“No, but I am.” He grimaced. “At least, that’s what’s about to be all over the news.”
Lilah’s jaw dropped. “What do you mean?”
“As far as everyone’s going to think, I’m kidnapping you, Lilah.”
“Kidnapping …?”
“Your brother needs it that way until he can get Alain here.” He slipped the knife into his pocket. “Ready?”
She nodded, beginning to comprehend the enormity of what this man was sacrificing for her.
“Will …”
“No time,” he shook his head and wrapped his fingers around her upper arm. “Come on.”
They walked through the corridor – it was identical to the one above – until they reached the bank of elevators.
“Stand with your back against the wall until I tell you you’re clear,” he said softly, before pressing the down button. The elevator appeared seconds later and was, fortunately, empty.
“Okay,” he breathed. “Head down.”
She moved with her trademark grace into the lift, keeping her eyes on the ground.
It moved quickly, not stopping until it reached the foyer.
“My car’s around the corner,” he said, nodding towards the doors.
Lilah fell into step beside him. There were people everywhere and in the midst of the dramatic moment, Lilah thrilled at her nearness to humanity. It was one of the first times she had been so close to crowds without having a guard at her elbow.
Though she had Will and she suspected that was almost the same thing.
“This way.” He guided her to turn left as they exited the building, hustling down the sidewalk without breaking his pace. It would be only moments, surely, before the rope was discovered. Moments before the princess’s disappearance was realized and the alarm raised.
“Hurry,” he moved his hand to curl around her waist so that he could pull her at his pace. His legs were far longer and he moved with a natural efficiency.
To keep up she had to practically run.
They reached a black SUV parked just around the corner and he flicked a switch. The lights buzzed to signal that it had been unlocked. Lilah stood on one side and Will realized with begrudging amusement that she was waiting for him to open the door.
>
He sent her a fulminating smile and slid his fingers over the handle. “It works like this,” he teased, enjoying the blush that spread over her face.
Lilah cursed under her breath and shrugged away his hand so that she could climb up into the seat unaided.
“I know how a car door works,” she said as soon as he took the seat beside her.
“So you say,” he quipped, spinning the car to life. It purred hungrily.
“Where are we going?” Her voice was husky. She peered out of the window as though police might already be in pursuit.
“Somewhere safe.”
CHAPTER THREE
“Now can you tell me what’s going on?”
They hadn’t spoken for ten heart-stopping minutes. Lilah would have sworn she’d held her breath almost the whole way. The usual hum of Manhattan seemed to swirl around them, but Lilah barely noticed. Despite wishing, earlier, that she was down from the sky palace and amongst the cars and people and shimmering street signs, she now felt incapable of enjoying it.