Arranged for Pleasure by Lacey Thorn Read Free Book Online Page B

he was even all the way in the door.
    “You’re not going to fucking believe this,” Adrian exclaimed. “I went to check in with the detectives working this, to see if they had any updates when a call came in.” He shook his head in frustration. “She’s gone.”
    “What? Who?” Kat was already reaching for her phone, afraid of Adrian’s reply.
    “Juliana Marino,” he said. “She escaped some time during the night. No one’s seen her, and no one has any idea where she is.”
    “I need to call Tara and River,” Kat exclaimed as she headed down the hall toward her bedroom with her phone already pressed to her ear.
    “I don’t think Tara and River will be in any danger,” Rafe said once Kat was gone.
    Liam nodded. “I think she’s coming here. This is where it all began, only makes sense she’d come here to end it. Especially if her boyfriend is following Kat.”
    “Shit, we need to know who’s helping her,” Adrian grunted. “Catch one of them, catch both of them.”
    “Maybe that’s the key,” Rafe said. “We figure out where Juliana’s headed, try to get one step ahead of her. Let her lead us straight to her accomplice.”
    “At least it’s a plan,” Liam agreed. “We need to keep our eyes on Kat at all times.”
    Adrian and Rafe nodded in agreement.
    “Nothing happens to her,” Rafe stated and there was no argument from the other two.
    “I’ve got an idea,” Adrian said. “Just keep a logical head and hear me out. I’ve already ran this past the locals and they’re on board.”
    “You really trust them?” Rafe asked.
    Adrian nodded. “They want her caught more than you could imagine. This is a P.R. nightmare for them, and the last thing they need with the fallout from the chaos Detective Marino made.”
    “All right.” Liam conceded. “What’s the plan?”
    Ten minutes later they were more than ready to go looking for Kat in the bedroom.
    * * * *
    Tara didn’t answer. The phone went to voicemail, and Kat hung up and dialed her brother. Voicemail again. She dialed Tara again.
    “What happened?” Tara greeted her, sounding out of breath.
    Kat caught the sob in her throat, not realizing just how worried she’d been until she heard her friend’s voice. “Are the guys with you?”
    “Yes, we’re all right here. What’s going on, Kat?”
    “She’s escaped. No one knows where she is.”
    “Shit!” Tara exclaimed, and Kat could hear Tara explaining to the guys. She wasn’t surprised when her brother Charlie came on the line.
    “Where are you? Are Rafe, Liam, and Adrian with you?”
    “Yes,” Kat answered. “Don’t leave her alone, Charlie.”
    “I won’t,” he promised. “Don’t try to be the hero here, Kat. Stay low. Stay hidden. Let them protect you.”
    “I’m not going to do anything stupid. Believe it or not, I don’t have the death wish everyone seems to think I do.”
    “Promise me, Kat.”
    “I promise.” She promised not to be stupid. She promised to do everything to keep the people she loved safe. She promised to find Juliana and put an end to this for good. “Now put Tara back on for a minute.”
    “Love you, sis.”
    “I love you, too.”
    “Hey.” Tara’s voice came back on the line.
    “Don’t go anywhere alone, Tara. She’s been there once. She knows where you are and how to get to you.”
    “I know.”
    “I’m sure Dasan’s already making calls to alert the local police department. Make sure you keep your gun on you at all times.”
    “I will. Same goes for you. She could be coming after you. She said someone was watching you. It makes sense she’d come there, find him. Maybe that’s what he’s been waiting on.”
    Kat sighed. She really hoped that was it. She wanted this to end. She, River, and Tara had been through enough. They deserved to embrace the happiness they’d found, to live and love and laugh every day for the rest of their lives. Just a short time ago, she wouldn’t have put herself in with them. That was