Page 2

I jolt upwards, scrambling back until my body is pressed firmly against the headboard of the bed I’m on. The movement makes me wince, and the bright lights in the room only aggravate the pounding I feel in my skull.

A quick glance around tells me I’m in a bedroom, my black dress and dirt-stained legs a stark contrast against the white sheets I sit on top of.

“Settle down, would you, babe? I’m just here to talk,” Rhett says casually as he reaches for the blue accent chair in the corner of the room. Like nails down a chalkboard, the chair drags against the wooden floor until he brings it to a standstill at the side of the bed.

My heart is beating wildly and the sound pounds in my ears as I shrink away from him. I bring my knees up to my chest, holding onto them tightly as I try to put as much space between us as possible.

“How did I get here?” I start, trying to figure out what’s going on.

Rhett laughs, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Always the same aren’t you, Evi? Never able to remember the night before.”

I rack my memory, piecing together the events leading up to this. I take a breath as fragmented memories come flooding back—getting ready for work, Jax’s green eyes looking me up and down, ready to devour me, holding onto Jax on the back of his motorcycle, and taking out the trash at work.

I inhale sharply.

“You,” I say, my eyes wide with the realization of what Rhett has done.

“Me?” Rhett asks as he sits down. His blue slacks and white polo shirt fit in perfectly with the nautical theme of the room around us.

“You organized this?” I ask incredulously.

“Never the sharpest, were you?” he asks rhetorically as he looks at his watch, the Rolex he is never without. “Of course I organized this. Why else would you be sitting here in front of me?” He moves forward and I jump back slightly, my whole body on edge as I wonder what his next move will be.

“Always so dramatic.” He scoffs as his elbows come to rest on the edge of the bed.

My heart is pounding in my chest as pain pounds through my body. I feel as though I am drowning, unable to come up for air, unable to make sense of how I got underwater to begin with.

“Why?” I ask hoarsely, blinking quickly, trying to keep the tears at bay as the gravity of the situation starts to sink in.

“Because you played me for a fool, Evi, and I will not let that slide.” His blue eyes are bright, nothing but anger behind them.

“I didn’t do anything…” I start quietly, trying to regain my composure, but the shakiness of my voice betrays me. I glance around me, desperately looking for my phone, needing to find a way to tell someone I’m here.

A lump forms in my throat as I realize my phone is probably still on the bar at work.

“You didn’t do anything?” He laughs. “Babe, you owe me money. Remember?”

“Jax said—”

“Jax said what exactly?” he spits out.

I take a shaky breath as my hands grip my knees, my knuckles turning white from the pressure as if I am physically trying to hold myself together.

“He said my debt to you is paid.” I glance at him nervously, trying to read the intent behind this whole situation.

Rhett barks a laugh at me.

“If he thinks that beating the shit out of me and warning me to stay away from you is the equivalent of paying back what you owe me, then he’s just as delusional as you.” Anger laces his words, and I find myself bristling at the insult.

“You’re the delusional one, Rhett. Who the fuck thinks it’s okay to do what you did?” Anger rises within me like a flame that’s out of control. “You left me, Rhett. Literally left me to die on my balcony as I overdosed on the drugs you gave me.”

Rhett lips curve into a malevolent smile. “You mean the drugs you asked for? The ones you willingly took? I helped you get back to your apartment after you chose to become too incapacitated to get home on your own. You’re welcome, by the way.” He pauses to look me over. “And see, nothing bad happened. You’re fine.”

I’m not surprised by his lack of care, but his indifference towards me still stings. I try to gather my thoughts, my brain working in overdrive as I try to think of a plan that will put as much distance between Rhett and me as possible.

“Now. Back to what I was saying, Evi. And to answer your question as to why you’re here.” I glare at him, but he doesn’t seem to care. “You owe me money, and the little stunt your boyfriend pulled ended up costing me a high-profile case. I couldn’t exactly show up to the office black and blue with a fractured arm. On top of that, it got my parents asking questions. Questions I don’t need them asking.”

“Rhett, I—”

“I am not finished,” he yells, and I jump as his voice booms through the room. “I do not like missing out on what is mine, what I deserve, and I deserved that case. You will get me the money you owe me.”

“I don’t have enough, but I’ll pay you back,” I stammer. “I’ll just have to get it to you one paycheck at a time.” I start thinking about how long it will take until my debt is paid.

“Oh no, that little deal of ours is not going to work this time, babe.” He smirks. “You can stay here, and when I get my money, you can go. It’s that simple.” He shrugs.

“How can I get you the money if I’m here, Rhett?” My brow furrows in confusion.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that, I’ve got my boys on top of it. Let’s just hope Jax likes you as much as he lets on. Because if that’s the case, I expect we’ll have the money soon and you can get out of my life once and for all.”

“So then let me leave, Rhett, please. If Jax is getting you the money I don’t need to be here.”

“It’s called collateral, Evi. Until the money is in my hands, you’re staying here. Don’t bother trying to leave, I can guarantee you won’t find your way home.”

“Find my way home? Where are we…?” I look around the room again in search of any sense of familiarity. My heart is pounding quickly, becoming the only sound I can hear.

“Nowhere you’ve been before,” he responds vaguely.

He stands abruptly and I jump at the sudden movement. I wince as my head throbs and my body aches, and I steady myself as the room starts to spin slightly. I look at Rhett only to see a smile on his lips, one that tells me he relishes seeing me on edge and in pain.

“You seem nervous, Evi.” He laughs. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

I glare at him, not bothering to answer his question, truly unsure of his intentions.

“I’m sure you’ll find this arrangement to your liking. You have the whole loft to yourself, well, besides whoever is here watching you.” He chuckles. “But first, try to clean yourself up a bit, you’re ruining the sheets.” He gestures to a white door to my left. “The bathroom is through there. One of the guys will be here soon to keep an eye on you.”

I look at him questioningly as I wring my hands together.

“Come on, try to keep up.” He laughs, and the sound infuriates me. “My guys, the ones who helped bring you here. They’ll be helping me out since I have better things to do than play babysitter to you twenty-four seven.”

He walks towards the bedroom door, his shoes tapping on the wood floor, before pausing and looking back at me.

“And babe, you’re all out of second chances. So don’t even think about trying to fuck me over again.”