She stood abruptly, bumping the edge of the table, which bumped me slightly. It unsettled me, and my sunglasses fell off my face. I scrambled to pick them up. I slipped them back on, but not before Drake met my gaze and his eyes went wide. His nostrils flared. His lips parted, and I didn't wait for him to say anything.
I ran.
I bolted for the front door, but I knew he had men out there. And of course, I could see them as well as Massimo's men. So all I could do was pray for a back entrance. But he was too smart. There would be men back there too.
The loo? A higher floor? How was I going to get out of here?
I booked it into the ladies’ room. I reached for my purse and pulled out a hundred pounds, handing the money to the startled attendant. “I’ll give you a hundred pounds to keep that door closed."
She just nodded and then shifted her chair and adjusted it under the knob. "Okay."
I ran to the windows. "Will these open?"
“Yeah, the lock is tricky though. Are you trying to run away?"
"Bad date."
"Surely you can go out the front door."
I shook my head. “I can't."
Her brow furrowed. “Is someone hurting you? I can call security."
I shook my head. "No. I just need to get out. Please help me."
She nodded and stood on the counter, fiddling with the window lock. When it finally gave way, I shoved the window open. “Do you mind giving me a boost?"
I was tall, but I still needed several inches before I could get my fingers to find purchase enough to pull me up and over. It was then that I heard the banging on the door. It sounded like Graciella. "Saffron? Are you in there? The door is locked. Are you okay?"
Drake hadn't just seen me. His men were looking for me too. Fuck.
The attendant shrugged at me. “I won't let her in. But if she's determined enough, she could probably just have security shove the door open."
“It's okay. Just hoist me up."
She did so inelegantly, but I wrapped my purse over my shoulder and climbed. When I cleared the window in the soft grass outside, I breathed a sigh of relief and then did the only thing that I could do. I sent a distress call. I didn't do it lightly because it would mean every single one of us would have to leave quickly. Get to the safe house and then make it off the islands. We couldn't risk going to the palace and tying Sebastian and Penny to a covert op. We weren't supposed to be here, and that was the joy of the Rogues Division. We were invisible. The royals would help us get off the island, but we couldn't be found in the palace.
I sent a text to the encrypted number. Three words, the heir's ruby, and then I ran like the devil himself was chasing me.
* * *
Lachlan
Rage was an interesting emotion.It could flash hot and burn brightly, or it could simmer.But more than the rage I felt was a sense of sadness that I hadn't expected.
I had to find out what the fuck was going on. I liked her. Trusted her. She was more than just my training officer. I cared about that woman. And to realize that she'd done this to me, brought me here and then looked me in the face every single day and said nothing. She made me her partner. Made me care about her.?
Fucking hell.
My phone chimed, and I forced my brain into compliance. We had a mission to complete. I sure as shit I wouldn't be touching her again. It was like my dick was mocking me though.
Oh yeah, sure you won't.
I scowled. "We won't."
Uh-huh, whatever you say.
It was like my dick full-on understood the theory of hate fucking. It was her fault I was here.?