“Good,” I say firmly. “Because Ty has potential, and he doesn’t need to throw it away selling drugs.”
We pull up into an industrial park. Now this looks more like somewhere you’d take someone you’ve kidnapped. We drive further into the park and then pull up at the site of an abandoned unit, with holes gaping in the roof. Danny climbs out of the car and I follow him before his henchman drags me out. We head inside the unit and I presume this is where he’s arranged for the exchange.
“Sorry, princess, but we need to make this look more authentic.” Danny tells me, looking somewhat apologetic.
I don’t get a chance to reply as his tattooed minion grabs my arms and wrenches them behind my back and ties them together with some rope.
“Seriously?” I ask Danny.
Danny’s brows lift, and he smirks. “Well, is this not how it’s done?”
The next thing a piece of cloth is placed over my eyes and I’m thrown into darkness. I’m pushed down into a chair. Well, I guess now I really do look like a real hostage.
I hear the sound of a car engine and I sit up, alert. I hear the car doors open and close and the sound of footsteps.
“I’m expecting Tyler,” Danny greets, his voice calm and calculating.
“Danny,” I hear Grayson reply. “I have your money, so you can let her go.”
There’s a pause. “And who are you?” Danny asks him.
“I’m Grayson St. Clair and that’s my girlfriend you have tied to that chair.”
“Ah, so you’re the boyfriend. Looks like you were telling me the truth, princess,” he says right in my ear, making me jump at his proximity.
“It’s all here,” I hear Grayson tell him.
I hear the sound of an envelope opening and I presume he’s counting the cash to make sure it’s all there.
“See,” Danny says. “That wasn’t too hard, was it?”
Someone unties my hands and I rub at my wrists. That was a little tight. I blink when the blindfold is lifted off my eyes. Danny holds out a hand to me and I reluctantly take it.
Keeping hold of my hand, he walks me towards where Grayson is standing. He raises my hand to his mouth and kisses it.
“It’s been a pleasure princess.” He lets go of my hand and he turns to walk back the way he came, but as he passes me he slips something into my hand, as he hands me my phone with his other hand. “If ever you want to stop playing with boys, give me a call.”
I stare up at him gob smacked and then look down at his business card in my hand. Seriously? He is giving me his number? Yeah, not in this lifetime buddy!
I’m suddenly pulled forward and I’m in Grayson’s embrace. I breathe him in. It feels so good to be in his arms.
“You okay, baby?” he asks me softly in my ear.
I pull back slightly so I can look at his face. I offer him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. I promise. Take me home, please.”
Grayson wraps his arm around me and guides me to his land rover. He opens the passenger seat for me and ensures I’m safely inside before he walks around and climbs in behind the wheel.
“Where did Ty get the money?” I ask, turning in my seat to ask him.
Grayson frowns at the mention of Tyler’s name. “Tyler didn’t come up with the money. I had the money but I couldn’t get it all out at once from the speed bank so we all took what we could from our accounts until we had the cash together.”
“You did?” I ask Grayson, looking surprised.
He takes my hand in his and raises it to his lips and kisses it. “Of course.”
“Thank you,” I tell him. “Thank you for helping Ty.”
Grayson guffaws. “We didn’t do it for Ty. We did it for you Manchester.”
I nod. “Where is Tyler? Why didn’t he come with you?”
Grayson’s frown deepens. “Because if I’d been alone with him in this car, I’d of likely beat the shit out of him for putting you in this situation. Tyler’s gone. As soon as he’d messaged Danny to arrange where to meet, I told him to pack his stuff and leave.”
I blink in shock. “You threw him out?”
Grayson nods firmly. “I did. He put you in danger and brought his problems to your door. That’s not okay. He’s gone.”
“But—“
“No buts, Manchester. If I ever see or hear his name again, it won’t end well for him. Okay?”
Part of me wants to argue with him, but I know he’s right. Tyler needs to fight his own battles, and it’s because of him I ended up being kidnapped by a drug dealer. This situation could have been much worse. I am just lucky that Danny Doyle is not as cold and ruthless as his reputation painted him.
“Did he hurt you?” Grayson asks. I can hear the anger in his voice.
“No,” I reply, and he gives me a look that tells me he’s not convinced. “Honestly. He was actually a real gentleman. Although he offered to half the debt if I slept with him?”
Grayson’s eyes almost bulge out of their sockets. “He did what?”
I meet his eyes and nod. “Seriously! But other than that, it was fine. I spent the night watching television in his penthouse suite with views of Old Trafford.’
Grayson shakes his head, looking bewildered. I sigh and lean my head back against the headrest. “Grayson, can we go home today as soon as the estate agents have been?”
He looks over at me surprised and he smiles. “You called it home.”
I smile back. “Yeah, I guess I did. Let’s go home and start planning our future.”
He arches a brow. “A future in Ibiza?”
I nod my head. “I’ll go anywhere so long as we’re together.”
We’ve stopped at some lights and Grayson leans over and places his hand behind my neck and pulls me in so he can kiss me.
