Page 89 of Sweet Deception

“What’s the matter with you?” I seethe to myself.

“Don’t leave…I don’t want…I don’t want to be alone…”

What the hell was that?

And then I fell asleep with him? Which means that my body trusts him. That my subconscious is comfortable enough to sleep with him right there, even while I’m trapped in this awful situation.

It means I’m no longer aligned within myself. My logical mind, at least, still knows the importance of keeping my guard up around that man.

So what if he told me that he didn’t want to leave me?

He and I both know he only confessed that because there was a chance Shane Gallagher would have had me killed if he hadn’t liked what he heard.

Sentimentality in the face of death is common.

Even for hardened criminal weapons experts, I guess…

With the heat from Darren’s body still lingering on my skin, I struggle to retain my edge.

Shaking my head, I try to refocus.

A few hours ago, Shane decided to spare my life. At least long enough to use me. As far as I’m aware, he and the rest of his family have no intention of saving the abducted girls. Their only concern is stopping Troy. And they’ve got their own agenda for that.

That means I need to find a way to save Lucy and get us both out of here, unharmed, and I’m more or less on my own.

Right?

Darren’s face flashes in my mind.

“Almost ready?” I jump when his voice cuts through the bathroom door.

“Almost.”

More quiet.

Pulse still racing, I attempt to push through the awkwardness. “So…what are the dinner plans? Are we…going out?”

“No.” A pause. “We’re eating with the rest of the family.”

At that sentence, I rip open the bathroom door and gape at him. “We’rewhat?”

He balances his forearms on the doorjamb, peering down at me with a lazy smolder that does nothing to slow my already-hopping heart rate. “You heard me.”

“But—”

“Don’t tell me the girl who’s brave and reckless enough to infiltrate a high-profile wedding reception is too scared to attend a little dinner.”

My mouth slams shut.Is he baiting me?

Darren’s grin fills me with the impulse to shove his chest, but I stay where I am. Nothing good will come of me touching him. Not when we’re teetering on this precarious emotional edge.

“You don’t have to look so afraid.” Half a chuckle escapes his mouth. “We’re not going to eatyoufor dinner.”

“So you say…”

Several minutes later, we’ve returned to the bottom floor of this enormous mansion. Anticipation tangles with anxiety and sours my stomach the closer we get to the open pair of doors at the end of this hallway.

It’s one thing to enter a lion’s den when you’re camouflaged to blend in… This is just insane. Maybe Darren brings all his captives to dinner, and it won’t be that weird, but on the inside, I’m screaming.