A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 187

Rowan hadn't expected her to be so blunt. He raised an eyebrow, about to reply, when her phone started ringing.

The phone was on the bed between them, and both of them caught the caller ID.

It was Tanya Foster.

It was the middle of the night—if nothing was wrong, Tanya would never be calling now. Elissa snatched up the phone and answered, "Hello? Tanya, is everything okay?"

"I just got back," came Tanya's muffled voice, thick with emotion—she sounded lost. "Why aren't you home?"

Elissa shot upright. "I—I'm at Rowan's. I'll come home right away."

Rowan's expression soured. He pressed her back down by the shoulder, refusing to let her go.

"Who's more important to you, me or Tanya Foster?"

What was this, some grade school drama? Elissa sighed. "Do you want the honest answer?"

Rowan's eyes narrowed. "Yeah."

"Right now? Tanya Foster."

She felt his grip slacken. Worried Tanya really was in trouble, Elissa hurried off.

Rowan watched her leave. His shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly as a flash of self-mockery passed through his eyes.

Right now, it was Tanya Foster.

But before? It had been him.

He'd once been the most important person to that girl he'd practically raised.

But not anymore.

Back home, Elissa kicked off her shoes and spotted Tanya sitting on the carpet, knees drawn to her chest, leaning against the edge of the sofa—a posture that screamed insecurity.

Hearing Elissa come in, Tanya glanced up, red-eyed, drained, but still couldn't resist prying: "You and your ‘brother'… there's something going on, isn't there?"

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