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Standing now too, he puts on his sweats. He grumbles something I can’t make out, but it sounds like a promise.
“Wha—?” I look up and see the cuffs dangling from the headboard. “How did you do that?”
While I’m here thinking he’s some kind of Harry Houdini, he bursts my bubble fairly easily when he says, “They’re fake, Andie.”
“Fake?” They seem real to me.
He grabs them and shows me. “See this lever? It’s a safety. Anyone stuck in these can get out by pulling it.”
“Why would Miri have…” In that moment, it dawns on me why my kinky friend would have something like this. I smack my palm against my forehead. “Figures.”
“Maybe she doesn’t know.”
My brow furrows as I pluck them from Gavin’s fingers. “She dated a cop a few years ago. He was a cheater. Turned out he was married. I wonder if he lied about being a cop too.” I raise my eyes to him. “How long have you known they’re fake?”
“Since the moment you put them on me. They didn’t feel real.”
I glance back at the cuffs, lifting them, weighing them. He’s right. They don’t feel real. These are much lighter, flimsier. I should know.
“You’ve been cuffed before?” I ask him.
“Yes.”
“Did you go to jail too?”
He shakes his head. It doesn’t surprise me. Rich men have ways of getting out of sticky situations.
Then, a thought hits me. “Why didn’t you leave when you had a chance?”
“Because...” He pauses, his lips parting slightly then shutting, then parting again.
But before he can come up with an explanation, the front door opens and the house is suddenly so loud with excited chatter, it shuts him up.
“They’re back from school,” I say.
Gavin extends his wrists to me. “You want to put them back on?”
“What’s the point.”
“You could tie me up with the rope again,” he offers with a grin. “That was hard to get out of.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure out a way.” I slide open the top drawer of the nightstand, and search the bottom for the keypad. I enter my security code, and a small panel pops open. When I point the 9mm Glock his way, he narrows his eyes. “The cuffs may not have been real, but I assure you, this is. I can also assure you, I’m a good shot. You try to run before time is up, you’re going to end up with a nasty headache.”
18
GAVIN
The Red Hotel and Casino Has Shut Down Temporarily.
One of Las Vegas most exclusive resorts has been temporarily closed after a series of explosions on the fourth and fifth floors forced the evacuation of its guests and staff. Patrick Bardin, Vice President of Red Trust, confirmed via e-mail that the explosions were caused by two malfunctioning generators located on those floors. Although damage was minimal, inspectors are still waiting for police to complete all investigations before clearing the building for business.
I put down Lola’s tablet. After she overheard, I’m sure purposely, me asking Andie for a way to check on things and was once again denied, the kid concocted a plan. She’d allow me to use ten minutes of her online time if I agreed to eat the Brussels sprouts being made for dinner.
It was a no brainer. Though I fucking hate those bitter mini cabbages too, I’d eat rotten eggs for access to the outside world.
When her mother wasn’t looking, Lola placed the device under the mattress. I made the excuse of a headache and snuck away while the women were busy cooking.
I’m not sure how much to believe of what’s being reported in the news. With five minutes left on the timer, I decide to log in to my secure server and check for any messages. There are two e-mails that standout from all the usual business bullshit I receive every day.
