Tonight, I’m going to call Gio. It’s been three days since he visited me, and true to his word, he hasn’t contacted me or come anywhere near the gym since. However, I do know that he’s been at the club to see Ryan each night, and the two of them have remained holed up in his office for a couple of hours before he leaves again.
As I go through the nightly routine of checking that the gym equipment has all been put away in each of the areas, I run through the words I’ve practiced in my head. A couple of sleepless nights and numerous chats with Charli and Sadie have made me rethink Gio’s actions. And the conclusion is that I want to be with him. He’s worth a second chance here in New York, away from the family pressures that he’s had to endure these last months. I think we can work, but still, I’m going to be clear with him that I want to take things slow.
The cleaners shout out goodbye and bundle their gear out the door. Finally, I can turn off the lights and head home. I flick the switch as a yawn stretches my mouth wide, and the accompanyingahhhechoes around the silent darkness. I love this time of day after the constant whir of cycle machines and the clanging of dumbbells being hit against metal. It’s peaceful.
Today has been long and exhausting but in a good way. Now if I could get a decent night’s sleep, life would be perfect. And that’s my plan after I call Gio.
My trainers scuff against the dusty sidewalk, each footstep heavier than the last, but thankfully, I’m nearly home. I probably should have taken an Uber tonight rather than the subway, even though it’s only a few stops.
The sound of a car door slamming echoes through the building canyon. But it barely registers. All I can think about is how good my bed will feel when I finally make it home and sink under the covers. I pick up my pace, then swipe my thumb over the screen to call Charli as I promised I would. She couldn’t talk earlier, and I need a little confidence boost before I call Gio. I tuck the phone into the waistband of my leggings and pop the AirPods in my ears.
The call connects, and Charli’s “Hi, sis” is still ringing in my ears when a strong, muscular arm wraps around my body, squeezing the breath from my lungs and pinning both my arms to my sides, effectively rendering me unable to fight. A frisson of panic chills my bones, and a high-pitched screech squeezes from my mouth. Nowhere near loud enough to be heard.
A sharp sting in my upper arm ratchets up the pounding in my ears.What the fuck was that?
My training has taught me not to fight the chain-like restraint, and instead, I drop my body weight to loosen the bear hug hold. Dizziness makes my movements heavy, but I manage to free my elbow and strike the attacker in the gut.
“Oomph” is the only sound to indicate it connected. My head is woozy, and the lack of strength in my limbs is making them as useful as wet noodles.
The fucker has drugged me. And for the first time, real fear grips me. I continue to pummel my elbow into his hard body, but the repetitive blows are having no impact as I begin to fade in and out of consciousness.
My last sensation is the sidewalk rushing up to meet me. Then blackness.
Chapter twenty-three
Gio
Charli bursts into Ryan’s office, the door screaming on its hinges and hitting with a bang against the wall. We both jump to our feet, spinning in her direction.
Her face is as pale as the cream wall behind her, and her hands twist together like she’s trying to wring the blood from them. “Something has happened to Tori,” Charli stutters out breathlessly.
“What do you mean?” I shout, striding toward her. But I don’t make it two steps before Ryan is at her side and pulling her into the cradle of his arm, forming an impenetrable human shield around his girlfriend. I glare at him.
“Settle down,” Ryan warns me with his free hand raised, and I stop. He turns Charli within the circle of his arms as he continues calmly, “Sweetheart, take a breath, then tell me what’s happened.”
She stares up at him with wide brown eyes as she slows her breathing and gathers control.
“Tori called me, but instead of her voice, I heard her muffled cry.” She holds her cell out in a shaky hand, and we both look down at the screen. “Then there was a moan and some shuffling. And now there’s nothing.” She hiccups out a sob as her hand grips the sleeve of Ryan’s shirt. “I know she’s in danger. I can feel it.”
