Billionaire Ransom by Lexy Timms Page A

retraced their steps quickly, and Katie reset the alarm to the office before closing the door and checking to see it was locked. Trying to walk calmly, or at least look calm, she followed Morgan back to the elevator. They had decided against using the stairs, also monitored by camera which would call undue attention to them. Her legs shook as they waited for the elevator, and she could feel perspiration cover her skin as they stepped on and rode down. “Where’re the guards? ” she mouthed to Morgan as she pretended to rub her nose, hoping the cameras wouldn’t pick it up.
    Morgan shrugged and shook his head.
    They reached the lobby floor and both pressed against the side walls as the doors swished open with a slight pneumatic whine. Katie jumped at the sound and flinched, expecting bullets to come flying out at them.
    Nothing.
    When the door began to close again, Morgan stepped through, waiting for Katie to follow. It took everything not to burst into a run as they crossed the lobby silently. The guard on duty at the desk barely looked up as they passed through the metal- detectors. They had decided prior to going through with this that they’d leave any guns behind, and she kept expecting the guard to open fire on her, or more of her father’s burly sentinels to come racing out, guns blasting. Katie could barely breathe. Her heart beat so rapidly she was afraid she’d faint as they moved through the rotating doors out into the darkness of the night.
    They walked quickly, crossing the street and heading for the bar. She didn’t dare speak until they had gone half a block. She began to skip a little. They’d freakin’ done it! Besides a little stress, it had been actually easy! “I think we just freakin’ did it!”
    “Keep walking,” Morgan hissed in a low voice.
    The messenger bag bumped against her hip. The one Morgan wore swung due to its being empty. She saw the bar’s light looming ahead and she reached for Morgan’s hand. “I can’t believe—”
    “Katie, get in the car and go.” Morgan pushed her hand away. The words were quiet but laced with seriousness.
    She hesitated. “What? I thought we were going to the bar.”
    “Do it now.”
    She looked up at him, but his eyes were riveted to the fronts of the buildings they were passing. Her gaze went to the reflective windows, and a squeak came from her mouth. There was a car behind them, driving slowly, not passing them.
    She managed to swallow the bile that rose in her throat. “I-I think you should drive.”
    “No. We’re splitting up. I’ll take the bike and divert them.”
    “Maybe it’s just someone heading to the bar.”
    “It’s a fucking black Cadillac,” Morgan said, his voice still low. “You need to go, Katie. If we go into the bar they’ll shoot the whole place up. Or blow it up. Whatever’s easier.”
    She had to force her body, almost paralyzed with fear now, to keep moving. There were other people on the street, walking and entering and exiting the restaurants and bars. The Cadillac wouldn’t try to take them out there and risk killing the wrong person. She moved close to Morgan and whispered, “Shouldn’t we stay in sight of other people?”
    “You have to get out of here. Go! Now. Run for the car right. Now.” He pushed her forward and turned to head down a side street that led around to the bar.
    It happened so fast. In the same moment she took off, the clunky shoes and clothes weighed her down momentarily. She turned her head long enough to see Morgan leap out into the street, right into the path of the car. It screeched to a halt. She picked up speed, praying and weeping silently as she reached the dark parking lot and her car. He had pretended to go down the alley, knowing she would be watching him.
    She revved the car’s engine just as Morgan made it to his bike and kicked it thundering to life. He lifted the messenger bag and tucked it tight against him in a clear taunt. Katie hauled ass for the street beyond,