Page 74 of The Prize

“If this was chess our move would be considered a Zugzwang, which is German for influencing the other player with a compulsion to move. It makes him weaker.”

“We’re drawing him out?”

“Exactly.” He removed a key from his pocket and tried it in a door at the end of the hall and I breathed a sigh of relief when it turned. We hurried into another hallway and he secured the door behind us and tucked away the key. We weaved around shoppers browsing racks of clothing and they gave us a passing glance as we hurried by.

We descended a staircase onto the main floor of the store and burst out through the front door onto the street. A little way down to our right, two large SUVs were parked and a man in a black suit lingered near them.

Tobias grabbed my hand and we ran in the opposite direction until we came to a familiar-looking motorbike parked curbside. It was the Harley Tobias had used to pick me up just days ago in Central Park after his drone had crashed in a tree with me in it.

Yeah, that should have been your first warning Wilder loved dabbling in crazy, I chastised myself.

“I’m wearing a skirt,” I snapped.

“I’m sure New York has seen it all before, Leighton. Get on.” He shoved a helmet onto my head and then pulled me into a kiss as though we weren’t being chased. He shoved his own helmet on, and we climbed onto the bike with him in front revving the engine and me hugging his chest. We sped away, merging into traffic, and he opened the throttle and zoomed off.

I didn’t glance back.

When we finally parked at a curb I climbed off and stretched to ease the tension in my limbs, relieved we’d made our escape. Tobias signaled to someone and I turned to see Coops climbing the steps toward us.

Tobias placed my helmet in the back of the bike and handed his to Coops, and then he threw him the keys. I stared back to make sure we weren’t being followed.

“Zara.” Tobias got my attention and with my hand in his we hurried up the rest of the way toward the impressive building with the grand sign hailing this as The New York City Ballet.

With a flash of Wilder’s ID, we were granted access and continued into the foyer. After walking for a few minutes, we passed under a curtained doorway. This was an empty auditorium except for the stage where two ballerinas looked like they were rehearsing.

I shot Tobias a confused look.

“Come on.” He guided me down the side aisle. “Just because we have the hounds of hell on our heels doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a little culture.”

We settled a few rows back from the stage and I rested my head on his shoulder, lulled by the piano music which was an exquisite accompaniment to the dancers’ elegant movements. I was mesmerized at the dreamlike fluidity contrasted to our recent turmoil.

“You’re full of surprises,” I whispered.

He turned in his chair to face me. “You have no idea.”

“Oh, I think I do.”

He shook his head. “We both know how dangerous the Burells are.”

There came a sinking feeling. “What do you mean?”

“I must protect you at any cost.”

My stare shot forward toward the dancers pirouetting beautifully.

Tobias reached for my hand and brought it to his chest. “I want us to be in a place where we can be honest with each other.”

“Don’t do this.”

“I work better alone.”

“You just tried to scare me, is that it?” I rolled my eyes. “Just close enough to have them approach but not engage?”

“That was a taste of how fast they can be on us, Zara. These men are determined to find me.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“I’m not giving you any choice.”