Page 30 of Concealed Deception

“I’m getting changed.I’ll be out in a minute.”I play dumb, hoping my new plan works.

“How are you feeling?”Her voice is closer than before, and she sounds too cheerful for my liking.I don’t trust her at all.Not after she outright told me I’d be perfect for Xander and continues to play matchmaker.

This gives me the perfect window, so I play along.

“Much better after a decent sleep and some pain relief for my head,” I say as I walk out, holding an armload of garments.“I need your help with something.”I hate that I have to do this, however, it’s my only option of getting out of here.“Which one do you think Xander would like?I want to surprise him.”

Her face lights up.“He may not show it, Ava, but he’s fond of you.This will certainly make him happy.”

While she studies the armload of clothing, I look for the key to my door.Seeing it in the door gives me great pleasure and the best advantage.

I throw all of the dresses at Camille, covering her so she becomes tangled in them, then push her so she loses balance and falls over the corner of the bed.As she falls, she cries in surprise.“I’m so sorry,” I say as I run from the room, locking the door behind me.

I now hear her yelling from down the hallway.It makes me hurry in case someone comes out of nowhere to stop me.

As I run toward the living room, I notice there are new security guards in the suite, one’s I haven’t seen before.Quickly stopping myself by grabbing onto the kitchen island, I crouch down behind it, waiting for the men to make their way to the bedroom where Camille continues to scream.

Running as fast as I can, I get into the elevator, hoping I have enough time to make it down before they notice I’ve gone.

Stabbing profusely at the parking garage button, I become anxious as the door finally closes and I’m carried down.I’m hoping, once I get there, there are no men to stop me, and I’ve made the right choice.

I thought about going through the foyer, but that would have been obvious.They’ll be waiting and guarding the building's exit if there are more than the usual amount in the suite with me.I know Xander will have this place in lockdown if he’s not here.

I try to keep my head down as the door opens.From the corner of my eye, there’s a man standing off to the side, leaning against a car with his back to me, speaking on the phone, and I know he’s one of Xander’s.I was wrong in thinking he’d not have the parking garage secured.

I walk toward the exit, trying not to gain any attention.The moment he looks up when I pass, recognition covers his face and I run.As he yells my name, I pick up the pace and run as fast as I can toward the closed door.

I curse at the turn of events.

Suddenly, the door begins to open for an awaiting car.My newfound freedom awaits.

Not looking back, I duck under the door and keep running.Knowing that I have to get as far away from here as possible, I head toward the busy sidewalk.It’s dark out, but still busy enough for me to have a chance of losing this guy.

But I’m too late.

I slam against a hard chest, losing my footing and almost falling on my ass.Before I meet the pavement, I’m caught around both of my arms.I’m about to apologize to him when his hold tightens.

I try to fight off his grip but have no chance and am roughly thrown into an awaiting car.The door slams shut and I race to open it back up before we speed away.I have no such luck as the handle does nothing.Fuck.

Once I gain my bearings, I slowly turn to see who’s captured me, hoping this is another of Xander’s attempts.How’s that for ridiculous?I’ve become so accustomed to the man that keeps playing games with my life.

Once my eyes have scanned past the front seats, they lock with a familiar set of steely brown eyes.

An older man sits in the back seat with me.A man with features much older than the ones I’ve been consumed by, been warned of, and been too naïve to take any of it seriously.

I wish I’d asked more questions when I walked into his office yesterday morning.There were red flags everywhere and I ignored them all.Now, here I am, taken against my will again.

We continue down the streets of New York, driving away from the building that was more of a safehouse than it was a prison, leaving it behind.

I stare at the man who holds all the answers to my past and currently holds my future in his hands.

“Hello, Savannah.Glad you could finally join me.”

Eighteen

Xander

Being this far from home makes me uncomfortable.It makes me uneasy.“Can’t this car go any faster?What the fuck’s taking so long?”I’m focused on one thing, and that’s to make sure my little treasure is safe and secured.“Tony, tap into the cameras again.I need to know what’s going on.I should have heard from someone by now.”

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