A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 176

It didn't matter; she still had plenty of time.

As long as there were no other women around him, she believed that persistence would eventually wear him down.

–

After taking her medication, Tanya Foster grew drowsy and went to bed.

The living room was empty and quiet. Elissa picked up her iPad, ready to unwind in bed with some reality TV.

Just as she stood up, her phone lit up—there was a new WhatsApp message.

Brother: [Come over for dinner.]

She'd always saved Rowan's contact as "Brother." Even after she'd taken him off her block list, she'd forgotten to change it.

Elissa glanced at the clock. Lorraine had only gone over five minutes ago.

Why should she go now?

To be the third wheel?

Elissa typed back: [Already ate.]

In truth, she hadn't. Tanya was sick and had to avoid seafood, so Elissa had ordered the blandest porridge she could find—so plain it barely tasted of anything. She'd only had a couple of mouthfuls herself.

Rowan replied instantly: [Do I need to come get you?]

She could picture his tone through the screen—cold, leaving no room for argument.

Not wanting him to actually come over, Elissa quickly set down her tablet, grabbed her phone, and headed out.

Standing outside his apartment door, she hadn't even pressed the doorbell when her phone buzzed again.

[902079, let yourself in.]

His door code.

She froze, a little caught off guard.

Her mind instantly wondered under what circumstances he'd given Lorraine that code. Maybe she was just one of many women who knew the way into his apartment.

She forced herself to stop thinking about it, keyed in the numbers, and stepped inside, slipping off her shoes and changing into her own slippers.

Suddenly, he stood up, pulled her into his arms, and lifted her onto the edge of the table, forcing her to meet his gaze. "So, princess, what's really bothering you? Would you rather be having dinner with that fake ex-husband of yours?"

He sounded irritated.

Elissa didn't know how to answer. What was she to him, anyway? Just a lover—no right to ask about Lorraine, or to care. Yet she couldn't help herself.

Dangling her feet above the floor made her even more anxious. She avoided his eyes. "I told you, nothing's wrong."

The tension hung between them.

Rowan braced his hands on either side of her thighs, caging her in. "Want me to carry you to bed?"

She couldn't help thinking where that would lead.

She shook her head. "Can we do that another time?"

Her period was probably not quite over.

Rowan's face turned cold at her repeated refusals. He stepped back, jaw tight, and jerked his chin at the door. "Then go."

His voice felt like shards of ice.