I reached out to touch it, fighting back happy tears.
“This isn’t a proposal, exactly,” Mercer admitted. “But it is meant for your ring finger. Will you wear it?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
He pulled it out of the box, then grabbed my paint-covered left hand. Wiping some of the dried paint off with the hem of his shirt, he slid the ring on.
It was a perfect fit.
They must have had help to set this up. No way this man just randomly guessed my ring size successfully. And how had they gotten this jewellery when we hadn’t gone out anywhere? My sisters played a part in this, maybe Mom too.
And I was thankful for them, because I loved my gifts, as unnecessarily extravagant as they were.
“You look great wearing all these things from us,” he admired. “Can’t wait until the others see you.”
“Thank you.” I wrapped my arms around his neck in a hug, hoping he didn’t mind if I got paint on his clothes. It should be dry by now. Probably. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. Let’s go meet Lavinia and the guys, alright?”
I hugged him tighter, taking a deep breath.
They could give me all the distractions in the world, but I would have to face reality eventually.
Tomorrow, we would make our move, and Benjamin would show his final cards. We just had to hope they weren’t stronger than ours.
Chapter
Forty-Six
TALIA
Our plan hinged on me being bait for my evil bondmate.
I’d go to my meeting with Brooks O’Connor while my pack, Lavinia, and Emilia waited in a surveillance van nearby. When I was done, I’d go out the back door of the hotel, pretending to be utterly oblivious.
That would be when it made the most sense for him to strike, but my pack would get to him first.
It sounded simple. The hardest part, on paper, was getting off the Alfieri property in the first place. We’d enlisted Gears and Odetta to create a distraction, allowing us to slip away without my fathers noticing a thing.
Once we’d escaped with our surveillance van—borrowed from the family garage—I’d gotten out and switched to a cab. Getting dropped off in a white van would be far too suspicious. They tailed the cab the whole way to Medley Island, but pulled off into the back alley instead of entering the hotel’s drop-off area.
I was alone for now.
Until I could get back to my pack, it was only me and my bond with Benjamin. Me and his negativity poisoning my mind.
I exhaled as the driver pulled up to the entrance of the Jubilee Harbourfront Hotel. He’d barely put it in park before I was out, letting the crisp breeze dry my sweaty skin. If I paused, I’d lose my nerve.
I definitely hadn’t done enough therapy sessions to be here yet.
“Thanks for the ride.” I passed the driver a hundred dollar bill when he came around the car.
He thanked me, getting back in and driving away as I adjusted my purse over my shoulder. The luxury hotel doors opened and closed in front of me, well-dressed men and women coming and going.
I fit in with them. Lavinia had set me up with a professional, casual look. A long sleeve blouse in a dark red colour and tan fitted slacks, with a pair of simple flats. My hair was tied up into a tidy bun, and Odetta had put on my makeup this morning.
With my trembling hands, I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself.
Clutching my purse, I walked into the hotel before I could lose my nerve.
