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I’m in a gorgeous bedroom with white stucco walls and sunlight streaming between the parted curtains. The only furniture is a single antique dresser and the huge king-sized bed. It’s a huge four-poster bed with the softest mattress I’ve ever been on and the kind of linens that would put a hotel to shame.
I have no idea where I am or how I got here.
Fear is thick in my blood as I search my memory of last night, but there’s a blank space in my mind. I start to get out of the bed, my bare feet meeting cool wood on the floors. Then I see the white dress from last night laid carefully over the back of a chair.
Suddenly, it all comes back to me.
The poker game. Nero’s bet. My plan to destroy Sebastian Wolfe.
He took the bait.
But what happened next? I wonder, panicking. Why is my memory blank? And who undressed me last night? I stand and my head swims like a bad hangover, but I didn’t drink anything. Only that one glass of champagne—
I freeze. Did Sebastian drug me?
The thought sends a new chill through me. I didn’t see that coming. I can’t help wondering if I’m in over my head here.
Panic is creeping over me, but I remind myself of exactly who I’m dealing with and why I decided to do this. I knew Sebastian was dangerous going into this crazy plan. It’s why Nero was so reluctant to go along with it. But it doesn’t matter. I’m on a mission, playing a part.
I’m doing this in memory of a man I loved.
Steeling my nerves, I walk over to the window and pull back the curtains. My breath leaves me as I look out at the endless ocean. The cloudless sky is a brilliant blue and the waves are rolling in on the golden sand.
And I don’t see any other buildings around.
I shiver. This isn’t St. Tropez. There, you can’t move for fancy boutiques and stylish hotels, especially on the shoreline.
So where the hell am I?
I look to the left and right as much as I can. I see a rocky cliff in one direction and palm trees in the other, and no land in sight. Am I on some kind of island?
Just how long have I been knocked out?
I try to pull myself together, but questions are whirling in my mind. I thought I had the upper hand, that I’d planned for everything, but clearly, Sebastian is one step ahead of me.
So now I have to wonder…
Does he know who I really am?
Glancing down, I see a stone terrace directly beneath me. As I watch, Sebastian steps into view, his cell phone pressed to his ear. He’s dressed down, for him, in linen pants and a white button-down shirt, and he paces, talking.
He glances up at the window, and I duck back before he can see me.
Why are you hiding, Avery?I ask myself.You don’t cower from a fight. Not with anyone.
It’s time to go get some answers from the man.
I throw open the bedroom doors, and stride out, still barefoot in the robe. The house is
just as big and impressive as I would have imagined: a long hallway leading past many other rooms to a grand staircase. On the ground floor, there’s a dining room that could easily fit a two-dozen people at the long table and a vast living room, filled with chic designer furniture. One entire wall is glass, pulled back to lead seamlessly to the terrace, so I gather my wits and every last ounce of courage, and steam outside.
Anger is good. Any innocent young woman would be scared and confused right now.
Sebastian has finished his call, and is lounging at a table, set for breakfast.
My resentment surges to the surface at the sight of him relaxed in his chair, looking out at the water. It’s like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
Like he didn’t kidnap a woman last night.
