Up to Me - By M. Leighton Page 0,11

that, double doors that open to the bedroom.

I walk straight to the leather-bound hotel guide on the coffee table. Opening it to the menu, I hand it to Olivia.

"I'm sure you're hungry. Why don't you pick something to order from room service. I'll wait until they deliver it to leave."

"Leave? Where are you going?"

"Someone will be calling me back in another forty minutes. I want to be at the club when they do, just in case they can track my GPS. After the call, I'll get us burner phones to use until I can get this taken care of."

"Taken care of? Cash, tell me what's going on."

I sigh. And I think again, Damn, I hate that I dragged her into all this. If I could've just stayed away from her...

"They've got Marissa. They want me to bring the books. They're going to call back one hour from the first call."

"You can't take them the books by yourself, Cash. They'll kill you both! You need to call the police. My uncle is a very influential man. He'll have people moving heaven and earth to get his daughter back."

"Which is why he can never know. Until it's over, that is. It'll be a greater risk to her if we draw attention to it. They'll have more reason to clean up their mess. If I can get this done quietly, get Marissa back, I can figure out a new plan."

"You're going in there alone? To give them what they want and then expect them to let you go? And take Marissa with you? Cash, I don't even know these people and I know that's not what they'll do. Criminals don't work like that."

I want to grin at her. Like she has a lot of experience with criminals. Ha! No doubt, this is all based on some classic mobster movies.

"Olivia, my father knows these people. Better than anyone. I'm not doing anything until I can talk to him. The books are hidden. I'm gonna tell them that they're in a safety deposit box and that I can't get to them until Monday when the banks open. I would've already told them that, but they just told me they had Marissa, to go get the books and they'd call me in an hour with a place to meet."

"So, you're gonna leave Marissa with them until Monday?"

The look in her eye plainly says she thinks that's something a monster would do.

Flattening the binder up against her chest, I step closer to her and cup her cheek with my palm. "If I had any other choice, I wouldn't do this. But I don't. I need time. They won't do anything to her until they get what they want. And I have to be damn sure I've got my ducks in a row before I give them the only leverage I have."

She searches my eyes. And I let her. I know she has trust issues anyway, thinking I'm the bad boy through and through. The reality of my situation only makes things that much worse. If she can just stick with me a little while longer...

"Can you trust me? Please! I know I've not given you many reasons to, but this one time, just go with your heart. I promise you, promise you? I won't let you down."

Even as I say the words, I know there's no way I can make a promise like that. But what I can promise is that, if I do, it won't be because I didn't do everything in my power to live up to being the kind of guy she deserves. I want to be worth the risk. I want her to finally fall for the right guy.

She says nothing, only nods. I know it's hard for her, but the fact that she's willing to try gives me hope. Maybe bringing some familiar things will help ease her mind. I know she dropped her bag just inside the door of her apartment and I didn't pick it up as we were leaving. I'll go by and get it on my way back. Maybe that will make her feel better. But, then again, I'm a guy. What the hell