A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 492

Over at the research institute, the development of the new drug wasn't overly urgent. Elissa had plenty of time and no longer needed to pull late nights like before.

By early evening, Tanya Foster happened to drive past her building. Elissa packed up her things and hitched a ride home.

The moment she got into the car, Tanya kept her eyes on the road and casually brought it up. "Why do I get the feeling that things between you and Rowan aren't exactly playing out the way you thought they would?"

Elissa blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?" "You never said it out loud, but deep down, you definitely assumed he wasn't going to choose you."

Tanya had seen right through her disappointment the night before. "But today, not even five minutes after you left the house, Rowan showed up."

"From the look on his face, he definitely had something he wanted to say to you." Tanya had dealt with Rowan quite a few times over the years.

Most of the time, the man was stone-faced and entirely self-possessed. But earlier today, Tanya had caught something else in his eyes. It looked a lot like panic.

Elissa was caught off guard. She had assumed that when Rowan left last night, it would be a long time before they interacted again. After all, he now knew that his grandmother was her worst enemy.

She hesitated. "Was he... looking for me?" "Who else?"

Stopped at a red light, Tanya reached over and poked her forehead. "Did you think he was there for me?"

Elissa bit her lip, a faint spark of hope flickering to life in her chest. "Then..."

"I won't need you to keep me company for dinner tonight." Tanya saw right through her and waved a hand dismissively. "Once we get back, go straight to his place. If there's something you guys need to hash out, do it..."

She was cut off by the sharp ringing of her phone.

The caller ID flashed on the dashboard screen, making both women freeze. Silas Foster. Tanya's violently misogynistic father.

Tanya spaced out for only a second before her expression hardened into ice. She hit reject and calmly pressed the gas pedal. Elissa didn't utter a single word of persuasion; she knew better.

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