“Aaah!”
Felicity’s shrieks echoed down the hillside as she tumbled, landing face–first in the dust and gritty sand.
She crashed into a thicket at the bottom, only to find herself dangling midair, wrists. bound and tethered by a rope.
Leo’s men made sure the rope was secure, leaving Felicity helpless, her hands tied, no chance of climbing back up.
They handed two safety harnesses–one large, one small–to Harrison and Dames, motioning for them to put them on themselves.
“Mr. Vaughn says that only when the perpetrator experiences exactly what the victim went through can they truly understand what’s right and what’s wrong,” one of the men announced. “And, Mr. Vaughn, since you failed to teach your child how to behave, he’ll give you both a proper lesson.”
Harrison’s expression was stone cold. He grabbed Dames by the collar and dragged him down the slope.
“Daddy! I’m scared!”
Dames clung to his father, wailing.
“Be brave! Enough with the tears–that’s not how a man behaves!” Harrison barked, his voice sharp with impatience.
*
On the way back to camp, Selene noticed Luke Holloway’s gaze hadn’t left her face for a second.
She reached up, touching her cheek. “Is there something on my face?”
After all, she’d taken a fall down that hill; there had to be dirt or something smeared on her skin.
Luke finally looked away, his voice low. “What do you think of Leo?”
Selene replied, “He’s always been so good to me. He’s like an old oak tree–steady and strong. The kind you look up to, the kind that shields you from the storm.”
“He only shields you from the storm,” Luke murmured, his words barely audible.
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A gust of wind swept through the trees, making the leaves whisper and scattering his voice.
“What was that?” Selene asked, not catching what he’d said.
At that moment, a plainclothes security agent approached, bowing his head respectfully.
“Miss Thompson, as thanks for protecting the young master, sir would like to invite you to dinner. Do you have time this evening?”
Luke’s brow creased. He knew an invitation from Leo was less a request than a
summons.
Selene considered it. “After dinner, may I use the study to look over some documents?”
Leo’s study held files she could never find online or in any university archive–sensitive rècords kept strictly off the books.
Leo had already instructed his people to agree to any terms Selene requested.
“Of course,” the man replied smoothly. “Sir would be honored to have you use his study.”
*
Meanwhile, at the Shaw residence, Adrian Shaw received a phone call.
As he listened to the report detailing, what had happened to Selene and Altair that day, he absently tapped the walnut desk with his free hand, fingertips drumming a slow rhythm.
“I see,” Adrian said, his narrow, deep–set eyes glinting with a sudden chill.
“Toss in a few snakes and rodents,” he instructed lazily, his tone almost bored.
He hung up, but the phone rang again almost immediately.
He glanced at the screen, uninterested–until he saw Selene’s name. Instantly, his eyes lit up.
Snatching up the phone, he dashed into the bathroom.
In a flash, his pants landed on the floor.
He turned on the shower before answering, water streaming down and echoing in the background.
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“Hello?” His deep voice came through the line, underscored by the gentle hiss of falling water.
Selene was sitting in the back of Luke Holloway’s car. Behind her, Daph and Altair were fast asleep, their heads together after a full day’s adventure.
She lowered her voice. “Sorry to bother you, Mr. Shaw. Are you busy?”
She was always so distant with him.
Adrian’s reply, laced with the sound of rushing water, tingled in her ear.
“Not at all. I’m just taking a shower.”
Selene went silent.
At his words, her mind instantly conjured images of Adrian in the shower–she couldn’t help herself. The atmosphere he created over the phone made it all too easy to imagine.
Especially since she’d seen him drenched in the rain before: that white dress shirt, soaked through and nearly transparent, clinging to his pale skin in the most enticing way.
And now, he must be naked, showering. She’d seen his upper body too…
Stop it! She pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling the heat rise to her ears.
She blurted, “I’ll let you finish, then.”
But Adrian only said, “I can talk and shower at the same time. Don’t worry about it.”
C
