I choose to thwart you. That’s what I choose. “Let’s get married.”
“I knew you wanted me back. We’ll be married right away. Your mother and mine will announce it to society. From here, we’ll leave for our second honeymoon.”
“Can I have a few minutes to freshen up?”
Darrel nods. “I placed a dress for you in our bedroom. Go change. You have a bit of blood on your face and it’s disgusting me.”
Not as much as you disgust me.
His goon leans over and takes the handcuffs off that stuck me to this chair.
Completely ignoring the almost sheer dress that’s hanging in the master bedroom, I head directly for the closet and the hidden door inside of it.
The one I never told Darrel about.
When the door slides shut and the locks snap into place, I breathe for the first time since I saw the garlic-breath goon hunched over me.
Calling Rothswyler first would make the most sense. My heart wants to call Havoc, but my brain knows there’s only one person to dial.
“Hello?” Winnie answers.
“Hey.”
“What happened? Cordelia called me yesterday. She sounded concerned. She said something about you giving up your job.”
“That’s not important now.” I turn on the security screens and watch Darrel in the living room. He has no clue what’s happening. “Darrel decided he didn’t want to be divorced anymore.”
“What?”
“He had me kidnapped.” And whatever happens next, I know my friends will come. “I’m at my ski cabin. You know, the one we visited when we were twelve.”
“I know exactly which one you’re talking about. I’ll call in the cavalry, and come get you. Are you in a safe spot now? Or should I call a rapid response team?”
That’s what I love about Winnie, nothing phases her. “I’m sitting in the safe room watching him. Waiting for him to realize he lost.”
“Send me a copy of that. I’ll make sure it goes viral.”
“Wait, what’s that?” At the edges of the woods, men dressed all in black step out. As if they timed it exactly, they walk behind the goons Darrel had on patrol. The goons drop to the ground in unison. “Wow.”
“What?” Winnie asks.
“Look.” I turn the screen around so that she can see as more men emerge from the bushes, making a perimeter of their own.
“Rothswyler found you first, it seems.” She sounds a little disappointed.
“Is there anything he doesn’t know?”
“Very true. I’m going to pop some popcorn. Do you have any snacks in there? You might as well enjoy the show.”
Oh, good idea. The only thing we stock in here is MREs. I’m not desperate enough for that…yet. “They’re breaching.”
“Coming,” Winnie shouts, steaming bag in hand. “Sexy. Do you think the one on the left is single?”
“Winnie, my rescue video isn’t a dating app.”
“You’re no fun. Is there any sound? I want to hear Darrel whine and cry when he’s captured.”
There is. Somewhere. Got it.
