Page 121 of Twisted Redemption

“But?” I swallow, trying not to let my panic show through. Can he feel my heart beating wildly in my chest?

“If you make me regret bringing you here,” he says lowly, “there’s nothing you’ll be able to do. I’ll find you, and I’ll make you pay. Not even Blaze will be able to save you.”

I suppress a shudder. “We’re in this together, David. You can trust me.”

He releases me, and I stumble back. “Go. I’ll be waiting when the ceremony is done.”

“Thank you.”

With that, I slip through the gardens toward the back of the building. I hear the voices of my friends before I can see them.

But they don’t sound happy. They sound stressed.

“I don’t know what to do,” Imani says. “What if she’s in trouble?”

I step into the suite, finally letting myself relax after I shut the door firmly behind me.

The thump of it closing causes everyone in the room to turn to me. It’s just Liling, Imani, and a woman I’m assuming is Imani’s mother.

“Brooke!” Imani shoves away her mom, who was hovering over her and fixing her already-perfect makeup.

I stop and stare. Imani is beautiful. Truly beautiful, inside and out. But the way she looks right now? Breathtaking. Her braids are pulled up in a classy twist, silver earrings dangling down to frame her face. The deep V of her white, lacy wedding dress complements her dark skin and accentuates every good part of her body. Not that she has any bad ones.

“Imani, you look... stunning.”

For a second, she just stares at me, jaw dropped. “Where the hell have you been? It’s my fucking wedding day, and I was just about to cancel everything because I was afraid you’d been kidnapped! Or worse.”

I blink. Of course.

Had Blaze tried to find me at the hotel? He must’ve. And when he found out I hadn’t checked in, he must’ve assumed I was crashing with one of my friends. And when I wasn’t there, they must’ve all assumed he worst.

“Stop frowning,” Imani’s mother says, smoothing over her dress. “You’re going to put creases in your makeup.”

I turn to her. “Could you give me a few minutes alone with my friends?”

“You ladies have five minutes.” And then she’s gone.

For a moment, I take in my surroundings, grateful to be somewhere other than David’s cabin in the middle of nowhere.

Gorgeous, tall windows overlook the outdoor gardens, framed by white curtains. A small chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

But I don’t have time to absorb much else, because my two best friends look like they’re ready to murder me.

“What the hell is going on?” Imani says.

“Nothing was supposed to happen like this,” I mutter. “I’m sorry.”

They must see the exhaustion on my face. Or maybe the fear. Their expressions soften.

“What did happen?” Imani steps forward, taking my hands in hers. “Oh my god, Brooke, your wrists.” She touches them gently, making me wince.

“Grayson Security is here, right?” I whisper.

She nods. Liling steps forward.

“Blaze told us that you ran off, and that you never made it to the hotel you booked. He thought you might be crashing with one of us.”

I shake my head. “No. I had every intention of making it to the hotel. But I had to talk to David first.”

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