Page 58 of Forbidden Boss

My stomach lurches again as I think of Lev in danger. What’s he done? Despite what Marcus said in that warehouse, I know Lev is tearing up all five boroughs to find me. It sounds like Marcus has set traps in all of them. It hits me that I don’t know if Lev is dead or alive, and I could die before I ever find out for sure.

He listens, and the car takes a long bend. The road turns bumpier, and I realize we must be in the middle of nowhere, on a dirt road.

“If he’s not still tearing up garages and bars all over the city, he’s gone right to your warehouse,” Marcus says. “Your men should easily be able to take him out.”

I don’t like the sound of this. Belatedly, I think about how I should have heeded his advice. If I weren’t so stubborn and had followed his precautions, I wouldn’t be in this mess. Marcus has Lev chasing his tail. He might have gotten him killed already. I have to take whatever chance I can get to escape.

He hangs up and exhales. The engine settles again. I open my eyes just a fraction, enough to see but not enough to alert them that I’m awake. Outside, all I can see are trees, trees, and more trees. I can’t even imagine where we are, and I doubt there’s any sign of civilization for miles. My hands are still tied behind my back, but I can find a way to take care of that. It’s the least of my worries. First things first, I have to find a way out of this car.

The dash clock says it’s after 8 p.m. The navigation on Cole’s phone gives little away, but I know we’re headed north. I close my eyes again.

“How is she?” Cole asks, his tone so casual it’s almost friendly.

“She’s still out,” Marcus says.

“I hope you didn’t kill her,” Cole says. “You hit her pretty hard.”

“The bitch would deserve it,” Marcus says. “She got me good with that damn chair. Don’t let her close enough to attack, she’s got claws.”

His words reinvigorate me. I do have claws. I’m scrappy. I can get out of this. I just need the right opportunity.

I roll my wrists a fraction, and the plastic bites. There’s no slack at all. He clearly learned his lesson from the last time. My ankles are free, though. That’s good. I can run if I need to. My seat belt is on, so I’ll have to figure that out. At least I have my shoes on. They aren’t the most practical for a getaway, but it’s better than running barefoot.

Marcus turns in his seat. I let my head roll toward the window. I open my eyes a slit and squint. I moan in pain, the dryness in my throat really helping to sell it.

Marcus smirks. “There she is. Here I was, worried you’d never wake up.”

“What a shame that would be,” I say, my voice hoarse. “Then you’d never get your money, and Lev would still kill you.”

“Lev will never find me.” He chuckles. “And he’ll never find you, so let go of any ideas that he’s going to ride in on a white horse and rescue you.”

“Can I have some water?”

He studies me and grabs a bottle from the door. He twists the cap and holds it to my mouth. I sip. I don’t choke. I swallow and nod once.

“Thank you,” I say, trying to sell my helplessness.

He frowns slightly and doesn’t respond. Instead, he faces forward again. The road narrows, the car slows, and I feel the rise of a bridge. There’s a pull-off just before it and I hear gravel and a second engine idling nearby.

Marcus’s phone buzzes. He answers quickly.

“Talk,” he says.

He pauses. His jaw tightens.

“Then move faster,” he says. “We’re ten out. That plate better be ready and the registration in the glove box. If I see a tail, I’m calling the whole thing off.”

He ends the call and smiles. His plan is coming together, apparently, but I’m still here to throw a wrench in it.

Cole eases off the road and parks nose-out near a dark SUV. No one is in it. The river is brown and slow on the right, the trees break the wind, and there’s no one to see a thing.

Marcus steps out first, scans the trees, and looks at the empty driver’s seat in the second car. He makes a short, impatient gesture.

“Bring her,” he tells Cole. Then to me, “And don’t think about trying to fight. Cole is an ex-SEAL. He’s much stronger than you are.”

Cole puts the car in park and gets out. He comes around to my door. I let my eyes go heavy again and slump.

“On your feet,” he says. He reaches in for my arm. His grip is firm, careful of my wrists.