Vanessa Fewings - The Chase

With my heart in my throat and my knuckles white from gripping the seat belt too tightly, we banked left, and Tobias’s home shone brightly like a beacon below.

Within minutes we were flying over countryside, homes, farmland, and the city lights shrunk beneath us.

* * *

As I scanned the flickering lights below, it was easy to forget we were suspended merely in a machine, and now and again I braved a glance over at Tobias, who seemed lost in his own thoughts too.

We landed in the middle of a field and, after the blades stilled, we made our way over to an Aston Martin parked beside a deserted barn. This trip had been well thought out apparently.

We sped off into the night.

Large oak trees lined the driveway, arching above as a wooded tunnel and grandly welcoming visitors with its dramatic forest. Onward through the surrounding acres, their landscape shielded by darkness. When we drove over a bridge there came the view of two great lakes.

“They won’t let us land close?” I was forced back into my seat—Tobias accelerated around a corner.

“No-fly zone over the house,” he explained.

The drive up to the mansion was no different to the flight here, with Tobias quiet and our conversation lacking. With him focused on his speed I was happy to let him concentrate.

I could only assume my meandering back at his house had lost us time and he was trying to make up for it.

My breath caught at the sight of the monumental seventeenth-century Baroque palace that dominated the horizon. It was truly the most striking home I’d ever seen. Vast stone pillars towered at the entryway, and before it spread out a splendorous courtyard.

“Wow,” I said in a rush.

“You’re starting to sound like an American,” he said playfully. “We can’t have that now, can we?”

I was too exhilarated to stop my giggle and slapped my hand to my mouth before I embarrassed myself any further.

We parked left of the house, his Aston Martin fitting in perfectly with the other high-end Bentleys, Ferraris and Mercedes-Benzes.

He leaned right and his arm brushed mine. He opened the glove box and reached in and removed two masks. One black and simple, masculine, and the other, which he handed me, was beaded with shiny studs and delicate feathers rising from the top.

“Put this on.” He gestured for me to turn my head so he could help me secure the ribbon behind, his fingertips moving against my hair and making my scalp tingle.

I couldn’t wait to share my adventures back at the office. Elena was going to freak out when I told her about what kind of mission Adley had unwittingly sent me on.

After repositioning my mask to fit perfectly, I pulled down the rearview mirror. My reflection was that of a mysterious sultry siren.

Tobias of course looked gorgeous in his and when he caught me staring at him flashed a grin. “Ready?”

“Yes, I’m excited.”

“You look beautiful.”

I was grateful he’d already gotten out of the car and hadn’t caught my reaction to his compliment. Tobias Wilder had a kind side. And as we were about to spend the evening together at a party, discovering this about him would make tonight easier.

I wondered if it was a Rembrandt we were going to see, and my toes curled with the thrill of seeing the kind of priceless masterpiece reserved for stately homes like this.

Thanking Tobias for holding my door open, I appreciated his strong hand taking mine to help me out of the car.

We strolled up to the front door, which loomed grandly above. Taking those stone steps beneath the elaborate archway highlighting the Roman-themed grandeur.

I straightened my dress. “Why do we have to be out by midnight?”

“Not we, you.” His lips curled into a smile. “I need to protect your innocence.”

I flashed a smile back. “Oh, it’s that old-fashioned tradition where the men retreat to the smoking room in some kind of archaic sexist ritual.”

He wrapped his fingers around my left upper arm. “No, Zara, it’s because that’s when the fucking starts.”

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