Page 31 of The Tower

“It’s me.”

At first, she doesn’t do anything but breathe, but I can practically feel the relief melting off her. “Where are you?” she finally demands, her voice so low I can barely hear her. How are you?”

“I’m okay,” I say. “I’m still with the devil.”

“I know. Your father tracked your phone. I overheard him talking to Desmond. He said you’re at Grimm Tower.”

“Yeah. I don’t think Liam lives here permanently, but apparently, all the brothers have apartments on site.”

“I’ve never heard his voice like that. He’s beyond furious.”

I hug myself. Of course, he is. “Do you know what he’s planning?”

“Not specifically,” she says. “But⁠—”

“Yeah. I know. He’s going to send some of his goons to get me.”

Reed Cosmetics is only one tiny piece of Reed Industries. And those much larger pieces demand a highly trained security team. The kind that recruits from covert government agencies and could extricate a damsel in distress before breakfast.

Fortunately, Grimm International has a similar status … and a similar security team. My father can’t send goons into Grimm Tower without risking a full-on war, and my father’s not a man who takes risks without first considering every other option.

That buys some time, but not much. Because my father wants me back, and Elias Grimm won’t stick his neck out for his estranged third son.

So sooner or later, those two will strike a deal, and Father’s men will converge on this place. I don’t want to be here when they do.

“I don’t know where I’m going to go,” I tell Ruby, “but I have to get out of here. And I have to ditch the phone. Keep the number I called from. I’ll try to log in when I can.”

“I will. And Sasha—never mind.” I hear the mix of hesitation and fear in her voice. It’s easy to notice since it sounds like mine.

“What?”

“What if we’re wrong? What if Liam isn’t helping you? What if he brought you back to win points with his dad? Toss Victor Reed’s daughter at Elias’s feet. That would be one hell of a peace offering if Elias Grimm wants a detente with your father.”

A wave of fear crashes over me, and I draw in a sharp breath even as I shake my head and say, “No. No, that’s not what he’s doing.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes,” I say, though I’m not sure at all. But I really, really don’t want to believe it. Weirdly, I’ve started to trust Liam Grimm. At least a little.

But maybe that’s just Stockholm Syndrome. Now that she’s mentioned it, turning me over like a trophy sounds like a very Grimm family type of plan.

And that’s not good.

“Sasha …”

“I’m sure,” I snap, then immediately cringe. “Sorry. I’m just tired and stressed. And it’s not like I can do anything right now.”

“Sleep,” she says. “You need to be able to think straight tomorrow. And call when you can. If I learn anything, I’ll text you at this number and leave a message in Elysium, too.”

“Love you,” I say.

“Love you back,” she whispers, her voice cracking with what I know are nerves. “It’s going to be okay,” she says. “You’re going to get free.”

“I know I am,” I say, but for the first time since this adventure began, I’m starting to doubt that I’ll be able to make that fantasy come true. I’m just one princess in a tower, the monsters are readying to cross the moat, and there’s no dragon prince to burn them to cinders and whisk me away.

I’m not in Elysium.

I’m not in a fairy tale.