Page 41 of Reckless Dynasty (Knight's Ridge Empire 9)

My brows pinch as I find another, smaller box.

I want you to always be able to get to me.

“Oh shit. Toby, what have you done?”

My heart jumps into my throat when I pull that lid off and I find exactly what I was fearing I would.

A black key.

My hand trembles as I reach for it, plucking it from the velvet cushion it’s resting on.

Turning it over, a bubble of excitement falls from my lips as a smile curls up.

We’ve never talked about cars or what I’d buy if I had enough money or a reason to do so. But it seems we’re on the same wavelength, because although I’m sure this is way fancier than I’d ever have purchased myself, it’s exactly what I’d have picked.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I quickly tap out a message despite the fact that he’s now in class.

Jodie: YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE, TOBIAS DOUKAS!!!

Once again, his reply comes not a minute later.

Toby: You’re welcome. I’ve checked how far the seat slides back, and I can confirm there’s plenty of space for more than just driving. *winky emoji*

My cheeks burn at the image as my fingers curl around the key and I rush toward the door to find out exactly what’s waiting for me in the garage.

There’s a huge part of me that wants me to put the key back in the box and refuse the gift. I’ve done nothing to deserve having so much money spent on me. But then our time together flickers through my mind, the good and the bad, and I reason that he’s just doing anything in his power to continue to prove to me that he’s sorry about what went down. And I’m confident he’s more than aware that I’m not here because of his money. I couldn’t care less if he were skint. It’s him I’ve fallen for. His heart, his compassion. His… everything. Even his bad parts.

The lift ride down to the garage is the slowest journey of my freaking life, but as the doors open, I find that I don’t get out. I might be desperate to see what’s parked down here for me. But I also can’t ignore the burning need to go and explore the basement.

The B on the control panel taunts me, and before I realise I’ve even made a decision, I’ve pressed the button and I’m descending deeper into the building.

My heart beats wildly in my chest. I have no idea what I’m going to find down here, but I guess I’d be naïve to think that I’m just going to walk into some kind of jail cell and find the man I’ve called Dad all my life sitting behind bars.

They’re cleverer than that. But even knowing that, it doesn’t stop me stepping out of the lift the second the doors open.

A solid set of wooden double doors greet me. The biometric pad beside it shows a red locked light and I almost give up on this little exploration mission before it’s started.

Toby might have given me access to the main entrance and his flat, but I can’t imagine that luxury extends to the rest of the building, especially when I know what—or who—they’re hiding down here.

Deciding it’s worth a shot now I’m here, I walk over and press my hand to the pad.

To my utter disbelief, the little light turns green and the doors before me unlock.

“Wow,” I breathe, rolling my shoulders in an attempt to prepare myself for what I might be about to walk into.

My hand trembles violently, and I lift it and push the door open.

It takes a second for the lights to flicker on as I enter, but once they do, all I can do is blink in surprise. The massive room opens up before me and I struggle to take it all in.

It is by far the most impressive home gym I have ever laid my eyes on. It’s even better than some of those I’ve seen on the fancy houses that Mum loves to drool over when they’re on the TV. They’ve even got a full-sized fucking boxing ring.

Unable to do anything but step deeper into the room, I take in all the equipment, most of which I’ve never seen before let alone ever tried to use.

I guess this helps explain the shape all the guys’—and the girls’—bodies are in.

I feel fat and out of shape just looking at it all.

The pink boxing gloves that sit with all the other red and black ones on a shelf behind the ring make me smile. It’s the perfect reminder to the guys as they beat the shit out of each other down here who is really in charge.

After a thorough investigation and discovering absolutely nothing suspicious, I make my way back to the lift, still hoping I might find a secret passage or something crazy.

Clearly, there has to be something. Toby wouldn’t have told me that they have people—or at least one person—locked in their basement if it’s not true.

Not finding anything, I head back up to the garage level, more than ready to discover what’s waiting for me.