Marriage of Inconvenience(Knitting in the City Book #7)(160)

We didn’t get to find out what Caleb was about to say because Quinn hung up on him.

“Shitbag.” Quinn issued my phone an irritated look. Then, turning a miniscule smile on the rest of us—which, for Quinn, was a huge grin—he said, “Dan’s safe.”

I gaped at him. We all gaped at him.

“What?” someone said. It might have been me.

“Dan’s safe.” Quinn lifted his voice so that everyone—even Drew and Ashley, and Nico and Elizabeth in the living room—could hear. “Once the money hit Seamus’s bank account, Seamus’s guys brought Dan back here, dropped him off in Kat’s penthouse, and called Stan. Stan is with Dan now, up in your suite.”

What?

I continued to gape at him.

Quinn, meanwhile, was holding his phone to his ear, listening to something. “Seamus also sent a recording . . .”

Elizabeth walked over to me and pulled me into a hug while Nico stood on my left, rubbing my back. “Thank God he’s okay. Do you want me to walk you up there?”

“We’re all going.” Quinn—still holding his phone to his ear—was already hustling to the exit, Wally at his heels; the dog’s tail wagged like he knew what had just happened.

My feet were rooted, too afraid to move. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t allow myself to believe it was over.

Please be real.

What if I were imagining this? If I moved, then the illusion might disappear. Dan might still be in danger.

Please. Please be real.

Quinn opened the door and then paused, turning, holding it open with a booted foot and motioning for me to hurry. “Kat,” he said sharply, “Let’s go.”





Chapter Thirty-One





Hemp Rope: Providing superior strength, braided rope helps benefit from reduced stretch characteristics, making this one of the most secure natural rope options available for Shibari and bondage enthusiasts seeking the highest quality in secure bondage rope.





—Amazon dot com product page for Shibari 100% Natural Hemp Rope





**Dan**





Just use a knife.” I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t have a knife.” Stan was squinting at the rope binding my feet to the bed, his tongue poking out between his lips on one side while he concentrated on trying to—unsuccessfully—untie the knot.

The problem was, Ricky was a fisherman’s son. He knew how to tie a real wizdinger of a knot.

He and Conner had placed me on the bed, already tied up, and then used more rope to bind my legs and hands to the base of the bed frame in an intricate knot contraption.

“How did they get you into the hotel and up here without anyone seeing?” Stan sounded distracted.

“You remember Ricky? Well, his sister works here.”

“Oh yeah. She was nice.”

“She probably doesn’t work here anymore, after this afternoon. She’s probably long gone. They brought me up in one of those big, stupid laundry carts, covered me with sheets.”

“You were tied up the whole time?”

“Yeah. And gagged and blindfolded, like you found me when you got here.” I flexed and stretched my jaw, knowing I would never take breathing for granted again.

Stan huffed, straightening from the knot. “I can’t undo this. I don’t even understand how this kind of knot is possible. It’s witchcraft.”

“Then use a fucking knife.”

He scratched his head. “I think I’ll use a knife. I’ll be right back.”

At just that moment, I heard the penthouse door open, followed by the sounds of people and footsteps. My heart jumped against my ribs and I craned my neck to see.

“Dan?” Quinn called. “Where are you?”

Stan strolled to the doorway of the bedroom, throwing his thumb over his shoulder. “He’s in here, but he’s all tied up. Anyone have a knife?”

Wally galloped in, running through Stan’s legs.

“Wally!” I called to him, grinning at my awesome dog as he jumped on the bed. But then he started licking my face, which made me laugh ’cause I couldn’t get away. I tried turning my head and he just bounded to the other side, still licking my face. Which meant I had my eyes closed and my lips rolled between my teeth when he was finally pulled away.

Hands came to my cheeks.

I opened my eyes.

BAM.

There she was.

“Kat.”

She filled my vision, leaning over me, her chin wobbling, her eyes shining with emotion. She took a breath, then another, then a third before speaking.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I let my eyes move over her, finding solace in the familiar landscape of her gorgeous face. The shitty feeling was back and I embraced it. Actually, I tackle-hugged it. “I’m actually fine.”