A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 247

“Sir…”

Evan knew just how much his boss cared about Miss Elissa, but he couldn’t help but remind him, “The Meridia Country project… it’s critical for our overseas business—”

Ian didn’t try to persuade him. After glancing at the booking app, he responded crisply, “Sir, the earliest flight isn’t until tomorrow at noon.”

“Then apply for a private route.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ian immediately dialed the number to request clearance for the private jet.

He understood that if anything happened to Miss Elissa, nothing else would matter to his boss.

There had been a time, years ago, when his boss had no choice but to put the family feud—the blood debt for his parents—above everything else. For Elissa’s safety, there was no other way.

If he hadn’t fought back then, if Matriarch Paige Murphy had completely crushed them, both he and Elissa would have been nothing more than prey on the chopping block.

But now, as long as he had any say in it, Elissa would always come first.

—

The black Maybach sped toward the hospital.

Elissa drifted back to consciousness, groggy and disoriented, in Frank’s arms.

As soon as her eyes fluttered open, Frank’s worried voice met her ears. “Elissa, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? We’re almost at the hospital.”

“I’m fine.”

Her throat was raw from smoke, her voice hoarse. “I just want to go home. Vistapeak Gardens, please.”

Feeling the warmth of his body through her clothes, she instinctively braced herself against the seat, trying to move away.

She didn’t like being this close to him.

He’d always been a gentleman—at least in public. But he was the type to offer words, not gestures. What had gotten into him tonight?

No, she corrected herself—he’d been acting off for a while now. But tonight felt different, almost as if he’d made some kind of decision.

She pulled her hand free and looked down at him. “That call you got earlier, at the industrial park—what was it about?”

She was certain everything had changed with that call. He’d been ready to leave with Marcia, but after answering, he’d suddenly rushed back to save her.

Frank’s eyes grew even softer at the memory. “Let’s get you patched up first. I’ll tell you everything once we’re home.”

This mattered too much to him. He needed space and time to explain it all to Elissa properly.

Looking back on their three years of marriage, he realized just how much he’d gotten wrong.

“Alright,” Elissa said quietly, letting the nurse finish cleaning her wounds.

The truth was, she wasn’t all that afraid of pain. But every time the cotton swab touched her skin, Frank’s brow would knit just a little tighter.