Chapter 3

Before I could answer, heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway.

They were followed by the metallic clink of restraints.

"Eleanor? Are you in there?" Harrison called through the oak door, his voice full of fake concern. "I've contacted the doctors at the psychiatric hospital. You're dangerous tonight. We need to take you in immediately."

He could not even wait until tomorrow. He was doing it tonight.

Cold terror spread through me as I searched the room for an escape.

Mara quickly hid the corkscrew, grabbed the back of my dress, and shoved me behind the wide velvet curtains.

"Quiet. Unless you want them to drag you away for electroshock therapy, stop breathing," she warned against my ear.

The door flew open. Harrison stormed inside with two large male orderlies.

"Where is she?" Harrison roared.

Mara stepped calmly from the shadows beside the desk, holding a bottle of Lafite and playing the part of a sommelier who had wandered into the wrong room. "I'm sorry, sir. Mrs. Bell asked me to bring her a bottle, but she went to the restroom."

Harrison scanned the room suspiciously. Behind the curtain, I clamped a hand over my mouth while cold sweat soaked my evening gown.

"Search the restrooms! Tie that crazy woman down!" Harrison shouted before turning away.

The footsteps gradually faded.

Mara ripped the curtain aside. "Looks like your Prince Charming can't wait to attend your funeral."

I stuffed every document from the safe inside the lining of my skirt, then threw open the second-floor window.

A violent storm raged outside. The Napa night looked like a beast with its jaws open wide. Below us was a maze of grapevines and steel trellis wires. One bad landing could break every bone in my body.

But I had no choice.

"Mara." I climbed onto the windowsill as rain struck my face. "Harrison froze my car and all my cards. If you have a vehicle, get me out of here. Once I take back the winery, I'll use everything I have to repay the life my father owes yours."

Mara stared at me for three long seconds.

Then she swung onto the windowsill with effortless speed.

"Stop talking. Jump." She caught me around the waist and pulled us both into the black storm.