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I didn’t realise I said that out loud.
“He knows something about me that no one else knows,” I whispered.
“Ah, yes, that is one of his talents. I’m told he’s quite smitten with you, so it figures he would find out everything he could.”
“But it shouldn’t be possible,” I whispered.
Trixie chuckled and handed me a bottle of water. “That’s not a barrier to a man like him. Just know that he has your best interests at heart.”
“Drugging me and kidnapping me?” I asked her incredulously.
“There’s no need to be dramatic. Plenty of women would be thrilled to be in your position.”
What? She was as nuts as he was.
“I made you some soup to help you recover. Now you are awake, I’ll get on with my jobs. Make sure you drink plenty. The bathroom is through there. Don’t get up too fast, or you might fall.”
I stared dumbfounded at Trixie’s retreating form. Despite her calming words, the telltale sound of a key in the lock told me I was a prisoner. I side-eyed the large thermos on the dresser and decided to check the window. Slipping out of bed, my knees buckled as soon as I stood up. I fell forward onto a plush rug and burned my palms. I should have listened to Trixie. Pushing up onto my knees, they wobbled as I hiked my dress up and crawled to the wide windowsill. It was dark outside, but low lighting illuminated a manicured garden and expansive lawn. A huge grey dog trotted across the grass. I sank down the wall next to the window, still feeling shaky.
How the hell did I end up here?
I jolted awake, a stabbing pain in my neck from the angle at which I’d fallen asleep. The door opened, and a dark-haired girl around my age walked in. She wore head-to-toe black and an unreadable expression.
“Are you okay?” Her accent sliced through me, and she frowned as I shrank away. “I’m not here to hurt you. I’m Rada.”
My heart beat out of my chest. Please be wrong, please be wrong.
“Where are you from?”
She frowned at my question. “I live here.”
Something ugly cut across my paranoia. What the hell? Did Sean have a harem here? Not the time. I swallowed past the lump in my throat.
“I mean, your accent.”
She frowned again. “Bulgaria.”
Fuck. The floor dropped away from me. Everything fell into place. That’s why he knew my name, why he took me. He lied to me. He said I was safe. Pain tore through my heart. Were they working together? I cast a frantic look around for a weapon.
“It’s okay. You’re safe here.” The Bulgarian girl, Rada, held her hands out as she came closer, but I shrank back, scrambling away.
I glanced past her, expecting to see one of them. She cursed in Bulgarian. That word I knew. I closed my eyes against the memories as my breaths hyperventilated from me.
“I’ll speak to Loch,” she muttered and left again, locking the door.
I scrambled to my feet, desperate to find an escape. The ground was too far below me to use the window, and my bladder screamed at me, so I stumbled into the bathroom. Shiny marble stretched in all directions. There was a claw-foot bath and an oversized walk-in shower, but my mind barely registered them. I rushed through my business and washed my hands. Mascara ran down my face, and one of my dress straps hung off my shoulder. I needed more practical clothing.
In the main room, I headed for the walk-in closet. Inside, there were men’s and women’s clothes. A bitter ache sliced across my chest. My finger paused over the vast selection of suits. I fell for every trick in the book. Stupid. Stupid girl. Was it a game to him? Make me fall for him. Would he sell me back to Boyan, or did he work for him? Sean didn’t seem like the type to work for anyone.
I shook my head, wishing I could erase the thoughts. Grabbing some yoga pants and a T-shirt, I tried not to think of who they belonged to. There were trainers in my size, a sweatshirt, and a jacket. My head swam for a second, and I clutched the railing.
Dazedly, I stumbled around the room. It was devoid of anything I could use as a weapon. My eyes zeroed in on the metal thermos. I tested its weight. I was sure it would knock someone out if I caught them right. I only needed to startle them so I could bolt out of the door, and then I’d wing it.
I leaned against the wall next to the frame, praying Trixie didn’t come in next. She seemed sweet, but I wouldn’t suffer the same fate as Mamá.
I gripped the canister, its warmth making my palms sweat. I stood for what felt like an hour; my arms ached, my head rushed with crazy thoughts, and I flinched at every slight noise. My heavy breathing was loud in the quiet room. I clutched the warm metal, shifting my feet. My eyes threatened to close a few times, but I slapped my face.
When the lock finally turned, I tensed and lifted my arms. The door opened, and I struck, thumping the thermos against someone’s head.
