Page 21 of Reign of a Billionaire

I didn’t know what motivated her, but I would find out. And then, I’d plow through. She’d never see me coming.

Chapter 13

Liana

Iflicked the lights of my hotel room on and came face-to-face with arctic eyes.

“Where have you been?”

My stomach dropped at seeing my mother seated in the chair, the full ashtray next to her hinting at how long she’d been here. My heart stopped, then kick-started with a jolt, drumming painfully in my chest. I knew what would follow if I played my cards wrong.

“I needed some fresh air.”

My voice was steady and my expression clear of any emotion.

“You’ve never been a good liar,” she said angrily. “Your eyes… They’re the windows to your soul.”

I stilled. The words—I’d heard them before. I searched my memory, different puzzle pieces shifting yet refusing to come together. Why were there so many holes in my memory? Black, gaping holes that sent me spiraling into an abyss where nothing and nobody made sense.

“Why are you here, Mother?” I asked, my voice hard despite the tingling in my fingertips. “It can’t be to discuss my eyes.”

My palms began to sweat, and I knew the adrenaline from earlier was wearing off. I couldn’t crash, not now. Not withherhere.

“Do it.” Mother’s voice pulled me back. I watched as her eyes shifted behind me before I felt it. The prick of a needle. I went into fight mode, sticking to my training, but my vision blurred.

I blinked rapidly before everything went dark.

The stench of death filled my nostrils and blood pooled everywhere I looked.

Haunted screams. Evil laughter.

A scream bubbled in my throat at the sight of bodies sprawled over the filthy ground.

It’s not real, a whisper in my ear warned.

Yes, it is, another mocked.

“Why are we here?” I shouted loudly, but the only thing that came out was a whimper.

The place was loud, the arena full of battered men and broken boys. Being here was a bad idea and I knew it, but I couldn’t let my sister come alone. I reached a hand out for her, but all I got was empty air.

“I’m okay,” she said faintly.

“Where… Why…” I choked, unable to articulate what I needed to ask.

“Find him.”

“Find who?”

She pointed her finger and I followed, my eyes roaming the space until I found a stranger standing on his own. My brows furrowed. Why couldn’t I see his face?

“You shouldn’t be looking at him.”Who, I wanted to ask again, but my words wouldn’t form. “Not with all these eyes around,” my sister warned. “If Mother catches you, it’ll be bad. For both of you.”

My brows knitted and I swallowed, the warning unsettling. “You told me to find him.”

“When you’re alone. Not here.”

The whole arena was unsettling, like I was walking through a haze and only parts of the scene were in focus. I shook my head, letting the thought go. Somewhere deep down, I knew she was right, yet my gaze darted back to the person she’d pointed out. There was something about him that seemed to call to me.