CHAPTER EIGHT
“ A re we ready?” I paced. “I mean, really ready?”
I glanced between Matt and Rocco.
“We are,” Rocco reassured.
“Let’s go over the plan one more time.” I smoothed my hand over my dark ponytail.
The wedding was upon us. There was no way I could marry Mason. We had to find Tate.
Matt and I peered over Rocco’s shoulder at the laptop screen. The boiler room was creepy and drafty, but the best place to discuss our plans.
“Matt, I will freeze the cameras. You have less than a minute to enter the basement.” He pointed at the screen. “Remember to follow the long hallway and make a right. Keep walking until you find the underground dungeon.”
Matt slipped his fingers through his blond locks. “I got this. And why again will my guns have blanks instead of bullets?”
“We’ll be in a foreign country. The last thing you want is to be tried for murder there. ”
His lips protruded. “Good point.”
“The earbuds are a must to communicate with each other.”
“Agreed.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Matt, I’ll cut the power the moment you and Tate exit the basement.”
“Yup, I got it handled.”
“Rocco, thank your father again for calling in that favor. Without the original plans of the hidden underground, we may have never found Tate.”
“Chelsea, I will thank him. All right, see you two next week.” Rocco smiled.
I hugged both of them. “Thank you, guys for being my knight and shining armor.”
“Doll, there’s no way we’d stand by and allow this shit show to continue.”
I smiled as I stepped back. “Let’s bury those bastards.”
∞
“How do you feel?” Worry laced his words to my surprise.
One eye popped open. “Just fine, Tate,” I whispered.
“Go to sleep like everyone else on the jet. The time change will suck later. I figured if I slept now, maybe I wouldn’t be so tired when we arrived. ”
I heard my dad whistle-snore three rows back like he did whenever he was exhausted. A single fluid low light bulb ran around the wall of the jet, providing minimal light while we slept.
I snuggled into the plush tan leather seat, pulling the blanket up to my neck.
“Are you ok?”
I hated to make eye contact. At that moment I saw the man I loved. Those blue eyes that stole my heart. Those curly dark locks I missed running my fingers through. And that broad chest that served as my haven.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll go to sleep.”
Did I sense Mason wasn’t thrilled to follow through with his grandfather’s deal? What did it matter? He’d clearly do anything he wanted. Didn’t matter if his true love sat in the audience watching him tie the knot with his obsession. Maybe the guilt of betraying his brother was weighing on his heart. If so good.
The twins darted down the hall. “Emma and Carson, hold on,” Nina yelled, scurrying behind them. Mason said he needed to find his grandfather. My heart lurched in my chest just thinking about that evil old man. What kind of person would harbor a child for years behind the parents’ backs? Brian and my dad said they were looking for the bar. The maid staff and seamstress whisked mom, Melissa, and me into an oversized bedroom on the second floor. I tried swallowing past the huge lump in my throat. All I wanted to do was ransack every room until I found Tate. Peeking out of the window at the lush green landscape, I clutched my arm. Get a grip, Chelsea. You have to hold it together. Don’t let them win. You will be reunited with Tate. I squeezed my eyes shut. You just have to believe .
His belongings have to be here somewhere. The moment I have time alone I’d uncover his clothes. To inhales his scent would bring me solace.
“Chelsea, Chelsea.” Mom gripped my arms, staring at me eyes wide. “What’s going on? Talk to me now.”
“I’m fine, Mom.” No smile followed to reassure her I was ok. Not sure how I’d sleep knowing Tate, and me were under the same roof.
“Chelsea, if you aren’t ready to get married say the word and I will call it off.”
Melissa stepped over, stroking my hair. “Tate, will understand, if you cannot follow through.”
The tears streamed down my face. “I need to sit down and catch my breath.” They helped me over to the bed. Mom and Melissa wrapped their arms around me.
“Melissa and I are here if you want to talk. ”
I shook my head. “There isn’t another man I ever envisioned myself marrying.” Until, Mason hijacked me, forcing me into an arranged marriage.
“Time to try on my wedding dress.”
They sat back and smiled.
“All right,” Mom stated.
