"You stepped into the lion's territory, Jessica." His deep voice sent a tremor through my legs. "Do you not fear that you will get hurt?"
I gulped, watching the muscled wall of a man descend the stairs. His grey eyes were hard as stone, making me flinch. The scorpion tattoo on his right hand screamed danger.
Yet I stood my ground, even as my knuckles turned white from gripping my jeans. I had a mission, and I had to fulfill it before leaving this place.
"Yes," I said, my voice controlled. "I do not fear you."
He paused for a beat, his eyes raking over me before his mouth curved. When he reached the sitting area, he dropped into a chair and grabbed a bottle of wine from the table. Instead of pouring a glass, he tipped it back and gulped it straight from the bottle.
"Why are you here, Jessica?" He set the bottle down, watching me with a sudden, sharp interest.
Ever since my engagement to Mark, I had tried to avoid this man. His presence was suffocating. On a normal day, I might have fainted just being in the same room as him.
A hollow laugh bubbled in my throat at how much I had changed in the span of twenty-four hours.
"I have a request," I said, pinning my gaze on him. I had pondered this all through the night. I was certain this was what I wanted, even if... my breath hitched. Just the thought of it sent a fresh wave of pain through my chest.
"A request, hmm?" He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Does Mark know you're here?"
At the mention of Mark, the last twenty-four hours flashed before my eyes...
Stacy and I were caught in a ride that had ground to a halt in traffic. A sudden blast of a horn made me jump.
"Easy, Stace. It's just a mock test. It's not like we'll die if we miss it."
"I will," she said, her eyes flashing with horror. "Do you think my pa will let it slide if I fail a single test?"
College sucked, but it clearly sucked more for Stacy. Not for me, though. I was getting married to the love of my life, and my modeling career was hitting its peak. College was the least of my concerns.
"Jessy," Stacy began, leaning back with her lips pouted. "What are you smiling at?"
I grinned at her. "Mark."
She rolled her eyes and pointed a finger at me. "Listen, you don't have to smile when we're about to walk into a test."
"Yeah, right, bookworm." I pulled out my phone anyway, scrolling through the photos from the engagement party. I had known Mark since our high school days, just like I had known Stacy and Freda, my other friend.
"You know, I still stand by the fact that you should finish college before getting married." Stacy repeated the same words she'd been drilling into me for the past two months.
But I wasn't listening. What was the point of college when I had a modeling career and a man who loved me?
"Nah," I waved her off, giving her a brief glance before staring back at my blond sweetheart with his charming dimples and deep blue eyes. In the photo, he was kissing my cheek while I flashed my engagement ring at the camera.
"Once Mark and I settle down, I'm dropping out."
"No, you won't. Education is important," Stacy advised, her eyes scouring the traffic for an escape. There was none; the cars were packed together like tight denim.
"My career and my marriage come first."
Stacy's eyes whipped toward mine. She let out a baffled laugh, her mouth parting to speak, but then her gaze sharpened as she looked past me. "Oh my gosh, is that Freda? Is she actually walking to class in this heat?"
"She never did like school," I laughed, turning toward the pavement. Freda walked along the sidewalk, shielding her face with her hand to ward off the scorching sun.
I was about to call out to her, but I froze. I caught sight of the person walking beside her—someone laughing and holding her hand. Someone I knew far too well.
"Is that Mark?" Stacy voiced the question I couldn't bring myself to ask.
I didn't nod. My mouth just hung open as I watched them. They held hands so tightly, laughing with an intimacy that made my skin crawl. Maybe I'm wrong, I thought. They're just good friends. Maybe they're buying something for the wedding party.
But my gut nagged at me, and if there was one thing I trusted more than Mark, it was my instinct. Before Stacy could stop me, my seatbelt snapped back. I shoved the car door open.
"Wait!" Stacy dashed after me as the door slammed shut. She grabbed my hand and spun me around. "What are you doing?"
"Following them," I said, my voice small. I glanced over my shoulder, afraid of what I would see.
"Why? We have a test and—"
"Screw the test!" I yanked my hand away. "I have a bad feeling, and I have to trust it."
Stacy bit her tongue, looking over my shoulder before turning back to me. "Look, I know you think something is up, but we could be wrong. Freda is our friend. Maybe they're just hanging out and..."
I wasn't listening. I dashed toward the route they had taken. She could preach about the goodness of the world all she wanted, but she needed to wake up. People couldn't be trusted.
Please, God, let Stacy be right.
But my shoulders slumped the moment I saw them. They were hugging—and it wasn't casual. He held her tightly, cradling her head like a child and pecking her cheek.
"Oh my God!"
Stacy's voice behind me made me wince.
"That motherfu..."
Before she could finish the curse, they laughed and disappeared into the hotel building.
"Oh God," she whispered, her voice thick with shock. "No, it can't be. It can't..."
I marched toward the entrance. Stacy grabbed my hand, shaking her head, but I yanked it free and dashed inside before she could stop me.
Every step into that lobby made my heart clench, yet I still prayed I was wrong. I had to be wrong.
Inside the hotel lobby, people moved about, but I saw no sign of them. I scanned the area before heading toward the receptionist—a pale girl with a wad of bubble gum in her mouth.
"Mark Leonard."
"What?" she asked blankly, eyeing me with suspicion.
"I need his room number," I said through gritted teeth.
She narrowed her eyes, then looked down at her newly painted nails. "And you are…?"
"His…" I bit my tongue. "His fiancé."
She gave me a baffled look before scanning the register in front of her. When she didn't find the name, she shook her head. "There is no such name on the list."
Stacy and I traded a look of shock.
"Ma'am, he walked in just now with a blonde," Stacy said, tapping the desk impatiently. "Check again. You might have skipped it."
The girl's eyes roamed over Stacy with a snort. "I don't make mistakes, lady. Now, tell me if you need a room or get the..."
"Shut up!" I yelled. She blinked, her mouth hanging open. "Now, check your register. If you can't find his name, check for Freda Myers."
The girl's hands trembled as she flipped through the files; it seemed being yelled at wasn't something she experienced often.
"There. Room 160. The fourth floor."
"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Stacy clicked her tongue, and the girl yelped.
We rushed out of the lobby, ignoring her wide-eyed stare.
At the elevator, I tapped my fingers against my thigh, my feet stamping a frantic rhythm. "This better not be happening."
Next to me, Stacy remained quiet, her eyes fixed on the glowing numbers as they climbed. When we reached the floor, we stepped out into the silent hallway.
Room 160 came into view. We both stopped, staring hard at the wood.
"Let me take care of this," Stacy whispered, reaching for my hand.
"No, I'm fine, Stacy. Maybe you should focus on the test."
"Screw the test," she said with a snort, her thick brows raised.
I felt hot tears beginning to stream down my cheeks. "Oh, Stace... I don't know if I can do this."
"Shh." She pulled me into a hug, stroking my back. "Let me do it, if you aren't strong enough."
"No." My breath hitched, but a spark of determination flickered within the pain. If anyone was going to see this, it had to be me. "We go together."
Stacy pulled back and offered a small, grim smile. She wiggled the key we had taken from the receptionist.
I turned to Stacy and gave her a brief nod.
She slid the key in and turned it. The click echoed through the quiet hallway. As the door swung open, I stepped forward to face my nightmare.