Page 35 of Stalked By Raiden

Someone’s hand lands on my shoulder. “You done?”

Roman.

“No.”

Finally, Royal says calmly, “Please don’t break my nose this time.”

Realization dawns. “You idiots.”

They march me down the alley toward something I can’t see.

“I can walk.”

“We know.”

“So, why am I wearing a hood?”

“Because your wife insisted.”

I stop resisting. Elodie is the one person who could convince these three lunatics that kidnapping me is a good idea. A car door opens. Someone pushes me inside. The moment I sit down, a familiar scent reaches me.

Lavender and vanilla. The scent of home.

I sigh. “Freckles.”

Soft laughter answers me. The hood disappears. Blinking against the sunlight, I find Elodie sitting beside me, trying—and failing—not to laugh. She digs a pair of nail scissors out of her purse and works them under the zip tie at my wrists, tongue between her teeth, taking her time about it.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.”

She grins. “Not even a little.”

I rub my wrists. “You had my best friends kidnap me.”

“They didn’t kidnap you. Besides, it was temporary.” She smiles innocently. “I wanted to make sure you couldn’t escape.”

I shake my head in exasperation. “So, why all this?” I ask.

She exchanges a quick look with the others through the windshield. “Because getting you into the car wasn’t the difficult part.” She reaches for my hand. “Getting you onto a plane would’ve been.”

I blink. “A plane?”

She nods enthusiastically. “I’ve been trying to convince you to take time off for weeks, but you’ve been busy. So I asked the guys for help, and Nadia rescheduled all your appointments.”

The SUV starts moving, and I glance out the window to see the guys waving at us. I look back at Elodie, and she is practically bouncing in her seat. If getting me out of the country makes her this giddy, then I’m down for it.

“So, where are we going?” I ask.

She leans close enough that only I can hear. “I’m taking my husband to my birthplace. Ireland.”

For a second, I simply stare at her.

⁎⁎⁎

Elodie

The airport is buzzing with travelers by the time we arrive. Raiden still looks slightly bewildered. Every few minutes, he glances at me as if to make sure I’m real. When we reach our gate, the airline attendant smiles warmly as we board the plane.