Page 128 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“Yes, my security is driving you to the airport in the Suburban. I’ll handle your car so it looks like you left.”

I have so many questions she won’t answer, so I don’t even bother. Fishing my keys out of my backpack, I hand them over.If anything happens to it, considering Liam’s the one who bought it for me, I’ll be so pissed.

“Anything else?”

Victoria grins, and I can tell she’s used to getting what she wants. She’s probably never heard the wordnoin her entire life. She’s a mobster princess and spoiled brat. She’d put Veruca Salt to shame.

As the memory of watchingWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryas a kid emerges, I grab my bags and quietly followVictoria out of the house. I refuse to show any emotion around her, so I straighten my spine and follow orders.

Two men are standing next to the black Suburban parked out front.

“She’s ready,” Victoria tells them.

One of them opens the back door while the other loads my things. Before I hop in, Victoria grabs my elbow, digging her fingers into my skin.

“Remember what andwho’son the line here. Play by my rules and nothing bad happens. I’ll be in contact with you soon.” Then she releases me and walks back to house—one I’m not sure I’ll ever return to.

After I’m forced to wear a blindfold the entire flight, we finally land. I lost track of time, but a couple of hours had to have passed, though I can’t be sure. The guards talked softly,and I could hear them moving around, but other than that, I sat and waited.

Waited for what?Who the hell knows?

“Can you stand?” one of them asks after unbuckling me. I push myself up and he grabs my elbow. “This way.”

“This would be a lot easier if I could see,” I tell him.

“Not yet.”

I can sense the other guy behind me, his steps tailing mine.

“There’s a railing on your other side you can grab while we go down the steps,” he directs, gripping me tightly. I don’t know if it’s because he thinks I’m gonna bail or if his orders are to keep me alive. Either way, I hold it tightly as I take each stair.

“Your ride is here,” he informs me.

“I’ll take it from here, Oliver,” another man says. This voice is much softer and kinder. Oliver releases me as the other one grabs my arm.

“I’ll let her know she’s arrived,” Oliver says, then he’s gone.

“Okay, this way.” The new guy leads, then a door opens. “It’s a big step in.”

I don’t know why, but he feels safe, which sounds fucking crazy. They all must be criminally insane if they work for the O’Learys.

Once I’m secured and buckled, my door shuts, then they get in the front.

“How many of you are here?” I ask softly as they drive off.

“Two, miss. I’m Ty and this is Eric.”

Well, he sure doesn’t sound like a murderer, but then again, they never do.

“Where’re you taking me?” I ask, hopeful someone’ll give me answers.

“To a cabin. You’ll be safe there,” Ty responds.

Safe? There’s nothing safe about this. Hell, this sounds like some twisted witness protection except the person I need protecting from is the one keeping me hostage.

The drive is long, when I doze off, the vehicle slows down, then stops. My heartbeat races as the fear of the unknown takes over. I tried to be strong earlier and not let my guard down, almost not believing this was really happening. Now that the shock is wearing off, my adrenaline’s taking over.

I can’t be here.