Chapter 17 #2
He’d told her that he was falling for her. She had to trust him, trust them.
Now, he just had to come back to her.
On that thought, she started pacing again. She went over to his fancy sound system and put on some music. Then she turned it off. She needed to do something. She stomped into the kitchen and cleaned the dishes in the sink.
Then her cell phone rang and she jolted. It was barely six o’clock. It couldn’t be over yet, could it?
Then she saw Harry’s name on her phone.
“Hey, Harry. I thought you didn’t get out of bed before seven.”
“Haven.”
His serious voice sent chills through her. “What’s wrong?”
“I was up early. A delivery was screwed up at the gallery yesterday, so I had to schlep out to Dogpatch at the crack of dawn to the delivery company’s warehouse to collect it.”
“Okay.”
Harry sucked in a breath. “I saw a truck. They were shifting something. I just got a glimpse. Doll face, I’m sure it was the Water Lilies . I recognized the frame. They loaded it into the truck.”
That couldn’t be right? The Water Lilies was in a truck leaving Volkov’s mansion on the other side of the city. She froze. Was this all a ruse? A decoy?
Her mind churned. Had Mr. Irvine lied to them? No . More likely, the guards who’d spoken like he wasn’t there were probably well aware of what they were doing.
“Harry, where are you?”
“Hiding in my car, spying out the window.”
“The truck’s still there?”
“Yes. For now. It looks like they’re getting ready to leave soon.”
“Okay, don’t take your eyes off it. I’m calling Rhys and the others.”
“Where’s your badass?”
“Busy, but I’ll get a message to him. Hold tight.”
She hung up and pressed the number that Rhys had left for Ace.
It rang and rang.
“Come on.”
God, had something gone wrong with the mission? There was a beep. There was no message but she knew it was recording.
“Uh, hi, it’s Haven. My friend Harry called.” She relayed the info that Harry had shared. “Since I can’t reach you, I’ll head there. I’ll trail the truck until Rhys and the others can get there. Bye.”
Haven raced to the bedroom, yanked off Rhys’ T-shirt and pulled on some leggings, T-shirt, and running shoes. She pulled her hair up in a ponytail. She kept her diamond on, tucking it under her shirt. Then she pulled on a light sports jacket.
She grabbed Rhys’ car keys and her phone, then headed out the door. She’d have to borrow Rhys’ GTS and hope he didn’t get mad.
In the elevator, she texted Harry that she couldn’t reach Rhys, but that she was on her way.
The elevator doors opened. The parking garage was empty and her shoes squeaked on the concrete. She bleeped the locks on Rhys’ Mercedes. God, it was sexy. Low-slung and fast-looking.
She heard a noise and turned.
The garage was empty. She scanned the area, her pulse racing. Ugh, parking garages were always creepy when you were alone.
As she crossed the space, she moved the keys into her left hand, poking each one through her fingers as a makeshift weapon. She still didn’t see anyone.
She picked up the pace, half running toward the car.
The dull thud of footsteps behind her. Before she could turn, beefy arms wrapped around her and lifted her off her feet. No! She swung her body around, and swiped out with her hand. The keys met flesh, and a masculine grunt filled her ears.
Her attacker dropped her, and she took in the big man with three fresh gouges down his cheek. “Ivan.”
“Mr. Volkov wants you.”
“Well, he can’t have me.” She scrambled back. “You can’t just decide you want a person and take them. I’m not a thing.”
She shook her head. Why did she attract crazy guys? Rhys excluded, of course.
Oh God . When Rhys learned she’d left the apartment and this had happened…
She’d have to soften him up and distract him.
“You’re coming with me,” Ivan rumbled. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Just leave. My boyfriend is going to be pissed.”
“Zane Roth?”
“Um, no. He’s actually not my boyfriend.”
Ivan looked confused, then his face hardened. He advanced on her.
Haven held up her hands. “Please—”
She darted left and ran between two cars.
She heard him chasing after her, and she circled a Chevy SUV and sprinted. She needed to get to the stairs.
Breaking out from behind a car, she pushed for speed, her chest heaving. Damn, she needed to go to the gym more.
Unfortunately, Ivan was faster than he looked. He tackled her, and they both smacked into the concrete. Ow . The wind was knocked out of Haven and her bones rattled.
Before she could catch her breath, Ivan rose and yanked her up.
Haven fought. She tried to scratch and kick, and she wriggled like crazy.
Nothing worked. The man was unmovable.
He maneuvered her toward a plain, silver sedan. He yanked open the back door and shoved her into the back seat. Despite her struggles, he managed to duct tape her wrists together, then her ankles.
Shit. Damn. Fuck.
Tears pricked her eyes but she fought them back. She couldn’t afford to lose it.
Ivan shoved her again, and she fell flat on the seat. She glared at him as he shut the door, then climbed into the driver’s seat. “My boyfriend is going to be pissed as hell. And I’m telling him that you’re an asshole.”
“He won’t find you. Mr. Volkov has plans for you.”
Those ominous words sent a wave of nausea through her. That didn’t sound good.
Rhys would find her…right? “We’ll see.” Haven dredged up all the bravado she could. “Rhys is going to—”
“Quiet. I don’t want to hear your jabbering.”
She flopped back against the seat. “I don’t like you, Ivan.”
That got her a grunt.
Then he turned, and leaned through the gap between the front seats. “We have a drive ahead of us, and Mr. Volkov wants you out for the ride.”
Ivan held a syringe in his hand.
“No!” she cried.
She tried to fight, but he was too strong. There was a brief, sharp prick in her neck.
As she blinked her eyes, Ivan pulled back into the driver’s seat. A second later, the car pulled out of the parking garage. Haven bit her lip as her vision blurred. Oh, shit.
Then, there was nothing but darkness.