Misguided Vows: Chapter 37

I’m shouting at Albert through the door. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but my shoulders are aching.

It suddenly goes eerily quiet, and then I hear a click, and River and Alek waltz in. River’s eyes go wide as he looks at my sorry state, stretched out across the bed, and he throws his head back, laughing.

Alek, however, narrows his eyes. “Why the fuck did you put us down as an emergency contact with your driver? What are you, twelve?”

Albert stands behind them but averts his gaze.

I smirk. “You can’t mock me for it, considering it’s worked out in my favor right now.”

River wipes tears from his eyes. “I have to admit, I didn’t know she had it in her, but I’m impressed. Anya’s going to love this.” He begins laughing all over again, which seems to only infuriate Alek. He turns and heads for the door.

“Wait!” I call out. “At least cut the rope at my legs.”

“Where’s the key?” River asks, not at all fazed by everything that’s on display, because despite my situation, I’m hard by the little game my dangerous vixen has started.

“She took it with her,” I tell them. “But I know you’ve picked harder locks than this.”

River is still laughing as he walks around the bed and pulls out a thin pin. “Out of all the times I’ve had to save your sorry ass, this is my favorite.”

I smirk, equally impressed. “She fucked me up good, didn’t she?”

“You’re not supposed to be so impressed by it.” Alek scoffs, leaning against the doorframe.

“Don’t worry about him,” River says casually as he unlocks the cuffs. I finally feel blood flow to my shoulder again as it drops, and I shake it out. River goes around to the other side. “When he realized your driver was calling from the building Luca owns, he thought you got yourself in some trouble.”

“Aww, Alek, were you willing to fight the Italian mafia for me?” I croon.

“Doubt it.” Crue’s voice creeps in from the entrance as he walks in.

“I was about to suggest he gets better security,” Alek deadpans.

My other hand drops, and I rub at my wrists.

“I heard the screaming from upstairs,” Crue says. “And you woke my son up from a midday nap. Which means he’s going to be awake all night, kicking and screaming.”

My driver pales and steps away from Crue’s lethal edge.

“Sorry for ruining your chances of getting laid tonight, man. It won’t happen again.”

River laughs as he pulls out a knife and cuts the ropes from my ankles. I pick up the towel and cover myself—it fell off when I was struggling to get free. I suppose it’s the least I can do now that I have an audience.

“I’m sorry it took me so long, sir,” Albert says. “She had me drive her to the airport and told me you were sleeping. But when I couldn’t get a hold of you, I began to worry.”

“How long ago was that?” I ask, jumping out of bed and looking for my phone.

“Eight hours ago.”

I whip my head in his direction, smiling like a madman. If she went to the airport, that means she’s most likely not in New York anymore. And if I were Alina Harper, where would I go for a weekend getaway?

I smirk knowingly.

“Sounds like it’d be handy to have a private jet about now,” River jokes as the men begin to leave.

“Is that a camera?” Alek asks as he assesses the device stuck to the wall. I snatch it from the wall with a smile.

“You can leave now, boys. I have to hunt down a little rabbit who thought she caught me in her trap.”