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But it still feels wrong.

I pull back with a sigh. As if this is everything I want. I take another sip. Then another. Then the rest.

He watches me drink. “A refill?”

“Thanks, yeah. I just need… bathroom.” I slip inside the equally corporate space, take a few deep breaths, look at my reflection and tell myself to snap the fuck out of it.

This is my job. I’m good at it.

Matteo isn’t fucking that up.

Fuck it, let’s go.

I undo the buttons of my blouse to show off my sheer bra.

Yorgos smiles as I step into the main room. That’s more like it. He meets me in the middle of the hallway, wraps his arms around me, pulls me into a tight embrace.

“Damn, Jamie.” He traces a line from my collarbone to the space between my breasts. “I wish it didn’t have to go this way.”

I try to push him off, but he’s too strong.

With his free hand, he presses a needle into my arm.

My veins rush with warmth.

“Don’t worry. I won’t take advantage when you’re unconscious. I’m not that kind of guy.” He looks down at me with regret in his eyes. “But damn… This would have been so fucking fun.”

I feel his arm firm against my low back as my world goes black.

Slowly, my surroundings come into focus. While walls. A dresser covered in trinkets. A student desk. A small bed.

The sky is still dark, but I can’t tell if it’s been an hour or ten.

I try to move my arms. Nothing. They’re handcuffed to the chair. The chain is around a wood slat. I can break that. I’ll still be handcuffed but I’ll be far more mobile.

The zip ties around my ankles are another story. I can break those too. But not in this position.

I just need a knife. Or something sharp.

My pockets are empty. My purse is MIA. But my ring is still on my finger. It’s capped, but if I break the slats, I might be able to inject him and buy myself some time.

This thing has enough fentanyl to take down an elephant.

There’s a sound downstairs. Heavy footsteps. The whistle of a kettle. A man humming.

Yorgos. Or one of his minions.

I try to put the pieces together. There’s no reason for him to kidnap me if Raven sent him word I’m working Matteo.

Or maybe that’s it.

He doesn’t buy it.

I don’t know. It’s all fuzzy.

Footsteps move up the stairs. He heard the chains against the chair. Or he’s due to check on me.

I take a deep breath and let out a steady exhale. I’m calm. I’m centered.