Chapter 7
Renric seemed distracted during the birthday party, his mind stuck on that phone call from earlier. After giving a quick nod to his brother, who was still chatting and laughing with Celeste, he slipped away from the ballroom to find somewhere quiet.
He hit redial.
*”Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently turned off…”*
His chest tightened. He tried again, only to get the same automated message.
That panicked voice echoed in his head: “They injected me with something-they’re gonna cut off my fingers!” “You promised you wouldn’t let them actually hurt me…”
But Celeste’s birthday party meant everything to her too. She’d even invited him to dance with her later…
Renric gritted his teeth and quickly dialed another number. “Get five million ready. We’re going somewhere-now!”
“Renric?”
A gentle voice came from behind him. He turned to see Celeste in her shimmering white gown, standing in the moonlit garden like
some kind of angel.
“Why’d you ditch me and run off out here?” She walked over to him, starlight reflecting in her eyes.
Renric’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Elara… she might be in real danger.”
“Oh, come on.” Celeste reached up to straighten his collar, her fingers trailing briefly across his chest. “Those kidnappers have been so
nice to me. They even brought me fruit plates every day.”
“Look at me-do you see a single scratch?” She gestured to herself. “They need that money, so they won’t dare touch my sister. You
know how she’s always been a scaredy-cat since we were kids. She’s probably just freaking out because we haven’t made a move in
three days, thinking we don’t want her back.”
Renric hesitated. “But what if-”
“Stop.” Celeste cupped his face in her hands. “You promised you’d dance with me tonight. Tomorrow we’ll all go get my sister together, okay? You’re not gonna break your word, are you…”
Her perfume filled his nostrils and Renric’s breath caught. Almost without thinking, his hands found her waist.
His phone suddenly rang, cutting through the moment. He answered with obvious irritation. “Never mind about the money and the
car, I-”
“What did you just say?!”
The phone nearly slipped from his hands. Celeste blinked in confusion. “Renric? Hey!”
But he’d already shoved her aside and was sprinting away.
