We’re walking through the airport. I was shocked when he brought me here and told me we’re catching a flight to New York. I never gave any thought to where Garrett lives or even what he does for a living. Come to think of it, I hardly know anything about him, only who his mother is. Talking about parents, New York is close to my parents’ home in Rhode Island.
Garrett has me by the hand, dragging me from one side of the airport to the other. He walks as if the whole damn world belongs to him. People have to step out of his way or be run over.
Part of me wants to yank free and make a run for it, but the other part – the bigger part – wants to stay. I still want to belong to him. Then at least I’ll be somebody.
As we board the plane I give a quick nervous smile to the hostess. We follow her to the front, to first class. I’ve only been on a plane once and I don’t remember it looking like this.
“You take the window seat,” Garrett murmurs.
I sit and he takes the seat next to me. He leans over me and when he starts to fasten the seatbelt, I slap at his hands. “I can do it myself! I’m not a child.”
His mouth lifts in the corner, and I stare like an idiot. Now that I take a moment to really look, I notice he’s much more relaxed. The tense lines around his eyes and mouth are gone and it makes him look younger, much more attractive than what I remember. My eyes skip to his and I instantly regret it. The warmth shining from them reminds me of those days we spent in the container, back when I believed he cared for me. Now I’m just a score to settle.
I turn my face to the window and try to think of anything but Garrett. I’m going to be at his mercy for three months. I need to soak up my last moments of freedom.
It’s a long two and a half hour flight. I’m just thankful Garrett doesn’t try to make small talk. He’s busy on his phone, doing who knows what.
“Would you like something to drink?” the hostess asks. I look at her to ask for a soda but the words freeze on my lips when I see how she’s smiling at Garrett. You’d swear the sun rises and sets in his ass!
“What would you like?” Garrett asks me when I don’t say anything.
“Just a soda please, any kind.” I can’t force my lips to smile at the woman. She’s being so obvious that she has the hots for Garrett. Was I like that when I met Garrett? Is that the reason he took me, because I was easy prey?
I go back to my sulking position, staring out the window.
It’s late afternoon by the time we land in New York. As soon as I stand, Garrett takes my hand and I’m back to being dragged around an airport. When we get outside, I don’t have any time to take in my first trip to New York. There’s a black SUV waiting for us. A huge man opens the back door and immediately my heart starts to beat heavily.
What if this is all a set up to kidnap me again! I was so stupid to just come with him!
I yank back. “No! No, I’m not getting in that. I swear I’ll scream if you try to force me.”
Garrett stops and grabs hold of my shoulders. He pulls me close to him. Worry makes his eyes turn dark. “It’s okay. We’re going to my apartment.” He looks back at the huge man. “That’s Simon, he’s my chauffer. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
I don’t want to make a scene but there is no way in hell I’m getting in that SUV. I was stupid the first time, but I’ve learned from that mistake. I won’t let myself be kidnapped again.
Garrett looks around us and then points to a line of cabs standing nearby. “You want to take a cab? Will that make you feel safer?”
“Yes!” I don’t even hesitate to answer. “Please.”
“Simon, it’s okay. We won’t need the car.” Simon nods his understanding.
Garrett takes me to the nearest cab and opens the back door. I slip in, feeling much more relaxed. No kidnapping. I might be overreacting just a bit.
Garrett gives the cab driver directions. I take in my surroundings, the tall buildings, and the people racing around like ants. The buildings get bigger and more stylish as we keep driving. The cab stops in front of an impressive building. Garrett gets out first and then holds his hand out to me. I take it and then my eyes dart back to the building. It’s quite intimidating.
“This is where you live?” I ask full of astonishment.
Garrett gives me half a smile and I hate that his smile has the power to send tingles through my body. As he takes my bag from the cab, he says, “It’s one of the places I call home. I want you all to myself, so I chose this one.”
I look up trying to guess how many floors the building has. “On which floor is yours?”