A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 366

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"I think I was the one who kicked him," Elissa replied, then realized it was actually plausible. He had gotten hurt in the fight and was blaming it on her!

Tanya couldn't help but laugh. "What happened? Why would you kick him?"

"It was nothing." Elissa's ears burned as she carried the supplies to the corner of the living room designated for Max and started setting things up. She couldn't very well say she'd kicked him because he had forced a kiss on her.

Tanya saw through her but didn't press. She walked over to the dining table and opened the takeout bags. "Come and eat first. I'm starving."

"Okay, be right there." At the mention of food, Elissa realized she was hungry too. She washed her hands and joined Tanya at the table. The two women and one dog made for a harmonious picture.

Tanya glanced at Max, who was sitting politely beside them. "Did you name him?" she asked curiously. "Why Max?"

"…"

Elissa fell silent for a moment. His name was Rowan, so her first idea had been "Wan." Rowan had vehemently rejected it. As a compromise, she had suggested "Max." He'd agreed, but in reality, the name still came from him. An ‘M' was just an upside-down ‘W'.

Elissa was suddenly struck by how much of her life had been shaped by him. It was one thing for her personality to resemble his, but even her dog's name was a part of him.

She was just about to explain the name's origin to Tanya when Frank arrived. He waited patiently while they finished their meal before getting down to business.

He first recounted the news he'd received that morning, then added, "But I just got an update on my way up. They've recovered seven bodies. They're not sure if the last man is dead or if he escaped."