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My stomach turns at the idea. I remember Xavier’s parties all too well, and if his brother is as similar to him as I think it is, another nightmare is in store tonight.
I turn my head to the side, shutting my eyes and trying to pretend none of this is happening.
“Come now, Adelina,” Xander says softly. “Aren’t you excited to meet my friends?”
I swallow the reply on the tip of my tongue. I know better than to argue now—it’s only going to get me in even more trouble if I open my mouth again. This seems to disappoint Xander, and he sighs before clicking his fingers again. My cuffs are unlocked and I’m allowed to get up as a silent maid hands me a bright red dress.
“Put that on, and hurry,” Xander tells me coolly. “We have to go now.”
I put on the dress, feeling myself retreat in my mind. If I pretend this isn’t happening for long enough, maybe it will all go away.
A maid combs my hair and makes quick work of doing my makeup. Xander hooks an arm through mine and leads me down the marble staircase in his luxurious mansion into the dining room. There are about a dozen men gathered around a long dining table, and my heart skips a beat with relief as I realize I don’t recognize any of them. Thank fuck, because the last thing I need is to blow my cover right now. But none of these men will recognize me.
I’m forced to sit down between Xander and another man who drinks me up with his eyes. The first course is placed before me and as much as I want to fight my hunger, I haven’t eaten in ages and I’m starving.
I’m wolfing down my food while Xander talks jovially with his friends. Then the double doors leading into the dining room open, and another man saunters in.
He’s younger than the rest, carrying himself in a way that’s almost cocky. He smirks and says, “Sorry I’m late, Don Xander. I had some last-minute errands to run.”
“Rex,” the man who’s holding me captive smirks. “Take a seat and say hello to our captive. Adelina?”
“Where is she?” The man’s eyes search the guests sitting at the dining table before stopping on mine. He smirks and my stomach does a somersault. The man looks familiar, and that frightens me. “Well well well, what do we have here?”
“That’s her,” Xander smirks. “Introduce yourself, Adelina.”
But my mouth has gone dry and I can’t get a single word out. I stare at the man, slowly remembering why he looks so familiar. I’ve seen him before, with Xavier. The first time was during that awful dinner years ago, when Xavier first took me.
Please God, I pray silently. Don’t let Rex recognize me.
“That’s not Adelina,” the man says firmly. “That’s Rain Ferrell. Or should I say Gunn?”
A deathly silence lays over the room as everyone drinks in this information. I stare at my plate, my heart sending shock waves of fear through my body. I’ve never been more afraid, not with Xavier and not with Heath. But Xander... he’s going to kill me now for lying to him.
Moments pass excruciatingly slowly, and then Xander’s hand wraps around my face and he forces me to look at him. His face is a mask that hides the rage that lies beneath.
“You lied to me?” he asks, his tone almost sweet. “Everything has been a lie?”
“I...” I swallow my reply when his hand hits my cheek, slapping me so hard my world spins on its axis. “I’m sorry, I was trying not to die.”
“Not to die?” He laughs out loud before letting out a low whistle. “I can’t believe my luck. I thought all I had was a little plaything of Heath’s, but somehow I’ve stumbled across the most wanted woman in the cartel.”
Rex sits down with a shit-eating grin. “I’m glad I could help, boss.”
“This changes everything,” Xander mutters. “Every fucking thing.”
My blood runs cold as I’m forced up and marched out of the room. What the hell is he going to do to me now?
Back in my bedroom, I’m cuffed again and left wondering what’s going to happen to me once Xander decides how to punish me. I finally let the tears fall when I’m alone, allowing my mind to wander to Heath.
I’ve forced myself not to think of him while I’m here. The mere thought of my savior, the boy with charcoal eyes, is almost too much to handle. And now that I know Xander will undoubtedly punish me, I’m more afraid than I’ve ever been.
“Wake up.”
My eyes flutter open. For a moment, I’m unsure where I am until I meet the icy gaze of Xander sitting on my bed. I pull myself up as well as I can with the handcuffs limiting my movement.
