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He turns away from me, dragging a hand through his hair. He takes a deep breath, regaining his famous icy control. “Whatever the truth is, I’ll find it out eventually. Because you’re staying here until I do. Enjoy Larkspur, Avery,” he adds, heading for the door. “They’re very… hospitable. And I’ve told them you’re in need of extra-special care.”
My logic slips. Fear strikes through me.
“You can’t do this!” I cry, pulling at my restraints until they bite into my skin. I don’t care about the pain; I just need to get out of here. “I’m aperson!You can’t just lock me away like this. It’s wrong, and you know it!”
Sebastian glances back. “You should know by now that I don’t care about right or wrong,” he says coolly. “Winning is all that matters, and believe me, I will be the victor here. Nobody’s coming for you, Sparrow. Whatever games you’ve been playing… They’re over now. You’re at my mercy now.”
He walks out, and the door slams behind him.
“No! Get back here! You can’t leave me!”
I keep screaming after him. I can’t help it. I’ve never felt this kind of terror and helplessness before, soon I lose track of my words, lose track of everything except the whirlwind of fear raging all around me, consuming me.
“Nobody’s coming for you….”
His chilling words are true. I’m undercover, nobody knows where I am—or how to reach me. I’ve been communicating with my friends via burner phones I dispose of every time, and they won’t think twice if they don’t hear from me for weeks—or more.
I’m totally alone.
His prisoner.
Only Sebastian can release me from this nightmare now. And he’s just made it clear, he’s willing to put me through any hell to get the truth from me. I’ve betrayed him.
And worse still, I’vehurthim, too.
That’s the shocking truth I saw in his eyes just now. The man who never cared for anything, actually cares about my lies.
But that only makes him more dangerous to me. Because if Sebastian Wolfe will crush his enemies for a game, and destroy empires just to win the upper hand, then what will he do to a woman who’s managed—against all odds—to win his affection?
I’m about to find out.
2
AVERY
I thoughtI knew what I was getting into when I set out to get revenge against Sebastian. I knew it was going to be impossible to get close to the man who was close to nobody, and even harder to pretend that I didn’t loathe him for all the damage he’d wrought with his twisted games. But somewhere along the way, the line between hate and desire got blurred. I let myself be seduced by our sexual connection. I told myself that it meant nothing, and I could stay focused on playing my part, but I ended up blinded by pleasure.
I was supposed to use my sexuality to ensnare him, and that ended up being a far more dangerous game than I anticipated.
Now, I’m facing the consequences.
It’s been a week since I was admitted to Larkspur, and Sebastian was right about one thing.
It’s hell.
I’m treated like an unruly animal here, kept in a sedated blur and shuffled between my room, and the canteen and ‘social’ areas with the other patients in some kind of twisted routine. It’s almost like being back in elementary school—if elementary school came with armed guards and daily drug doses, and mandatory therapy sessions where they try to make me open up about my violent thoughts.
Thoughts that now run through my mind every night, directed at one person only: Sebastian.
At first, I fought the control and routine, but it made no difference: I was just held down and shot up with drugs anytime I didn’t cooperate. There are eyes on me at all times, and I know that—thanks to Sebastian—everyone is wary and on the lookout for any misbehavior from me.
It didn’t take me long to realize, I need to be smart to get out of this place.
I need to play their game and act like the perfect patient until I find my chance for escape.
And I will escape. Because I’m a fighter. To the bone. Sure, I let myself grow soft, pampered like a princess there in Sebastian’s mansion, with my designer shopping sprees and five-star restaurants, but underneath it all, I’m still the Avery Carmichael that grew up tough, who fought for respect from some of the most twisted mafia players in New York.
Who vowed revenge, no matter the cost.
