or no deal,” he demanded, then turned to step into an office.
The door didn’t shut all the way and she leaned closer so she could see through the crack. He made his way to the desk then stood studying the phone for countless seconds. What was he doing? Pretending to make a phone call? After a deep sigh he picked up the receiver but instead of dialing the number he waved his hand across the keypad.
Tonya’s eyes narrowed in anger but she remained outside the door, listening.
* * * * *
Nicholas’ cell phone beeped, making Rebecca jump. She stared at the device speculatively as he lifted it from his belt holder. “That thing works on the plane?” she asked, staring at him skeptically. “I thought once you’re above so many thousand feet they don’t work.”
“Magic,” Nicholas mouthed and almost laughed at her expression of disbelief.
Flipping the phone open, he spoke into the mouthpiece. “Marcus. What is it?”
“It’s Tonya. She’s going to be a problem. Hell, not going to be. Is a problem.”
“What happened?” Nicholas asked as he stood and walked into the bedroom for privacy.
“She’s here at the club, demanding answers. She thinks I know who took Rebecca and insists she’ll go to the police if she doesn’t get what she wants.”
“Oh boy,” Nicholas sighed, then glanced back at Rebecca, who watched him with suspicion. “Well, take care of it.”
“How?” Marcus demanded.
“You like her. Bring her to the castle.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“It will solve two problems. Yours and the one I’m having with Rebecca.”
“Son of a bitch,” Marcus sighed. “Fine. I’ll take care of her.”
* * * * *
Marcus hung up the phone and glanced up in surprise to see Tonya standing in the doorway, her eyes wide as saucers. Anger surged through him—anger at himself. He should have heard her, seen her, something. For a brief second he wondered if maybe he’d wanted her to hear. His body tensed as her fear wrapped around his heart. She was going to run, he could see it in her thoughts.
“Tonya,” he cautioned, then cursed when she spun around, taking off at a run down the hallway and toward the front part of the club.
34
He sprinted after her, using his enhanced speed to catch her quickly and wrap his arms around her waist, trapping her against him. She struggled, kicking her legs and swinging her arms wildly.
“Let me go, you damn son of a bitch,” she squealed.
“No,” he snapped. “You wanted to see Rebecca and you’re going to.”
“What?” she gasped. “Where is she? What have you done to her?”
“I haven’t done anything to her, Tonya, I promise,” he spoke softly in her ear, trying to calm her down. “Listen to me.”
“Why should I?” she murmured, her voice shaking slightly.
He could feel her fear, her anger, and it cut like a knife in his chest. She was his one—his mate—and he hated that their relationship would start out like this.
“Because you know you can trust me. Deep down you know it.”
She stopped struggling, her harsh breathing the only sound in the quiet room. He loosened his hold slightly, allowing her to turn in his embrace. Her eyes were wide, fear and uncertainty clouding their depths, her cheeks flushed with anger. Her uncertainty filled him, made him want to protect her, make her see that he would never hurt her.
He brushed his thumb across her forehead then set his fingers over her eyes, sliding them down her face slowly. Her eyes began to droop as her body went limp in his arms, falling asleep just as he wanted her to.
“You know you can trust me,” he whispered.
35
Chapter Five
Rebecca sat on the edge of Tonya’s bed, waiting for her to open her eyes. She still hadn’t come to even though it had been over an hour since she and Marcus had arrived.
The castle sat nestled among the trees with a beautiful lake behind it. Although they were technically in England, Nicholas informed her they were in a
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