Page 43 of Room Twenty-Three: Tangled & Teased

“I can look after myself if someone comes into the room.”

Jove removes his gun from his holster and turns it around, handing me the grip. “Place this under your pillow and make sure it is closest to your shooting hand.”

“I will, and I promise I’ll be fine. I’ll lock myself in the room.”

Atty surprises me by hauling me in the air and kissing my lips. “Be careful. We’ll be back soon. Use the camera at the side of the door and don’t let anyone else in but us.”

“I promise.”

“Good girl.” He presses another kiss to my mouth and my heart beats wildly as I wonder if tonight has changed things between us. All of us.

They each seem different around me—I think.

Silence beckons. I know they’re still concerned about leaving their client, but I want them to know I won’t get in their way. “Just leave me. Please do your job.”

Beau takes my wrist and rubs his thumb over the red mark left by the ropes. “We shouldn’t leave you alone.”

Jove holds out a white robe for me to wear. I place my arms into the sleeves and observe him as he ties the belt at my waist. “Are you sure? We really should stay with you,” he says.

“Go!” I smile, striding to the door and pulling the handle. “I’m on the top floor of Club Sin, and nobody will get into the room.”

When they finally leave me, I close the door and turn the lock as I promised. I grab my cell and sit on the bed before flicking through my messages.

There’s one from Lia, telling me she might be about to win our bet, and that she’ll call me when she gets to Mexico.

I chuckle to myself. There’s no way Lia can do anything more outrageous than I have tonight.

I scan the next message and smile.

Mom: Love you. Miss you. Hope you’re okay. X

Yeah! Tonight was fun. However, being on the run from men who my father works for isn’t a bundle of laughs.

Then I open the next message.

Dad: Everything is back to normal, Erin. The threat has gone. I’ll call the team and give them an update, but you can come home. Your Mom and I miss you.

Dad: And I’m sorry.

Tears coat my eyes because my father never apologizes for anything. I hit the next message.

Dad: I’ll pay for you to dance again.

Those tears flow down my face, knowing I’m safe.

Does this mean I am no longer Atty, Beau and Jove’s client?

Does this change things?

I stretch my arms in the air before lowering my wrist and looking at my watch. I’ve only been asleep for fifteen minutes, and after how tired I still feel, I’m surprised I’m already awake.

Then I realize it’s because a noise woke me up.

In the distance, a soft, female voice mutters words I can’t hear. A door closes and footsteps pad across a wooden floor. I press my hands on the bed, sit up, and wait.

“Nobody will hear you, and nobody will see us leaving because we hid the car behind the tree line at the rear of the building.”

After I push my legs off the bed, I wrap the sheet around my body and stride to the door. I cup my ear before pressing it against the panel and listening again.

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