Page 141 of The Saint (Gentlemen Rogues 3)
I waited at the cafe like I’d been told. All around me. I watched as pedestrians milled about Covent Garden, going about their shopping, completely oblivious that something else was going on in the world around them. Had I ever been oblivious? Had I ever had that opportunity?
A woman dressed in black leggings, a black tight fit knit top, and black trench approached. Her long coat was sleek, fitted. It had a fur lining. Her blond hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail. Her boots made a clipping sound as she approached. She looked like she belonged on a runway, not taking me to the firing squad. "Miss Kaya Reynolds, I think I'm supposed to pick you up."
"Okay, who the hell are you?"
"Let's say that I am your father's concierge."
"Why does a grown man need a concierge?"
"Ah, you're a cheeky one. Of course, he anticipates that. And he's looking forward to it. But I'm afraid we have a schedule to keep, so if you’ll follow me."
"I don't want to follow you. Where are we going?"
"You know, that's really not a good question to ask. And I can't tell you anyway, so please just come with me."
I hesitated, and she frowned. "You reached out to us. I mean, it was inevitable, after all. But I just wanted to make it clear that if you're not sure, it's too late for that."
I frowned back at her. "Fine, let's get this over with. Take me to the boogeyman. What does dear old Dad prefer to be called?"
Her ruby red lips parted into a sardonic smile. "You can call him Antonio. And I would tell you not to be afraid, but that would be foolish."
"Of course, it would be. "
"But I will assure you that your father doesn't want to hurt you. That's not what he has in mind. He needs you for other things."
"Oh, you mean the fact that I'm his daughter?"
She cocked her head. "Sure, let's start with that."
"Where are we going?"
"I'm taking you home."
I bit my bottom lip. "Just like that?"
"Come with me."
Did I really have a choice? "Fine. Let's go."
The ride through London was familiar and at the same time foreign. It wasn't something I’d anticipated. I didn't know where we'd go or what it would entail. I did think that I would be blindfolded at some point. Which worried me.
We stopped at Mayfair, and I glanced around. "Where are we?"
"Mayfair, love. We'll just be switching over to another car."
I frowned. "Switching cars?"
"I have already scanned you. I can see you don't have a device on you. But we'll just make sure no one's tailing us via drone or anything. We can never be too careful."
In the garage she entered, I climbed out and then she led me to a sleek Aston Martin. "I suppose this is one of my father's cars?"
She nodded. "Now, I do have to apologize."
"For what?" I asked warily.
"For this. It can't be helped."
Suddenly, I could feel a shadow behind me, and then a black bag was just yanked over my head, and I was summarily shoved inside the back seat of the car.
