The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

“I cannot do that!”

“You have to,” Livie implored her. “If I am to have any chance, you must find your brother and tell him what’s happened. If anyone can rescue me, it’s Sebastian. Now go, before you’re discovered!”

Livie could see the girl wrestling with the idea of leaving Livie, but the logic of their predicament had her nodding. “I’ll be back as soon as I can with Seb and his men.”

“I know you will.” Livie motioned her hand in a shooing motion. “Hurry and be safe!”

Charlotte nodded, and then she was gone.

Livie bit her bottom lip and turned around to face the now empty cell.

She knew she’d done the right thing sending Charlotte for help. It had been the only logical and practical thing to do, and even if Livie couldn’t save herself, she had hopefully saved Charlotte. Suddenly, though, the situation rammed home, and she realized just how alone and vulnerable she was.

If only they’d left her cane with her. But they hadn’t, and she’d probably never see the thing again. The thought brought with it a sharp pang of grief. As much as she’d resented having to depend on it over the years, it had also in a way become her lifeline. Her way of getting about and feeling safe in the world. She realized then, just how attached to the thing she’d become, and without it she felt helpless and isolated in this barren cell. A chill ran through her.

But then a slow burning heat started to curl up from her belly, simmering through her chest, chasing away the fear. How dare they treat her like this and try to scare her? How dare they take her cane from her! Well, she wouldn’t have a bar of it. She eyed the chair, and biting through the pain, she picked it up and swung it with all her might against the wall; her rage, her terror, her frustration, all honed into that one strike. With an almighty crack, the chair broke into several pieces.

They’d left her a weapon after all.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Seb and his men were slowly positioning themselves among the shadows of the crates and pallets lining the docks along the warehouse, when a lone figure darted out from behind the building, running headfirst toward them, long brown hair streaming out behind her.

Pivoting to the side, Seb’s hand darted out, catching the girl around the waist and swinging her off her feet. His other hand slammed down onto her mouth, muffling the shriek she’d been about to release.

He spun her into the shadows and placed her onto her feet. “Charlotte?”

“Seb? Oh my goodness, Seb, thank God!” Her voice was but a whisper as she launched herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.

“What happened? Where is Livie?” He couldn’t see her well in the dark but caught a glimpse of the tears streaming down her face. “Is Livie all right?”

Quickly, Charlotte told him what had happened, and how Livie was still in the warehouse after picking the lock to the window and insisting Charlotte flee to get help. “I didn’t want to leave her there. Not with him. Seb, that man is insane. I don’t know what he’ll do to punish Livie when he discovers I am gone.”

“You did the right thing,” Seb reassured her in hushed tones, brushing away her tears with his thumb. He swung his gaze around to his right, where Rowan was standing at the ready. “Take her back to my residence and guard her with your life. Do you understand me? With your life.”

“Aye.” Rowan inclined his head in acknowledgment. “I promise.”

“I’m not leaving,” Charlotte insisted. “Not until I know Livie is safe.”

“There’s no time to argue.” His eyes bored into her own. “I need you to be safe so I can focus on saving Livie.”

She bobbed her head. “I understand.”

He gently grabbed her shoulders, placed a quick kiss on her forehead, and then spun her around into Rowan’s waiting hands. “Take her, now.”

Rowan inclined his head, and then swiftly led her away, being sure to keep them both hidden among the shadows.

“She came from around the back of the warehouse,” Lance said in muted tones, as he came up beside Seb. “Do you want me to do a scout?”

“Charlotte said they were held in a cell at the back of the warehouse and she got out through a small window. Try to find the window and get Livie out while we storm the other entrances.”

“Consider it done.”

And then Seb gave the men the signal, a short sharp whistle. Hell was about to be unleashed. And if any of them had hurt so much as a goddamn hair on Olivia’s head, they were going to experience what those fires of Hell felt like in person.

…

A shrill scream echoed through the night air, and it was coming from outside.

Livie felt her heart drop. Charlotte!

Oh no, what had she done? But then there was more yelling and the sounds of both breaking glass and thumping, as heavy footsteps stomped and ran on the floorboards above, causing dust to rain down upon her.

Holding the wooden stake out in front of her, which she’d eventually been able to split off from the now-broken chair after several swings of it against the brick wall, she waited.

It sounded like a war was going on above. But that couldn’t be right. Charlotte had escaped barely five minutes ago. She wouldn’t have had enough time to find Seb yet.

Eventually, it began to get eerily silent above, and then she heard some shouting and swearing, though she couldn’t make out the words. But whoever it was sounded enraged.

A moment later, loud footsteps from what seemed like a large group of men started banging above.

She started coughing as more dust flew down into her eyes and she had to bury her face in the crook of her arm.

“Lady Olivia? Are you all right?”

The voice came out of nowhere and