57. She Escaped the Brother
She Escaped the Brother
Gwen
The elevator doors opened, and my shadow loomed once again. Romeo rose from the leather seat, arching his spine in an exaggerated stretch, his shirt riding up to flash a hint of his tattooed abs to the swarming lobby.
I waved the folder at him. “Better tuck that shirt in. Imagine if your employer saw you like that.”
Romeo smirked but hurried to neaten his clothes. “Take pity on me, Signora. I’ve been a good boy, and my employer grumbles like a polar bear with a prickle in his paw.”
I breezed past Romeo with my nose in the air. “I adore that you referred to Liam as a polar bear,” I called over my shoulder. “Not something cool, like a wolf or a panther. A polar bear. I’m telling him you said that.”
“He says you are sweet, but it is a lie!” Romeo shouted as I exited the lobby to the street.
Scanning the crowd, my eyes darted through gaps, assessing my next move.
If I started heading to the Pancake Palace, Romeo’s bodyguard intuition would tingle, and he’d be on the phone to Liam in a heartbeat.
There was no way I was letting my brother escape my wrath, but how on earth could I shake the Italian?
I weaved my way through the stream of people, but he was always close behind. The maze of the bookstore didn’t help me lose him. When I peeked over the shelves, he was on the other side.
Romeo smirked. “I would be happy to assist if you need tips about lovemaking, Signora.”
My face on fire, I spluttered, “I beg your pardon!”
He pointed to the sign above the shelf that said, “Sex and Sexuality.” I glared at him even though the mistake was mine. Man, of all the places to stop.
“I’m looking for, um… Marnie.” Nice save, Gwen. Not suspicious at all. “Yes. Marnie.”
“Sì?” Romeo’s eyes sparked with interest. “For her, I would be delighted to give more than just…a tip .”
“Gross.” My nose scrunched up. “Way too much information.”
Next, I tried losing Romeo in the waiting line snaking out of the coffee shop, but I only ended up walking out with an iced latte and my shadow still on my tail.
Foiled again.
I finally got my chance to make my escape when the bell announced the light rail approaching. I dawdled down the street. If I time this perfectly … I paused outside a store to look at the toys in the window, sliding a glance from the corner of my eye to see the train pull up at the station.
One… two…
I bolted, leaping the small step onto the platform, racing through the train doors, and heaving a sigh of relief when they closed.
I leaned over to peek out the window. Romeo sprinted after the train.
He almost crashed into a man pushing a wheelie walker, dodged to the side, stumbling, his limbs tangling with a woman overloaded with shopping bags.
Poor guy.
The last thing I saw was the concern etched on his face before the train disappeared around the bend.
Then, he was gone. My journey ended a few stops later at Bridge Street, and I hiked up the hill toward the harbor walk, my footsteps short and quick along the path.
Just before I disappeared into the underground walkway, I glanced over my shoulder.
A smile crept onto my face—still no Romeo.
Finally, it was time to—
My shoulder slammed against the wall, and the scream strangled out of my lungs ricocheted off the concrete until it was muffled by a hand clamped over my mouth.
I twisted, struggling to break free from the arm locked around my middle, only to be rammed against the wall again. White, hot pain ripped down my side.
My eyes were frantic, searching for an escape, my fingernails clawing desperately at everything—anything—but I froze when the familiar voice rasped beside my ear.
“Hey, beautiful,” Ian said. “I’ve got you all to myself.”
Don’t panic.
Ian kissed my neck. “I’m so glad you ditched your handsome friend. I was beginning to think you liked him better than me.”
Adrenaline roared through me, but the throbbing in my head faded to the background, as dull as the yellow-painted concrete under my cheek. All my focus was on escape. On Ian. The burn of his cologne in my nose. The thump of his heart against my back. The crush of his arms around my lungs.
“You and I were made for each other,” Ian whispered.
“Genius move, doll. How did you convince my old man to give you the money? Were you fucking him, too?” He bucked his hips into me, groaning.
“No, not you. My Gwenny hasn’t been spoiled.
Only Toby’s had his cock inside you. But we can fix that, can’t we? ”
I struggled to twist my mouth free from his hand. “Y-yes.” I gasped in a breath.
Unease sunk into my bones when he laughed.
“You’re one in a million.” His nose grazed my ear.
