Page 18 of The Tower (Billionaire Brothers Grimm #1)

“That’s the ex parte part. It’s immediate relief by the court granted in favor of your father, but setting a full hearing in just over a week.”

I hug myself tight, my whole body feeling like I’ve been covered in tiny ant bites. “No. No way. I can’t go back. Not even for a week. Hell, not even for just a minute.”

I start to pace, staying far away from the window. It’s still blocked, but I know what’s behind that opaque glass. And right now, just the knowing is enough to send me spiraling.

“I have to leave,” I say, as Grimm silently watches me.

“I have to run. To go where the courts don’t have jurisdiction.

Where he can’t just pay off a judge to get what he wants.

I—I have to go overseas.” I whip around to face Grimm.

“Can you get me a flight? Ruby has family in Munich. Maybe I can stay with them for a while and?—”

“No.”

I stop mid-way across the room, my body going cold and my thoughts turning to dust. “What?”

In two long strides, he’s there, standing right in front of me with a calculating smile on that fallen angel face. “I said no.”

Before I can stop myself, I’ve whipped my hand out and slapped him so hard it feels like my palm’s on fire.

He catches my wrist before I can back away, and I cringe, expecting a similar blow from him.

Instead, he pulls me close so that my body is pressed to his, and I have to tilt my head up to see his hard, unsmiling face.

“No,” he repeats. “I won’t help you leave.

” He’s enunciating every word clearly, as if to make sure I fully understand.

“We have a deal.” His hand tightens around my wrist and he draws me even closer, his other hand cupping my ass, forcing my body against his so that there’s no ignoring the bulge of his cock against my belly.

I’m breathing hard, telling myself it’s from anger.

And also telling myself I need to stop with the lies.

“Do you remember?” he repeats, his hand moving over my ass until his fingers are between my legs, stroking me through the stretchy material. “Do you remember the terms of our arrangement?”

“I remember.” My body is hot. Tingly. And my voice is barely a whisper. My heart pounds in my chest as I tell myself I should pull away. That I should slap his face and run.

Try to find Ruby. Try to be anywhere but here.

But I agreed to this. I agreed to everything.

And, damn me, I don’t want to run.

“Good.” His hand slides up, then down again, this time slipping under the waistband of the leggings, then under the band of my thong until his fingertip is between my ass cheeks, moving in long, slow strokes in a way that makes me want to squirm away and hide in embarrassment … but also makes me want to beg for more.

“Don’t,” I whisper, hating that I like it. Knowing I should hate it.

“This is an opportunity, Princess,” he murmurs, and for a moment I’m not sure if he means my father’s legal action or this intimate contact.

“We’ll appear in court. We’ll reveal what he’s done to you.

The newspapers will eat that up. It will be international news.

” He bends down, his finger teasing my ass as his breath teases my ear.

“It will destroy him,” he whispers. “More important, you’ll be free, Princess. Do you understand?”

I manage a nod.

“Good.”

He breaks contact, leaving me in a haze of shame and desire as he takes two steps back. I start to move toward him, then realize what I’m doing and force my feet to stay put even though my body is still tingling from whatever game he’s playing.

I stiffen, then snap my gaze up as I realize that I’m still screwed. “That order says he’s in charge of me as of right now. If you won’t help me leave the country, then what are you going to do?”

I stumble back as another thought hits me, sending panic ricocheting through me. “You’re not going to hand me over to him,” I say, hating that he can hear the fear in my voice. “Please tell me you’re not going to do that.”

“I’m not going to do that.”

He’s so calm I want to slap him. I want to scream. To throw things. To go hide someplace small and dark where I can draw my knees up to my chest and hug them the way I used to when I was a little girl. Maybe this time, my wish to disappear will even come true.

But I’m not a little girl, and I’m not seeking out closets in Reed Tower where I can hide from my father.

I’m in a different tower altogether. I’m with a different man.

And though I don’t fully trust Liam Grimm, I don’t think he’s a monster.

Or, if he is, he’s not going to hurt me.

Not yet, anyway. Grimm hates my father almost as much as I do, so he’ll keep me safe.

For now, anyway. After all, a dead or wounded hostage doesn’t have much value at all.

He takes my arm, his fingers still warm from my heat. “Let’s go.”

“Go?” Icy panic cuts through me. “You said you weren’t going to hand me?—”

“I’m not. But as you pointed out, he’s in charge of you now. He knows you’re with me. Of course, he would suspect that you’re still here.”

He puts a finger under my chin and lifts it, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“That means he’s coming soon. He won’t wait to strike a deal with my father to let him search the premises.

He’ll simply go to the police. I imagine he already has a warrant.

” His smile is both slow and smug. “But that court order won’t do him much good if he can’t find you. ”

“Where are we going?”

But all he says is, “Trust me, Princess. He won’t get you back. You’re mine now. And my plans for you don’t include Victor Reed.”