The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,79
there.”
Antony held his breath.
Ella nodded. “I would like that.”
She would—
He hauled her close in a hug. “So the hell would I.”
Her hands locked around him. She held him just as tightly as he was holding her, and hope grew in him. No more scheming. No more desperation. He and Ella could try going forward.
They could—
A phone was ringing. It was four a.m., and he could hear a phone ringing in the house.
Antony’s head lifted. His eyebrows pulled together.
“A four-a.m. call is never good news,” Ella said. Her voice was careful, but worry showed in her eyes.
He nodded, knowing she was right.
The phone kept ringing.
“Go get it,” Ella urged. “I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere. Promise.”
The words meant more than just her staying there in that moment. He could hear the truth. See it. Ella wasn’t afraid of him. She didn’t hate him.
No more running.
He brushed his lips over hers and hurried to snag his phone. The caller had shit timing, and normally, that would mean it was Dex, but the ring tone didn’t belong to his CIA handler. Instead, when he grabbed the phone, Antony saw that the name on the screen was Carson McDonald.
Carson? What the hell? Unease slid though Antony as he swiped his finger over the screen and took the call from his temporary head of security. “Carson, what’s happening?”
“Sorry to call so late, boss—or hell, maybe this counts as early, I don’t know—but…I think we have a situation.”
Antony turned to glance back toward his office. He could see Ella sitting on the desk. “What kind of situation?”
“Is there a particular reason why Ross Vale would be in the office right now?”
At four a.m.? Hell, no, there was no reason for him to be there at that time. In fact, Ross should have been back in Asheville.
“Because I just got a security alert. He used his keycard to get in the building. He’s inside now, and it seemed strange to me. I know he’s your VP and all, but I was a little worried and wanted to check things out with you.”
It wasn’t just strange. It was suspicious. Damning. “Get to the building, Carson. Make sure he doesn’t leave until I arrive. Lock down that place.”
“Sir?” Alarm had his voice rising.
“Lock it down,” Antony snapped again. “I am on my way. I’ll be there as fast as I can.” He gave a few more orders before ending the call. He hurried back to his office.
Ella hopped off his desk. “What’s happening?” she asked immediately.
“Ross Vale is inside the new building. Now.”
“Why? What’s he doing there?”
“Covering his tracks? Or maybe clearing his shit out and running.” That was his suspicion. “Two men involved in the plan to kidnap me are in custody. One is in critical condition, but the other is more than capable of talking. Could be that the man who hired Warren for the job is worried that his identity will be shared with the cops, so he’s trying to clear out now.”
She took a fast step toward him. “You think Ross planned all of this? Your VP?”
Ross had known his schedule. Had known that Antony planned to be at Wilde the day that Axel Walker had tried to launch his first attack. Ross had been to the factory multiple times. He had full schematics for the place. He could have even been out there, hiding, when Antony and Ella were on the scene—when Warren Wills had tried to shoot Ella. Ross could have been there. Now the jerk could be trying to get away and disappear. Not happening. Antony’s hand clenched around the phone. “I think I’m going to have a talk with Ross right now.”
A determined nod. “I think I’m coming with you.”
“Ella?”
Her index finger pointed warningly at him. “Do not start that crap about firing me again. Honestly, why did you even hire me as your bodyguard if you were going to try to jump between me and danger every chance you could get?”
She hadn’t figured that out yet? He closed the last bit of distance between them. “I hired you because I was desperate to get you back. I lied and schemed and prayed that you wouldn’t hate me. But I don’t want you in danger. I never wanted that. If we go in there and that asshole is armed and he starts firing, there is no way I can handle you getting hit.”
Her expression softened. “Have some faith, Antony. I do have training.”