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I don’t recognize the man helping me, but he looks intimidating, and until I figure out what kind of situation I’m in, I’m aware enough to not make him mad.
“Where am I?” I ask as he helps me to the bathroom. My eyes won’t focus well enough to read the logo on the hotel emergency exit plan sign on the back of the door.
“Don’t worry about that right now. I’ll wait for you out here,” the stranger says.
In the bathroom, I shuffle to the toilet as fast as my leaden legs will take me and relieve the pressure on my bladder. It takes more effort than it should to get back up and move to the sink to wash my hands.
I squint at myself in the mirror. There are no bruises or visible injuries, but my muscles are sore, and I know something terrible has happened. After I splash water on my face, I pick up the packet of hand soap on the counter and read the label before I open it to wash my hands. Pink Sapphire. So, I have been here before.
My first thought is that Luke did something to me. But I can’t believe that. His declaration of love was real. I just wish I could remember what happened after I got on that plane. It’s like one minute I was on my way to London, and I curled up in the jet’s bedroom to sleep, and then… nothing.
How long has it been?
A door opens outside the bathroom, and I hear voices.
“Let him know she’s awake.”
Him? Is it Luke, or someone else?
After I dry my hands, I trudge toward the bathroom door and find Mr. Intimidating waiting for me.
“Feeling better?” He hands me a bottle of water, and I gulp it down.
“What’s going on?” I ask, managing to sound almost normal.
“You took a long nap, and now you’re going to help someone with a very important mission.”
I shake my head. “I don’t understand. Luke put me on a plane to London. Why am I still in Vegas?”
He shrugged. “I’m just a hired hand, sweetheart. All I know is you have a role to play. He’ll be here in a little while to give you more details. For now, I’ve been instructed to feed you and let the hair and makeup team know you’re awake.”
Who will be here? Luke, or someone else. This gets more confusing by the second. I’m hungry, but if they’ve already drugged me once, what’s to stop them from doing it again?
But I follow him to a table where a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast sit.
“I can’t eat eggs,” I say, taking a tentative sip of the orange juice next to the plate.
The man lifts an eyebrow. “That might explain why you slept so long. We thought you were going to fuck up the plan.”
So whatever drug they gave me contained egg? My panic has settled in my stomach, and I can’t stand the thought of food, but I force myself to eat the bacon and drink the orange juice, knowing I need some kind of strength.
When I shove the plate aside, my kidnapper—at least I assume he’s my kidnapper—calls someone to say I’m ready. Ready for what, I’m not sure.
To my surprise, a team of hair and makeup artists show up.
“The boss wants her looking perfect,” the man tells the head of the team. She nods and barks orders to each of her assistants before she comes to me and ties my hair back so they can work on my face. I consider asking her for help when the guard’s back is turned, but something tells me she works for whoever is behind my kidnapping, so I just let them work and try to pick up information from their conversation. They keep everything light though, and I don’t hear anything useful.
One woman lays out a dress and lingerie, and when they’re done with makeup she points to the bathroom. “Go get changed.”
I think of fighting, but the man who appears in charge has made sure I’ve seen his gun, so now isn’t the time to throw a fit.
In the bathroom, I strip out of my clothes. I’m still wearing the same thing I had on when I got on the plane. Something clinks against the hard tile floor when I drop my dirty dress. It’s the pin Luke gave me. An unexpected sob escapes, and I clamp a hand over my mouth.
“Now is not the time to fall apart,” I whisper to myself.
The dress I put on is a solid black, floor length formal gown, and I pin the spade to it. It will be barely noticeable, but it brings me a welcome sense of calm.
When I step out of the bathroom, I square my shoulders and look my captor squarely in the eye.
