Page 41 of Peyton's Price

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“Liam is going to kill me,”Trick muttered under his breath as his sleek Bugatti prowled through the piles of crates and shipping containers like a spaceship from another world. “And when he’s done, Maggie is going to have a turn. She’s had enough nightmares about you going missing as it is.”

Peyton winced, clutching the Caislean-branded duffel bag to her chest. It held all her worldly possessions—a few changes of clothes and her passport, which had been waiting for her on the desk in the suite. “I promise I’ll call her as soon as I can.”

She should have promised to call Liam, too, but she couldn’t make herself do it. Maybe someday he’d understand.

“You better,” Trick sighed. “Are you even sure theOrmen Langeis still here? When we asked the guard back there, he didn’t seem to know what we were talking about.

“I’m sure,” Peyton said. It was crazy, but she did believe it. Matthias was waiting for her. It was the only thing she was certain of.

Trick studied her with troubled eyes. He didn’t have to say it aloud. Trick thought the boat was long gone. The gate guard hadn’t recognized the name. If a mega-yacht were parked at his work, he’d remember the name, wouldn’t he?

Doubt trickled down her spine like sweat. She tightened her grip on the bag.He’s here.He has to be.

It wasn’t until the low-slung Bugatti turned the corner that theOrmen Langecame into view. It rose up like a behemoth in front of them, tied to a massive yellow cleat at the end of a long pier.

Peyton lunged forward, inadvertently straining the seat belt too hard across her chest.

“Holy shit. It’s still here,” Trick said as he steered the car closer to the pier. “I was almost hoping it wasn’t.”

“But it is.” Eyes dancing, she gave him a shaky grin and unbuckled her belt.

He bit his lip, gazing from her to the boat and back again. “You’re really doing this, aren’t you?”

Her heart was beating so loud she was surprised he couldn’t hear it. “I am. Are you going to try to stop me?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

His smile was sad. “Because I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time.”

Peyton threw herself at him. The long divider that separated the seats dug into her side, but she didn’t care. “Trick, you’re the best brother I never wanted.”

He sniffed loudly. “I love you, too, pigpen.”

Peyton pulled away from him with a watery grin. Trick hadn’t called her that in years. He tugged her toward him, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“I’m sorry for the way this ended up. You deserve so much better than my brother, but I didn’t warn you off because, well, I guess I wanted you to be my sister for real.”

This time, her tears were happy ones. “Trick, Iamyour real sister.”

Then she smacked him on the shoulder. “And stop acting like you’re never going to see me again. Despite what you read on the internet, the earth isn’t flat. The boat isn’t going to fall off the end of the world.”

He snorted and nodded, his eyes gravitating to the glowing lights of theOrmen Lange. “Are you sure he’s expecting you?”

Peyton raised a brow, and he chuckled silently. “All right. You’re sure. He better take good care of you.”

She opened the door. “He will,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Trick followed suit, climbing out of the car and looking at her over the top. Peyton slung the strap of the duffel bag. “Maybe I should go with you. Give him hell like a big brother should.”

She tapped the top of the car with the flat of her hand. “Trick, go home to your pregnant wife. I’ll be fine.”

“You know, I think I believe you.” He smiled, but it waned quickly. “I just wish I could say the same for the rest of us.”

Smiling, Peyton dipped her head. She started walking down the pier. But, before she knew it, she started running and laughing as she waved goodbye.

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