Page 135 of Into the Woods

I bit the insides of my cheeks until I tasted blood, watching in horror as the guard withdrew a syringe from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He headed behind the black curtain, and a moment later, Cami’s cries stopped.

My heart stopped beating. “Did he kill her?”

Eric laughed. “Heavens, no. She’s worth too much. He simply gave her a sedative that will keep her calm for the rest of the evening. We’re not savages, darling.” He tweaked my nose. “Now, let’s fix your hair.” He smoothed my hair back from my face, stroking the loose waves back into submission.

“Thank you,” I murmured like an obedient girl when he stopped and shot me a pointed look.

“You’re welcome,” he cooed, and then he pulled me through the crowd yet again, pausing to speak to a few people.

I stayed mute at his side, doing my part by politely smiling and nodding while inside I was shattering. I didn’t see a clock anywhere, and I had no way of knowing where Court was or when he’d be here.

All I could do was hold on to the bone-deep, gut-level certainty that he would be here. He was coming for me.

It was amazing how much a week could change a person's life.

This time a week ago, I was vowing to cut Court Woods out of my life forever. Now, he was the only person I wanted. The person I needed. The one who made me feel invincible and precious, valued and strong.

Where are you, Court?

Eric led me through the crowded room and back toward the stage until we were near the VIP section. It was then that I noticed the room had another door near the stage, probably opening to the other side of the lot where we’d parked.

A few men were seated in the section, all holding drinks and laughing. All but one turned as Eric and I approached, but when we came to a stop in front of them, I realized the man who hadn’t bothered glancing at us was none other than General Jasper Woods.

Court’s father.

The guy who’d used me like a chess piece, almost killing me in the process.

My breathing quickened as my pulse accelerated. I hadn’t anticipated coming face-to-face with Court’s dad. It had been years since I’d seen him. Maybe I’d get lucky and he wouldn’t remember me. Or, maybe he wouldn’t care at all about me being here, since he and my dad were still working together.

“General,” Eric greeted, his tone hinting at polite reverence as he inclined his head. “My name is—”

“Eric Lambert-Durand,” General Woods drawled, looking wholly unimpressed. “I hear you were quite instrumental in arranging all of… this.”

“Indeed,” Eric replied, not seeming put off by the other man’s tone.

The general scuffed his toe on the dirty cement floor. “Interesting accommodations.”

One of the men to his left snickered. “I’ve seen cleaner chicken coops.” He had a thick Southern accent and a red handlebar mustache that twitched as he spoke.

Eric’s cheeks flushed. “What it lacks in decorative charm, it makes up for in convenience and security.”

“We’ll see,” the general replied, sipping his drink and effectively dismissing Eric.

And then his gaze landed on me.

It took me aback, for a second, how much Court looked like his dad. They had the same bone structure and jaw and hair color, but the eyes was where they were different, and not just because the general had green eyes and Court had brown. The general’s lacked any sign of compassion, where Court was all heart.

I knew how they sparkled when he was amused. Went flat when he was pissed. And softened when he looked at me.

“Well, well,” General Woods murmured, slowly standing up. He was a few inches shorter than Court, but he was heavily muscled and took care of himself. “I can’t believe it. Little Rebecca Whittier.”

“Hello, General Woods,” I replied, my spine stiff. So much for him not remembering me.

The corner of his mouth tipped up. “What in the world are you doing here?”

Before I could speak, Eric cut me off. “She’s my fiancée.”

The general’s brows shot up to his hairline. “Fiancée?”

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