Emily had always believed there was a solution to every problem. But as she sat in the back of a black luxury car speeding through the rain-soaked streets of London, she couldn’t think of a single solution.
Not one. Her sketchbook rested tightly against her chest.
The only familiar thing left in a situation that felt completely unreal. Across from her sat two silent men in dark suits. Neither had spoken since she entered the vehicle. Neither looked at her.
It was as though she wasn’t a person. Like a package. Emily swallowed hard.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked him. But no answer. She tried again.
“Look, I won’t tell anyone what I saw.”
Still nothing.
The silence was beginning to drive her crazy. She looked toward the window. Rain streaked across the glass as the city lights blurred into long trails of gold and white.
The further they drove, the more isolated the surroundings became. Fewer people. More trees. More darkness.
Her heartbeat quickened.
This couldn’t be happening. She was supposed to be preparing sketches for her final fashion project. Not being driven to an unknown location by men connected to a murder.
Her phone had already been taken. No way to call for help. No way to tell anyone where she was. Not that anyone would know where to look.
The car finally turned through massive iron gates. Ahead stood a huge estate. Not just a house.
A mansion.
Emily’s stomach dropped.
The kind that belonged in magazines. Lights glowed from tall windows.
Security guards stood at various points around the property. Cameras watched every angle.
The place looked beautiful. The car came to a stop, inside the mansion.
One of the men opened her door.
“Out,” he commanded
Emily hesitated.
“What happens if I refuse?” she said
The man looked at her calmly. “That would be a mistake,” the man said, not exactly reassuring.
Slowly, she stepped out.
The cold air hit her immediately. She looked around.
No neighbors, no witnesses. No easy escape.
Wonderful.
The front doors opened before she reached them.
A woman in her sixties stood inside. Composed. Silver hair neatly styled. Unlike everyone else she’d encountered tonight, she looked almost welcoming.
“Miss Morgan,” the woman said politely.
Emily blinked.
“You know my name?”
The woman smiled faintly.
“Of course,” she spoke, calmly.
That answer didn’t make her feel any better.
“I’m Victoria,” the woman continued. “I manage the household.”
As though this place was normal. As though people were brought here against their will every day.
“Where is Luca?” Emily asked.
Victoria’s expression didn’t change.
“He’ll see you shortly.”
That sounded suspiciously like something from a prison movie. Emily followed her inside.
The mansion was stunning. Marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Artwork hanging on every wall. Luxury everywhere.
Yet none of it mattered. Because Emily couldn’t stop thinking about one thing. The man she had seen die.
Victoria led her upstairs.
They passed through several corridors. The rooms are larger than Emily’s entire apartment. Finally, they stopped in front of a bedroom. Victoria opened the door. “You’ll stay here.”
Emily stared.
The room was enormous. A king-sized bed. With floor-to-ceiling windows. A private sitting area. Designer furniture.
It looked more like a luxury hotel suite than a bedroom.
Emily turned back toward Victoria.
“You can’t seriously expect me to stay here.” She said to Victoria.
Victoria’s smile softened slightly. “I don’t expect anything, Miss Morgan,” Victoria replied.
Then she added quietly, “But Luca does.”
The door closed, leaving Emily alone.
An hour later, she was pacing.
Back and forth. Back and forth. Trying to think. Trying to plan. Trying not to panic.
There had to be a way out. There always was.
A knock interrupted her thoughts. Emily spun
around.
The door opened, and Luca walked in.
Her heart immediately betrayed her by beating faster.
He was dangerous. Possibly criminal too. He is definitely terrifying, she thought,
Yet somehow he still managed to look annoyingly attractive. Emily hated that.
Luca closed the door behind him.
Neither spoke immediately.
His gaze moved around the room before settling on her.
“Comfortable?” he asked her.
Emily stared at him.
“Is that a joke?”
A faint smile appeared. Very faint. “No.”
“It should be.” Emily replied, immediately.
The smile disappeared. Followed by silence. Then Emily crossed her arms.
“I want answers.” She demanded
Luca nodded once. “Ask.”
She almost laughed. Just like that? Fine, she thought
“Why am I here?”
“Because you witnessed something,” He replied.
“You killed someone,” she stated,
His expression remained calm.
“Yes.”
The blunt honesty caught her off guard.
No denial from him. Not even an excuse or a reason. Nothing.
Just yes.
Emily felt a chill run through her.
“Why tell me that?”
Luca held her gaze.
“Because lying would be pointless.”
For some reason, that answer felt more unsettling than a lie.
She swallowed and asked him.
“What happens to me now?” she asked
Luca walked slowly toward the window, looking out into the darkness. He replied, “You stay here.”
Emily’s jaw dropped.
“What?”
“You stay here,” he repeated
“No,” she fumed
His eyes shifted toward her.
“No?” he questioned
“I’m not staying here,” She said
“Yes, you are,” he said commanding.
Emily’s frustration exploded.
“You don’t get to decide that!” She told him.
For the first time, something sharp entered his gaze. The kind that expected obedience. The kind that usually got it.
“I do,” he said, dangerously.
The room went silent.
Emily hated how confident he sounded that there was no possibility of disagreement.The conversation had already ended.
She took a deep breath.
“Why?”
Luca looked away again.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then, he told her the truth
“Because someone else knows you were there.” He told her the truth
Emily froze.
“What?” she screamed
His expression darkened slightly.
“The man who died wasn’t acting alone.” He told her
Her stomach dropped, “There are others?”
“Yes.” He replied simply
After a pause, he added, “They believe you may know something.”
Emily shook her head immediately, “But I don’t.”
He nodded his head and said, “I know.”
“Then tell them that.” She said
A humorless smile touched Luca’s lips.
“It doesn’t work that way.”
Fear settled heavily in her chest.
For the first time tonight, she truly understood the situation.That this wasn’t temporary nor wasn’t just a misunderstanding.
She was caught herself in something much bigger than herself. Something very dangerous.
Luca studied her carefully. Then his gaze fell to the sketchbook sitting on the table. And he said, “Fashion design.”
Emily frowned, “What?”
“Your sketches.” He replied.
She stared at him and asked “How do you know about those?”
His eyes returned to hers.
“I know a lot about you, Emily.” He replied
His words sent a chill through her. Because he said them so casually. As though it were normal.
As though researching every detail of her life wasn’t strange at all.
Emily’s heartbeat quickened, “What exactly does that mean?” She asked.
Luca didn’t answer immediately. That scared her more than any answer could have.
Finally he spoke, “Get some rest.”
Emily stared at him,“That’s not an answer.”
“No.”
“Then answer me.”
Luca walked toward the door.
His hand reached for the handle.
Then he paused.
Without turning around, he said quietly,
“You should stop worrying about why you’re here.”
Emily frowned.
“Why?”
Luca finally looked back at her.
And something in his expression made her heart skip. Not because it was warm. Because it wasn’t. Not because it was kind. Because it wasn’t.
It was something else. It was something intense. Something impossible to read. Something that felt dangerously close to obsession.
“You should be worrying,” he said softly,
“About why I chose to keep you alive.” He added, slowly
And with that, he left.
Leaving Emily standing alone in the middle of the room.
Staring at the closed door.
Realizing she might be far more trapped than she originally thought.
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