“Did you know my father left me and my mum fucking nothing when he died? Not one fucking dollar.” A wet kiss pressed against my neck.
“I want what I’m owed, Gwen. That’s all.
I’m not greedy. I want the life Toby stole from me.
I want my money. I want better for my mum.
But most of all, I want you. So, listen up, because I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. ”
“I’m listening.” A lie. There was nothing he could offer me, but I needed him to lower his defenses so I could unleash mine.
“Oh, Gwenny. You’re such a good girl.” The crushing weight around my middle loosened as Ian’s hand lowered to tug at the folder wedged under my body. “You have what I need right here, don’t you?” The paper scraped down the wall as he dragged it free.
A gap!
I rocked my hips ever so slightly, left then right. I had enough space to move. Silent, still, I drew in a slow breath, counting the seconds, waiting…waiting…
“Here’s what you’re going to do,” Ian said. “You’re going to sign over”—I jerked up my knee, gritting my teeth through the agony of my skin gouging down the rough wall as I stomped my heel on Ian’s foot as hard as I could— “Fuck!”
Fury roared out of him, but he was too slow.
I rammed my shoulder into his chest, and, struggling to wrench my arm free, I wheeled around.
The heel of my palm smashed into his nose with a sharp crack.
He reared back. His hand flew to his face, muffling the long list of curses spitting out of him but not hiding the trickle of blood dribbling over his lips.
I didn’t stick around to see the mess I’d made of his face. I knew better. I bolted. Liam had prepared me for that moment—rough nights growing up in a rough neighborhood—and it was my sheer determination for the end of my story not to be in a darkened underpass fueling every step.
“Gwen!”
Don’t look back. Just run.
Chest heaving, feet flying, my handbag smacking against my hip, I refused to slow down even when my legs started burning. Footsteps pounded closer and closer, but the end of the underpass rushed into view.
Just a bit further. You can do it. Just run.
Sunlight exploded on my face as I shot out the other side and launched up the stairs two at a time— shit!
I stumbled, my palms hitting the ground at the top, but I ignored the sting in my hands and scrambled back to my feet.
The street. People. I tossed looks left and right and bolted across the road.
“ Gwen!”
Frantic, my eyes bounced over the high-rises looming above me, zeroing in on the one directly ahead. Security manned the building. If Ian kept coming, the men with the close-cropped hair crowding the front desk would help… Wouldn’t they?
I elbowed through the crowd, through the glass doors, sneakers slipping across the marble floor as I sprinted for the sign for the women’s bathroom.
I wasn’t risking my fate on a bunch of men I didn’t know.
I flung open the door so fast it smacked against the wall, and after shoving my shoulder against it to slam it closed, I steadied my shaking hand just long enough to snap the lock.
I was already digging my phone out of my bag as I fell into a puddle in the corner.
My breath stuck in my throat as each bleep went unanswered… And…then…
“Hey, doll.”
“T-Toby…” Relieved, my head slumped against the wall, but my eyes never left the door. I waited for the hammer of angry fists and kicking feet against the weak wood. Ian could burst in at any second.
“Gwen?” Toby’s voice had gone from laughing to frantic in a heartbeat.
“P-please come—I’m—come get me.”
“Christ. Gwen. Where are you?”
“I don’t know. A…a building…somewhere…off…I don’t know.” I clenched my fist. I was stronger than this. “Barangaroo.”
“We’re going to figure this out.” There was a muffled bark of words as if he were yelling out to someone. Zach. “Don’t hang up. I’m coming. No matter what happens, you keep talking to me, okay?”
Talk? I could talk. Except…maybe I couldn’t. Salty tears rolled down my cheeks in fat blobs. Toby’s coming . “I ran,” I whispered between the hiccups. “I ran as fast as I could.”
“You did good. So good. I’m coming, Gwen. You keep talking.”
And I did.
I told Toby the whole story—from the start of my ridiculous plan until it all came undone.
I only stopped talking when the door rattled with frantic knocks seven excruciating minutes later.
Wobbly legs got me to the door. Trembling fingers unsnapped the lock.
Toby stood on the other side, his hair a wild mess and his chest heaving because he’d run all the way, but his big, strong arms were waiting to catch me when I collapsed against him.
Toby had failed me once when I needed him.
This time, he was there.