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A knock rattles the silence, and I freeze. Memories of Viper's cruel regimen rush to the forefront, but I push them away, straightening my back. I won't bow, not again. My new captors will learn I'm no meek prey. Yeah right.
A second knock, impatient. “For Christ's sake, Destiny, would you open the goddamned door?” That voice, edged with irritation—it's her.
Destiny. A name that tastes like ash. My pulse quickens as I summon my courage, testing the waters. “Leave me alone.”
“Oh, for God's sake.” A crash, and she's inside, a loaded tray in hand. She's all sharp angles, her eyes like weapons. I sink to the floor, feeling her scrutiny, a judgment passed without words. “Get up off the goddamned floor.”
I stay put, a stubborn ember refusing to be snuffed.
Her disdain is clear. “Fine, stay there for all I care. Your brunch is on the table. Eat. Looks like you haven't had a good meal in months.” At the press of a button, the windows shade, turning opaque. Smart glass. Fascinating and terrifying, all at once.
Her words continue, clipped and brisk, telling me about clothes, meals, the new reality I've been thrust into. But I can't help it; I need to know more. “What's your name? Where am I? Why am I here? You can't hold me against my will, you know.”
Silence.
Then, chillingly calm: “Are you talking to me?”
That voice is like ice, cutting through me. Damn, I messed up, pushed when I should've been careful. The weight of what's really going on starts to sink in. I've seen some stuff, but this is something else, hidden behind all the fancy crap and pretty things. It's not just money; there's something else going on here.
The answers to my questions? They're just hanging there, like some unspoken dare. Who's this ice queen glaring at me? What's with this place that feels more like a gilded cage? And those eyes, staring into me like they know something I don't—what's up with that? It's all a tangled mess, and I'm right in the middle of it.
I'm stuck in this maze of riches and secrets, and finding my way out feels like grasping at straws in a pitch-black room. But there's something else poking at my brain. A connection, a vibe or something, and I can't shake it—it's there, hanging around like a ghost.
I give a nod, but my eyes are still on some invisible dirt on the floor.
She laughs, that husky sound she's got. “Name’s Sasha Byrne. My bad, I should've told you that sooner. Jaden Stone's the one who got you out of that mess. You're in his crib now. Why? Good question. And hey, you can hit the road whenever you want. But for now, get up.”
Here we go. I brace myself, pulling in a sharp breath, waiting for the beating to hit. I get to my feet, but my eyes are locked on some spot that doesn't really exist.
Sasha's there, right in front of me, and I'm trying my hardest not to back away. I hate pain, yeah, but what I hate more is looking weak. Her hand shows up in my sight, and I can't help but twitch a bit. She grabs my right hand, and her fingers, strong and warm, wrap around mine.
She's looking for a handshake? I awkwardly grab her hand back, and she gives it a firm squeeze, yanking me up.
“That wasn’t so bad, huh? Now spill, what's your name?”
Time to play dumb. “Destiny,” I mumble, keeping my head down but stealing glances at her from the corner of my eye.
Sasha's standing there, towering over me like some fierce warrior chick, even though she's probably only about five-eight without those massive heels. Slim, blonde, blue-eyed, and rocking those jeans and leather jacket like they're a second skin. She's seriously fit and gorgeous, and I can't help but hate her a bit. But also, I kind of want to be as badass as her. And is she with Jaden? Jealousy slams into me before I can think about it, but then she's turning away.
With an elegant shrug, she says, “Okay, we're here if you need to chat. Your call. You're safe. I'm outta here for a few, but Jaden's around if you need something. Just chill and get better.”
Leaving me here? With him? Alone? Panic jumps in my throat, but I'm not sure why I'd think Sasha's less dangerous. I can't think about that right now, though.
“Where am I, really?” I shoot back. “How do I know it’s safe here?” Her answer might help me figure out this whole twisted puzzle. Maybe.
3
JADEN
The room is dim, lit only by the pale glow of the monitors. Each screen is another eye, another layer of control, but since she’s arrived, they're all trained on Destiny. I broke my own rules bringing her here, to my private space. I could've taken her to Harmony Hills, a fortress of a rehab center, but I didn't. She matters. That thought is an itch in the back of my mind, a contradiction to everything I've known and believed. So is the strange current streaming through me since the moment our eyes met.
Love and all that romantic nonsense have been dead to me since I was a teenager. I've used the appeal of victims to bait traps for predators, sure, but never have I let any of them breach my personal walls. So, what the hell is so different about her? Why do I feel compelled to be with her?
I lead a regimented life; that's how I like it. Sasha, Steve—they're the exceptions to my rule of keeping everyone at arm's length. My life is a pattern: work, eat, sleep. For physical needs, there are Masquerade Clubs, brief dalliances that hold my attention for a time. It's clear-cut, uncomplicated—temporary, always.
Nighttime is for the hunt, for taking down human filth. Daytime, that's for my security firm. I've got a knack for cybersecurity—a gift amplified by some not-so-natural abilities—and both the government and corporations pay me well for it. Opportunities are everywhere, more than I need, more than I can handle.
But here I sit, watching her instead of tackling pressing contracts. She matters. There it is again—that unsettling thought. She stirs something in me, something I’ve locked away deep inside since my teens. Since.... I slam the door to that past shut in my mind. I force myself to look away, to refocus.
