Tali groaned and rolled onto her back, her arm over her eyes. "What makes you think I'm even going to tell you where that bridge is?"

"I understand you have a dog?"

Tali sat up to look at Ben, propping herself up with one elbow. "What does that have to do with anything?"

He shrugged, nonchalant. "I'm just saying it would be very simple for me to find him another home."

"Her," Tali corrected him out of habit. "And that's really low."

He sighed and held out his hand. Jessica, who Tali hadn't even noticed until then, handed him a tablet. "Really, Natalie, I was hoping you would see reason. I don't like having to stoop to threats."

Tali rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure, you seem really reluctant."

A few taps to the tablet, and then Ben handed it over to Tali. "I think this speaks for itself."

Apprehensively, Tali took the tablet, turning her attention to its screen. A gasp escaped her lips. On the screen was what appeared to be a livestream of her parents' living room.

"I understand you have family living in Nevada?"

Tali looked up at Ben in horror, then back at the tablet. Her brother, Nick, was crossing the living room in his boxer shorts and white tee-shirt, guzzling a Red Bull. He paused, talking to someone off the screen. Then, Tali's mom walked in and took the Red Bull from him, giving him a good scolding.

Tali nearly dropped the tablet and ended up gripping it until her knuckles turned white. "How did you...?" She swallowed, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.

Ben halved the distance between them, keeping his gaze on her, his expression steady and serious. "Just understand that I will do whatever it takes to get what I want."

Defeated, Tali set the tablet next to her on the bed. "All I have to do is show you the bridge? You'll let me come back home after that?"

Ben looked offended at the notion. "Of course. I never said I wouldn't."

Tali looked at her hands. It looked like she had no choice but to show him the bridge. She still had no idea why he was so obsessed with it, but perhaps she could keep him from trying to buy it or destroy it or something.

She got up from the bed. "All right, I'll take you. But it's all the way in Tennesse. Unless we're taking a plane, it will take a few days to get there."

Ben smiled. "That won't be a problem. Jessica, contact my agent at King's County to have the jet ready within the hour."

"Right away, sir." Jessica pulled out her phone and stepped out of the room.

Tali sighed. "I don't know why I'm even surprised." She grabbed her purse. "Can I at least call somebody to take care of my dog while I'm gone?"

"If you give Jessica your apartment key, she'll make sure your dog is well-cared-for." 

Tali narrowed her eyes. "You really think I'd trust your assistant with my dog after that threat you made?"

Ben raised an eyebrow. "You really think I'd trust you to make a phone call?

Tali huffed and threw her hands in the air. "Fine. Whatever. Let's just get going. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back."

"All right. We can get breakfast at the lounge."

Ben led her out of the room and down the stairs. After a quick trip to the restroom to straighten herself up, then giving Jessica her keys and specific instructions on how to take care of Penny and what to feed her, Tali followed Ben down into a spacious seven-car garage.

"We'll take the Lucid Air," Ben said, taking a set of keys off a hook next to the door. "No need to waste gas on a 15-minute drive to the airport."

Tali couldn't help but stare at the seven cars parked inside the roomy, underground garage. "Why do you have so many cars?"

Ben shrugged. "Different cars for different occasions." He pointed to a car in the middle of the garage. "Get in." He approached the car, which automatically unlocked and lit up.

The car was a lot smaller than she expected for a multi-millionaire, but upon opening the door she discovered that it was still really fancy and posh, smelling distinctly of leather. She sighed and slid into the passenger seat. She was not looking forward to being in a small space with her captor for hours on end. 

Ben slipped into the driver's seat, closing the door behind him. The screen on the dashboard came to life, and Ben tapped a few buttons to start the car and open the garage. The door behind them rumbled open, exposing the garage to the crisp, pre-dawn air.

As Ben switched on the seat warmer and heater, Tali suddenly realized something was missing. "Aren't we taking any luggage? Or are we flying there and back before evening?"

"Don't worry about it," Ben said. "I'll purchase everything we might need when we get there."

Tali shook her head in disgust, muttering under her breath, "Stupid rich people."

"I heard that," Ben said. "You didn't seem to have much of a bias against rich people when you thought I was going to commission a painting."

Tali decided to ignore that comment. She continued to ignore Ben even as he backed out of the long driveway, the headlights switching on automatically in the dark morning. Ben turned the car around, pulled out onto the street, and headed in the direction of the King's County Airport.