Page 17 of Secret Seduction

I snatch it from her.

It’s a marriage certificate with both of our signatures. Mine is a bit sloppy, but it’s definitely mine.

“How did you get this?”

I scan the document and find our info—driver’s license numbers, addresses, birth dates …

“Holy shit,” I whisper, glancing up at her. “You’re only twenty-one?”

At this point, I’m just thankful she’s legal since I know nothing about her, but, fuck, she’s a good fifteen years younger than me.

Before Vanessa can answer me, there’s pounding on the door.

“Vanessa! Lorenzo! Open up,” Nicole yells from the other side.

Vanessa’s gaze bounces between me and the door, but she makes no move to get it.

“We need to reverse this,” I say, trying like hell to remain calm when I feel anything but.

Vanessa’s eyes fill with tears, but I don’t allow it to get to me.

She did this, not me. And now we’re going to fix it.

Bri opens the door, and Nicole barges in with Kane following.

“What the hell is going on?” Nicole asks. “I went to your room to find you for breakfast, and Kane said you were in here with Lorenzo.”

“What’s going on is, your psycho stepsister drugged me and forced me to marry her.”

I thrust the paper at Nicole.

“What?” Nicole gasps. “Is that true?”

Vanessa doesn’t say anything.

“Vanessa, is this true?” Nicole asks again.

“I’m sorry,” Vanessa chokes out, her violet eyes pleading with me. “I … I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry?” I scoff. “You’re sorry? Well, since you’re sorry, that makes it all fucking better.”

“Vanessa …” Nicole shakes her head. “I don’t understand why you would do this.”

Tears slide down Vanessa’s cheeks, but she doesn’t say a word.

“Hey, guys,” Kane says. “We’re scheduled to leave in about thirty minutes.”

“I need to go get my stuff,” Vanessa rasps before she hightails it out of the room.

“I’m so sorry,” Nicole says to me. “I don’t know why she did this. This is so unlike her.”

“It’s not your fault,” I tell her, taking the certificate back since I’ll need it to fix this fucking disaster. “I’d better pack my shit. I’ll meet you guys in the lobby.”

Everyone files out, and after checking on Leo, I take a quick shower to wash off last night and then pack my overnight bag. I inspect the room, looking for any evidence from last night, but other than the bed being messy, it doesn’t even look like anyone was in here.

There’s no alcohol or drinks … no condom wrappers.

Fuck. There are no condom wrappers.