Page 128 of Into the Woods

I was almost to the bathroom door when it opened and my mom stepped out. She beamed when she saw me, until she took me in.

Concern lined her face. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?” She took me by the shoulders, looking into my eyes. Our irises were the same shade of hazel, but deep lines had appeared around hers during the past few months.

“I just… really need the bathroom,” I lied, knowing it sounded lame.

“Becca, honey.” She frowned at me. “If something’s wrong—”

“It isn’t,” I insisted. “Just got done dancing, and I’m a little flustered.”

“Does this mean I finally get to meet the infamous Eric?” she asked with a soft laugh. “I’d love for you to introduce us.”

“I will,” I told her. “I just need to fix my makeup and use the bathroom.”

“All right,” she replied with a sigh, letting me pass.

I ducked into the ornate bathroom, thankful it was a private one. Granted, it was the size of a small apartment, with a separate toilet and bidet, a massive mirror framed in gold, and a chaise lounge in addition to the pedestal sink.

My hands trembled as I locked the door and pulled out my phone, almost dropping it. It took three tries to hit Court’s contact. He answered before the second ring, probably wondering why I was calling him from my phone and not the emergency one. This stupid little clutch had room for only one phone, and I, shockingly, hadn’t expected to cut out of the party and go to the auction.

If Eric was watching my phone or checked it… Shit, I’d deal with that later.

“What’s wrong?” His warm voice almost sent me to my knees. The concern in his tone ramped up my own anxiety, and I yearned to be curled up in my bed wrapped in his arms.

“It’s tonight. The auction is happening tonight,” I gasped, gulping down air.

“What the fuck?” he swore, then covered the mouthpiece to shout something I couldn’t make out. “Baby, where are you?”

“At the Montpelier, but I have to leave for the auction with Eric in a few minutes.” I dropped onto the chaise lounge.

“The fuck you are,” he growled. “Are you alone?”

“I locked myself in the bathroom,” I admitted.

“Good. I’m coming for you. Stay put.” I could hear him moving now, his breaths coming in sharp pants as he hurried.

“Court, I can’t,” I whispered. “He’ll come for me. If I don’t go, it’ll mess everything up.”

“Becca, listen to me,” he snarled, “do not fucking leave the bathroom. If he comes after you, make a fucking scene, baby. Scream, fight, slap him. Whatever you do—do not go with him. We have no idea where the auction is—”

“It’s at a warehouse he owns near the pier. He’s planning on using his ships to transport people,” I shot back, tears clogging my throat as I realized how completely out of my depth I was. “Court, he said someone on Trick’s team is working with him.”

“Motherfucker,” Court ground out. “Becca—”

“Do you know where the warehouse is?”

“What?”

I shut my eyes. “Do you know where the warehouse is?”

He was silent for a beat before admitting, “Yeah. It’s one of the places we had flagged, actually. The location makes sense, but, baby, we’re easily twenty minutes away. Maybe more with traffic, and if Trick’s team is compromised… We can reach out to Paris PD.”

“Considering Eric’s people have Chief Justice DuChamps in their back pocket, I wouldn’t be surprised if the police are compromised, too.” Hopelessness settled around my heart like a lead blanket.

“Fuck.”

“I know,” I murmured. “If I don’t go, if I stay here, what happens?”

Court was silent.

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