Page 161 of Pandora's Pleasure

When we stepped out into the hallway, I offered a polite smile to the bodyguard who’d remained outside all this time, remembering how kind Damien had been to the security detail on Sanibel Island.

We started down the hall and I had sudden misgivings. Turning, I tried to retrace my steps, wanting to go back to let Damien know where I’d be.

Carter grabbed my hand and dragged me along with him. I’d been too sleepy to think straight. I should have at least brought my phone.

When we reached the elevator I asked, “Is this about my future with Damien?”

Carter punched the button. “Maybe.”

“I should wait for him, then?”

“He’s got enough to think about right now. Dad is relying on him.”

I stepped into the elevator and turned to face him. “Of course.”

I hoped my dad was doing okay. No doubt he’d try to persuade me to leave with him. That wasn’t going to happen. No way was I leaving this hotel with my parents. It would hurt to tell them this, but I wanted to stay in America. I wanted to be able to at least see Damien, even if only occasionally. I couldn’t bear the thought of not having him in my life. All this didn’t mean I wouldn’t support my dad, but that news story might not happen now. Not if I had my way.

The elevator doors slid closed.

Carter stood with his hands in his pockets. He stared at the carpet, seemingly distracted.

An ice-cold chill slithered up my spine.

I had learned the hard way that he could be crueler than the devil. We’d never gotten on. He’d always seen me as a spoilt princess and I’d always seen him as the irreverent youngest son who was full of bravado, completely devoid of compassion. He’d never held back his feelings towards me or my family. Seeing his courteous behavior now set off my internal alarm bells.

The elevator landed on the basement level and the doors slid open.

Two familiar bodyguards stood there looking in at us.

One of them swooped into the elevator, lifted me up and threw me over his shoulder.

My scream echoed around us.

The burly stranger carried me out and down a hallway, the other guard walking beside us.

I struggled to get free. “Put me down.”

“You’ve been a bad girl, Pandora,” said Carter. “My dad wants a word.”

Upside down and feeling nauseous, I was hauled to the end of the corridor and then man-handled through the kitchen—they were sneaking me out.

Dread saturated my flesh and I was afraid I might faint. “Where’s my dad?”

Carter’s hand crashed down on my butt. “I have no fucking idea.”

I held my trembling hands in my lap, trying to remember that I wasn’t the victim here—I’d made a plan and seen it through and I was prepared to suffer the consequences. Though for some reason regret lingered like a terrible dream.

Because everything was going wrong.

I’d been hauled out of the Fairmont Hotel and into the back of a town car and driven all the way here to Senator Godman’s home. They had escorted me against my will into his office and I’d been shoved into the seat before his desk.

Then I’d been told to wait and they had left me alone.

My chest constricted at the thought that Damien would wake up and find me gone, knowing he would be hurt like hell. What would they tell him? How would he react?

I wanted more than anything to be back in bed beside him. 2:00 A.M. was too early in the morning to think straight.

An hour went by—I sat there fearing the moment when Senator Gregor Godman would walk in demanding answers. This man was set to rule the free world.