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“An eventful evening? Please can you explain where I am, and what I am doing here?” I breathed, confusion dominating my brain, making it hard for me to think.

“Oh, of course,” she waved her hand in the air as she tapped the side of her head playfully.

“Ma Certo, sono così smemorata.”

I blinked, unsure what she had just said but recognising the accent as Italian.

“You are here because I wanted you to be. This is my home,” she smiled sweetly, yet I sensed danger lurked behind her words.

Why am I in a strange woman’s house?

Why can’t I recall getting here?

My head throbbed as I sank back down on the bed.

“This is just a game, really,” she murmured lowly as she sat beside me on the bed, her fingers running through my hair as she gazed at me in admiration.

My instincts told me to move away, but her touch held me still.

“What game? I don’t understand. I don’t even know you,” my voice gave away the fear I felt, and my stomach churned as she nodded sympathetically.

“No, that is true,Bella.You don’t know me. But your boyfriend does.”

My eyes met hers then, and I felt bile rise in my throat.

How does she know Cal? Is he here?

“My name is Lucia. I am not sure if he has ever mentioned me to you—”

My mouth dropped open as I realized the woman sitting before me was the reason Cal was so damaged.

The attack on Lucia all those years ago had left him scarred mentally, was what put him in witness protection, and what caused him to kill a man before my very eyes. She was beyond stunning, and my heart ached as I remembered what had happened to her.

She nodded casually, removing her fingers from my hair, and I was thankful she didn’t rip it out of my scalp.

“So, hedidtell you,” she mused quietly. “You must beveryspecial. Because he didn’t tell anyone else about it. He just ran,” she spoke coolly, anger in her voice. “Do you know he wasmyboyfriend first?” she turned to me then, and resentment filled my chest. “I mean, we were young, but he was my firsteverything,if you know what I mean. We were besotted with each other. See, one thing that is so attractive about Leo is how fiercely he loves. You know what I mean, I can see it in your eyes.”

I stared at the floor, and I thought if she was going to just kill me, she should get it over with. I’d rather have that than listen to her stories as Cal’s girlfriend.

“I’m the daughter of a Don, Gretchen. I know how it feels to be protected. All my life I have been told where to go, where not to go, who to speak to, you get the picture. So, Leo was my world, I fell in love with him so quickly I couldn’t be without him. I knew he was a bad boy, but who doesn’t find that attractive? I was used to that lifestyle anyway, I figured it would get him a higher favour with my father if he became a successful criminal,” she shrugged then her eyes glassed over, the memories of her attack now surfacing.

I tried to remember my training, how to talk to someone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as I remained quiet, listening patiently.

“I won’t give you the details, but apparently I should feel lucky to be alive. I don’t,” she hissed bitterly, turning to gaze at me.

My heart beat so fast all I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears.

“I wish I were dead.”

I gulped then, not sure what to say.

She stood up abruptly as I heard footsteps coming down the hall, her name being called. Her eyes darted around the room as the door swung open, revealing a devilishly handsome man, his dark hair slicked back as he caught sight of me on the bed, a frown forming on his face.

“Lucia...” he muttered. His eyes met hers as she giggled.

“I know, it’s naughty. But Ihadto, Michael.”

Michael.