Quickly, Grace deactivated her alarm just as a flying figure sent the delivery driver to the ground. She heard the man scream as he was tackled. She had never heard a grown man scream before—it wasn’t a pleasant sound.
She recognized the security emblem on the back of the man lying on top of the driver.
“Stop. It was an accident! Stop!” She reached down to tug the security guard off the pizza man, who was now whimpering.
She helped the poor, frightened man to his feet as soon as he was freed. “I’m so... so... sorry.”
He didn’t look like he cared about her apology.
Quickly, she grabbed her purse and pulled out some twenties, handing them to him. He didn’t seem much happier, but he didn’t seem as likely to sue her, either, as he picked up the pizza from the ground and thrust it at her. The driver then rushed away when he saw the large man staring at him with hostility.
Grace put her hands on her hips. “Why are you still here, Searle? Yesterday was supposed to be your last day.”
“Your brother contracted us until the end of the month.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his stance making it obvious he was prepared for her argument.
Grace took a step back and slammed the door in his face. She had learned a long time ago not to waste her breath trying to change Dax’s orders. She would call her family after CeCe left and give them hell.
The security team will be gone by morning, she thought confidently as she carried the pizza into the kitchen.
“That wasn’t nice. He looked hungry. Perhaps I could invite him inside.”
“He didn’t look hungry, but you do.”
“Why do we need to go out tomorrow, not trolling for men, when you have that on your doorstep?” CeCe reached inside the pizza box and pulled out a slice.
Grace grabbed two plates from the cabinet, handing one to CeCe before taking a slice of the extra-cheesy pizza for herself.
Grace stared down at the artery-clogging goo then took a hesitant bite. She waited to swallow before she answered.
“Because I prefer him not to call my brother when he gets home and tell him about it.”
“Oh, that might be a turn-off.”
“A little,” Grace said, taking another bite.
“On the other hand, I don’t have a brother,” CeCe said mischievously.
“I’ll get you his number… right before I send his ass home,” Grace promised.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
The two spent the night watching television and finishing the rest of the pizza. Grace knew CeCe had stopped by unexpectedly to check on her at her mother’s urging, but she enjoyed her friend’s company.
After CeCe left, Grace reactivated her alarm before going to bed. Then, as she lay on her bed, she reached for her phone.
“Hello?” her brother’s groggy voice came over the line. Grace felt no remorse for waking him up in the middle of the night.
“Call them off, Dax.”
“No.” She was met with instant refusal.
She punched her pillow into a better position, making herself comfortable. This was going to take some time.
“Please?” She tried being nice first.
“No.”
“I’m fine. I just want to get back to normal,” she said sweetly.
“No.” His voice firmed.
It was time to change tactics.
“I’ll tell Maman about you and Brigitte.” Brigitte was one of her mother’s dearest friends who Grace had caught in bed with her brother when he was just eighteen. She had often been tempted to ask her brother exactly who had seduced who.
“Grace, it’s for your own safety.”
“I’m safe. It’s a quiet town. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“You were held hostage,” he argued.
“I’m not going back to the prison.”
Dax went silent for several seconds. “I haven’t mentioned this because I didn’t want to bring it up, but several of the prisoners who were there when you were held have been released.”
Grace sat up. “Which ones?”
“Let me get the piece of paper I wrote their names on.” She heard a rustling then he was talking again, reading off the familiar names.
Ice, Max, Fade, Buzzard, Jackal were the ones she recognized. She didn’t know the last two.
“Do you remember any of those men?”
“Yes.” She tightened her hand on the phone. “They were in my computer class.”
“Ice is the one who took you hostage, isn’t he?”
“Yes. I don’t understand. How did he get out? When?”
“Not long after you were released.” His grim voice went on to explain, “From what I understand, their convictions were overturned on appeal.”
Grace felt her heart pumping hard in her chest. Ice was out. He had been out since Thanksgiving. She ignored the small hurt she felt that he had made no attempt to contact her and then wanted to smack herself for thinking something so stupid. Why would he try to contact her?
“He didn’t get in trouble for the escape attempt?” she questioned her brother.
“No. He said another convict, Church, had planned the escape and had intended to attack you and the guards. Several of the prisoners corroborated his story.”