“Prom.”
I gave a little laugh. “Are you being serious? No…it’s too late.”
“It’s not too late. It’s not even eight. We can make it.” He pulled me in close for a moment. “You are so brave, Emery. You did an amazing thing tonight. You deserve to be celebrated.” He took my hand and helped me off our rock, then stopped. “Wait, your dress.”
“It’s at my house.” I glanced down at the black cocktail dress I was wearing. “The theme is Black-and-White Ball. This isn’t a ballgown, but it works.”
“You bought that dress with your own money. You should be able to take what’s yours.”
“He won’t let me take it,” I said. “And going back…?”
“I’ll get it. You don’t have to step one foot in there.”
“But Xander, the Harringtons are there. And my dad will call the police, or I don’t know what.”
“I don’t care.”
“It would be the worst capper to this night if you got arrested fortrespassing. But I can go in,” I said, contemplating. “There’s something else I want to get. It’s important, actually. I’ll sneak in through the kitchen. Belinda will help.”
“No, Em, wait.” Xander was shaking his head. “I didn’t think this through. It’s a bad idea. You look beautiful just as you are. I can’t let you walk back into the lion’s den.”
“I want to do this,” I said. “Grayson can’t lock me in, and he won’t want to cause a scene in front of the Harringtons. It’ll be okay. More than okay. Because I know I can leave.” I smiled sadly. “The cell door was locked from the inside the whole time.” I kissed Xander’s dubious expression. “I want the dress, but there’s something I need more.”
Reluctantly, Xander drove me back to the house. I thought I’d be scared, but I wasn’t the same girl who’d walked out earlier that night. My father had been a monster in my mind but was only a small, petty man in reality. And I was only taking what was mine.
And one more thing. An artifact…
“Oh, Miss Emery!” Belinda whispered when we knocked at the side door. “I’m so happy to see you.” She glanced at Xander behind me, tears in her eyes. “Oh, sweet boy, you found her.”
I hugged her tight. “I’m just grabbing a few things. Where are they?”
“In the study,” she said, letting us in. “Mr. Wallace is entertaining the senator and his family.”
“Business as usual,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be right here,” Xander said.
The kitchen was on the opposite side of the foyer from the study, and the study door was closed. I could hear voices on the other side. The clink of cocktail glasses. I wondered what my father had told the Harringtons about my whereabouts but decided it didn’t matter. Nothing he thought would matter ever again.
What I did not count on was for Colin to be posted at the front door.
I’d started up the stairs when I heard his deep voice behind me. “Miss Emery.”
I froze and turned. I had never really considered Colin, who was Dad’s bodyguard as much as his driver, a threat until now. He was in his mid-forties and stood over six feet tall. His steel blue eyes bored into mine.
“I’m just grabbing something that belongs to me.”
“I’ll just have to check with your father.” Colin didn’t take his gaze off me. “Mr. Wallace,” he called in a deep, commanding tone.
My father emerged from the study. He saw me and quickly closed the door behind him. “Have you come to your senses, then?”
“I’m just getting something that belongs to me, and then you’ll never see me again.”
“That is not how this works. You’re either here or you’re not.” Dad gave a nod. “Colin.”
Colin strode toward me, and for a second, I was torn between running up the stairs or running back the way I’d come. My hesitation gave Colin an opening. He clamped a hand on my arm, his grip like a vise.
“Let go of me!” I shouted. “Let…go!”
