A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 256

Ian was sweating bullets on Elissa’s behalf, and he was sorely tempted to chew Evan out—again. But before he could, Evan barreled on, “Yeah, after Miss Elissa left the hospital, she went back with Frank.”

“They just reported in—she hasn’t left since.”

As Evan spoke, his annoyance started to show. “Sir, do you think Miss Elissa’s got her head turned by romance again?”

Ian could’ve strangled him then and there.

Why did a perfectly good man have to be cursed with a mouth like that?

Rowan’s lips twitched in a half-smile. “Call her. Ask yourself.”

Evan blinked, caught off guard. “Me? You want me to call her?”

He pointed at himself, hesitant. Was that really appropriate? After all, she was the boss’s daughter—he was just an employee.

Before Evan could protest further, Ian had already pulled out his phone and started dialing. “I’ll call her now.”

Rowan added, “Put it on speaker.”

Elissa, meanwhile, was fast asleep. She never kept her phone volume up, and exhaustion kept her in a deep slumber. If she heard anything at all, it was only as a vague buzz at the edge of her dreams. She had no idea that, despite locking her door, someone else was now in the room.

Frank slipped the room key into his pocket, careful not to wake her as he crossed over to her bedside. He’d heard the phone ringing and was about to silence it when he glanced at the caller ID.

—Ian.

Frank recognized the name immediately. One of Rowan’s men.

Given Rowan’s reach, it was almost certain that last night’s events had made their way overseas. Figuring there was no use pretending otherwise, Frank stepped out onto the balcony, answered the call, and cut straight to the point. “Hello, this is Frank. Tell your boss not to worry—Elissa’s fine.”

On the other end, Rowan’s face went cold. The edge of his mouth curled, as if mocking himself.

Ian was stunned. In his mind, the call would go through, Elissa would answer, and all the rumors sparked by that photo would be put to rest. But now—Frank? Seriously? Who did he think he was, answering her phone?

“Mr. Atwater, where’s Miss Elissa? Why are you picking up her phone?”

“She just fell asleep,” Frank replied, glancing back with gentle eyes at the girl curled up peacefully in bed. Some of the tension left his shoulders.

Ian, noting the shadow that flickered across Rowan’s gaze, felt a pang of discomfort. He forced his tone to be icy. “Next time, please don’t answer Miss Elissa’s phone.”

“I checked. There were definitely bombs set up,” Bernard replied, voice low. “But someone disarmed them. Otherwise, with the fire last night, those explosives would’ve gone off—none of you would have made it out.”

Even now, Bernard sounded shaken.

Frank frowned. “Someone disarmed them?”

Who?

Bernard offered, “Want me to investigate—?”

“No need,” Frank interrupted. “Whoever removed the bombs wasn’t our enemy.”

He paused, then gave a new order. “Look into something else for me.”

“What’s that?”

“The truth about how Elissa’s parents died.”