Page 51 of Stolen Temptation

Free-climbing demands all my attention.

One quick glimpse at the ground could give me a vertigo spell. Then, my daring escape would turn into my daringdeathin about three seconds flat.

My heart pounds with a force that reverberates through my torso. It’s a fight to stay focused on the bigger picture.

Getting down is only step one. Arguably, theeasiestpartof the escape plan.

What I need to concentrate on is what to do once my feet hit the grass.

From the window in my room, now half a story above me, I was able to survey the grounds from up high. Giant hedges anda retainer wall surround the sprawling property, sealing off the entire place from the public.

There must be a limited number of authorized entrances, all of which will be heavily guarded and surveilled, if this place is anything like the De Luca estate.

Even though it’s an absolutely insane idea, I really think my best chance of breaking free is scaling the hedge wall, then climbing over the retainer wall behind it and maneuvering down the other side. There, I’m praying I’ll find myself back in normal society.

Any get-away plan beats sitting up there like a model prisoner, just waiting for Rory, Finn, and whoever else to decide my fate.

The sheer arrogance. Even Enzo knew to put me five stories up on the estate. I may look small and dainty, but I’ve got the athleticism of any marathon runnerandthe eye of an artist.

I catch the fine little details most people miss.

And if the Kings didn’t want me to flee, they should have handcuffed me to that bed.

Sometimes, people underestimating me works in my favor.

Rory’s hazel eyes blaze in the darkness of my mind.

After spending all morning and afternoon talking to him, I almost felt weird leaving my bedroom prison without telling him goodbye.

Which is absurd.

Now is the best time for me to leave. Because Rory thinks he’s gotten to the bottom of things. He thinks he’s read the story all the way to the end, that I’m just some art mule the De Luca family has exploited.

He has no idea that I’m actuallypart of it.I watched the misunderstanding take shape in his mind, and I didn’t do anything to try and rectify it.

God forbidRory ever figure out who I really am. That’s the kind of information that would get me locked up in the actual dungeon.

Or wherever the hell the Gallaghers keep their enemies in this massive place.

Almost there.

Climbing down a shadowy side of the building, my brain goes into painter mode. Comparing the outside of the mansion to what I observed earlier is going to help me figure out where I am and where the best place to stage the rest of my exit will be.

I just hope I don’t run into any armed guards, electric fences…or dogs.

Lush, decorative trees rise around me.

I’m here. I’ve reached the earth.

With a huff, I release my grip on the wall and drop safely to the ground.

My fingers cramp from the strain, and my muscles ache, but I managed. I climbed to the bottom using nothing but pure adrenaline and prayers.

With my hands resting on my hips, I pause to gather my bearings.

Time to get the hell out of here, once and for all.

“Out for a little exercise, are you?” a low, familiar voice asks.