A few minutes later, I stared at my reflection in the tall mirror. My fingers lingered over the embroidered white A train skirt.
“You look stunning, honey.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I admired the off the shoulder dress.
“I am famished. Is it lunchtime yet?”
Melissa glanced at her watch. “Chelsea, I will call the kitchen and have the chef whip up lunch for us.”
“Great.” I smiled.
“We should freshen up. We’ll meet you downstairs.”
The seamstress helped me climb out of the dress.
“Ok, Mom.”
The second I was alone, I ventured out on a private tour of the fortress.
Why would someone need so many bedrooms? I sauntered next door and peeked left to right, before entering. I turned the knob and scooted inside. My heart raced as I opened and closed every drawer. On my hands and knees, I glimpsed under the bed. I left nothing to chance. The walk-in closet was the last place I checked for anything Tate may have brought on the trip. I won’t give up . If I had to search the other wing, I’d wait until after the party. I sat on the bed closest to the door in the fifth bedroom. “Ugh,” I groaned.
Maybe his grandfather stored his luggage in the basement. I performed the same searches I did in the previous bedrooms. There were a couple of distinct differences between this room and the others. The masculine cherry wood wardrobe closet to my right was one. And the dark walls was the other. Was this Tate and Mason’s room? I hurled across the room, swinging the wardrobe doors open. I gaped and my chest heaved. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. A chill shot up my spine as I stared at the duffel. The same duffel I retrieved a shirt from at the lake house. Tremors over took my body. I slowly unzipped the bag. All of his personal items were inside. I grabbed a T-shirt out of the bag and buried my face in the soft cotton material. His scent embodied the T-shirt. Popping back to reality, I checked my surroundings. I couldn’t risk Mason finding me in the room he and his brother shared. Quickly, I zipped the bag and closed the doors. I slipped the T-shirt under my blouse and scurried out of the room. Before joining the family for lunch, I stored Tate’s T-shirt in my suitcase.
I tried pushing down the joy I felt, but no such luck.
Mason clutched my shoulder. “You’re chipper, babe.”
Fuck, I wanted to throat punch the asshole.
“I’m happy you cheered up. Melissa and I were ready to call off the wedding.”
I wish mom wouldn’t have mentioned my cold feet.
Mason gruffly rubbed his face. “What happened?”
My smile rose and fell. “Just a little teary eyed. We’re getting married tomorrow. Everything is ok now.”
Not one person at the table took their eyes off of me.
I caressed Mason’s face, staring into his blue eyes. “I am marrying the boy who stole my heart when we were kids.” Pain shot through my body probably because of the bald-faced lie.
He crushed my lips, I hated returning the kiss, but I had to play the game.
The second I returned to my room; I’d wash off my lips.
I scanned the blushed faces at the table. “I need a nap before tonight’s big party. Please excuse me?”
“I’ll walk you to your room.” Mason stood.
Luckily, I hid Tate’s shirt in my bag. I almost placed it under my pillow .
The second we were through the door; I curled my legs into my stomach on the bed. “Show’s over, you can go now.”
He locked the door and sat beside me.
“Fuck off.”
“How about you show me how well you can roll those hips while riding my cock,” he whispered in my ear.
“Get the fuck away from me.” I shoved my palms into his chest. Did he really think I was warming up to him? Hell no.
He snickered. “Tomorrow you’ll submit and perform your wifely duties.” He rose to his full height.
I hopped out of the bed. “Oh, yeah? You bring your dick anywhere near me and I will cut it clean off.”
His eyes darkened. “You will do as you are told. If you step out of line again, lover boy will pay the price. I’ll break his arm. Better yet, he can rot forever.”
I palmed my mouth. “You’ve had your fun. Got your revenge, now leave us alone.”
“I will be content after we are married. The look on his face when I tell him you are my wife—he’ll never be the same.”
“Get out.” I pointed at the door.
He pressed his hand against my mouth. “Keep your voice down. Rest those pretty blue eyes. I will see you downstairs in that pink dress I picked out for you.” He kissed my forehead, then walked out of the room.
I fell onto the bed, staring at the wall. Our plan had to work tonight. If Tate wasn’t in the basement, I was screwed.