“That poor guy. He was trying to help and I punched him by accident.” I look over my shoulder, realizing it’s the same guy who’s been watching me.
“He’ll be fine. Pick up your pace.” Byron begins walking faster, as if he really believes I’ll get arrested.
Once we’re away from the crowd, he lets go and holds the door open for me. The cool, fresh air hits my face, and I take a deep breath before I burst out laughing. “I can’t believe I just did that.” I’m still shaking my hand. There’s a bite of pain, but my adrenaline is pumping.
“Damn, girl. That was quite the punch. Maybe you should take up boxing.”
“Yeah. Maybe it would help to alleviate some of this stress.” I look over my shoulder, though we are already halfway back to the performance hall. “Who was that guy?”
Byron glances over his shoulder. “What guy?”
“The one I hit. I’ve seen him before.”
He shrugs his shoulders, without a clue as to what I’m talking about. “No idea.”
We walk down the snow-dusted sidewalk, passing by the same stores we did only thirty minutes ago. Though, they look different—blurry almost. I find myself staggering, and Byron places an arm around my waist. “You okay?” he asks.
I look down at the space between us, hoping he drops his hand before I have to move it for him. When I look back up and he catches the scowl on my face, he lets go.
“Hey. If he is out there, we’ll get him back. Don’t worry.”
Just hearing him say that offers me a sense of calm. Byron was so skeptical at the hall and I was sure he was going to try and convince me that Cal is dead. Now, my hope is slowly returning.
“He is. And we will.”
We reach my car and I struggle to get my keys out of my purse. My head feels like it’s spinning, and I can’t focus my eyes. “Sorry the night was cut short, but I really should get back to my hotel. I’m not feeling so good.”
“You okay? Maybe you should let me drive your car to your hotel. I took an Uber anyway.”
I grab my stomach, suddenly feeling nauseous. My head feels like it holds the weight of a bowling ball and it’s a struggle to balance it on my neck. “Umm. Yeah. That might be a good idea. I’m at The Veranda. Up on Seventh Street.”
“Really?” he says, surprised. “That’s where I'm staying. How bizarre.” His hands fly up. “It’s fate.”
Fate. It’s the word Callum used when we reunited. He said it was fate, but I soon learned it was orchestrated.
Much like then, I highly doubt fate has anything to do with this encounter with Byron or the fact that he’s staying at the same hotel I am.
I’ve been so closed off the past few weeks, and it was nice to get out after my performance. Even if it was just for a half hour that ended with swollen knuckles.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Byron says from the driver’s seat.
My fingertips dig into my temples, massaging them and trying to alleviate this strange feeling in my head. “Save your penny. I wanna know about you and Cal. How did this whole working relationship turn into a friendship?”
Byron glances at me, one hand on the steering wheel and the other in his lap. “Well, let's see. I worked for the former Mr. Ellis as his attorney. He and I put our heads together and came up with some ideas that would really make Ellis Empire stand out against our competitors.”
I look over at him and notice the cheeky grin on his face. My eyes sway from him to the road. “Wait. Are you talking about the sex club? Were you part of that addition to the hotels?”
Byron shrugs sheepishly. “I might’ve had a thing or two to do with it. The club was already established at one of Ellis Empire’s biggest resorts in Europe. It was doing exceptionally well, so Vincent and I decided to expand to the U.S. resorts. We had a partnership that continued even after his death. Only now, that partnership is with Callum.” I nod, listening intently and watching the road as he continues, “Callum was never a big fan of the clubs. Thought the resorts would do fine without them. I beg to differ. We draw in men from all over the world who have an insatiable need for…”
“Sex,” I spit out. “You can say it. I’m not a child, Byron. I know exactly what happens in those clubs.”
“Oh yeah? Callum filled you in, did he?”
“He didn’t have to. I snuck down there one night and saw it with my own two eyes. Actually, I saw you.” I look over at him, expecting him to look humiliated, but instead, he smirks.
“Did you like what you saw?”
“What?” I gasp, picking my jaw up from my lap. Is he serious right now?
“It’s a simple question. Did you like what you saw?”
“No! Absolutely not. I was…disgusted.” It’s partially a lie. I was intrigued. Okay, I was highly turned on, but not by Byron. I find him to be a good-looking guy, but he’s also somewhat of a creep to me.
Byron chuckles. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of if you did like watching. You’d be surprised at how many people enjoy that sort of thing.”
There is no way in hell I’m admitting to Byron, of all people, that part of me did enjoy watching. We’re way off topic here, though. “Back to our original conversation. Yes, I know all about the clubs.”
“Right. So the clubs are part of my partnership with Callum.”
“And the fact that you know he killed Mr. Ellis?” I look to my left and notice the stunned look on Byron’s face.
“Wow. Is there anything he didn’t tell you?”
Byron pulls into an empty parking space, and suddenly I’m feeling worse. Barely able to keep my eyes open, they slowly close as my head sways back and forth.
Byron reaches over and grips my chin, forcing me to look at him. I don’t even have the strength to ask what he’s doing. “You know, Bella, too much knowledge can get a pretty girl like you in trouble.”
My heart drops into my stomach, pulse racing as Byron’s expression shifts to one of mischief. The look on his face is formidable. “What?” I managed to choke out.
His hand reaches out like a claw, fingers spread wide as he grabs me by the throat. I squirm, trying to free myself from his clutches, but he only tightens his hold as his fingertips dig into the thin flesh of my neck.
I’m not able to do a damn thing to stop him. I feel so weak. I'm so tired. So helpless.
“By…Byron,” I sputter as he chokes the life out of me.
This is it.
This is how I die.
CHAPTER THREE
Cuffed. Tied. Shackled. My entire body is bound to this bed. Sprawled out like an X, with each bedpost holding one of my limbs.
This has to be a nightmare.
I close my eyes, only to open them again, finding myself in the same position, wearing the same clothes I put on when I left the hall last night.
My head lifts, trying to get a look at my surroundings.
I’ve been here before.
I’m in the basement on Cori Cove. The island where it all began. And Byron brought me here. But why?
“Help! Somebody, help me!” The words scratch at my throat like a sharp razor blade.