I shook my head. “Oh no, there was only a phone number. When I called it, I was told I had to pass the interview first. It turned out where I had to meet the guy was only an hour from where I lived.”
“Where did you meet this guy? And when?” she questioned.
“Charlotte,” I answered. “North Carolina. At a hotel downtown. It was three weeks ago.”
Her lips pursed as if she was deep in thought. “Were you not scared to meet a stranger in a hotel room?”
That was one of the least of my worries. I shook my head in reply. “No. When you’re someone like me, you get used to fighting off men. I’m not a stranger to violence, Peyton. I’ve had to escape a lot in my life.”
Peyton blinked a few times as if trying to hold back tears. “I’m sorry. I can’t even imagine.”
I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me.
“It’s the cards I’ve been dealt,” I said, shrugging. “But anyway, I met with the guy. He was young and sexy as hell with sandy blond hair and crystal blue eyes.” I thought back to the day. “He was regal, but there was something dangerous about him. Very sexy if you ask me, especially dressed in his expensive suit.”
It looked as if all the blood had drained from her face.
“Did he give you his name?”
I nodded. “His name was even sexy, too. Nikolai. Nikolai Michelson. He’s the one who gave me the money to travel here.”
Peyton clutched her stomach and stood, her steps swift as she hurried over to the bed to steady herself. I had a feeling I wouldn’t like what she was about to say next.
“You’re not getting your money, Wren. Nikolai Michelson is a fucking douche. He’s been after my family for months now.” She glanced at me over her shoulder. “None of you are getting out alive. This movie Martin wants to film is brutal. Now that you know I’m here, he’s not going to let you go.”
That wasn’t going to happen.
“Like hell he’s not,” I growled, jumping to my feet. “I’ve gotten myself out of tighter spots than this.”
Her pleading gaze penetrated mine. “Then help me. I’ll give you five times the amount of money you’d get from this stupid film. And if you want to fight professionally, I’ll get my mom to train you. Your name will spread far and wide. You won’t have to steal money or day-to-day where you’ll be sleeping.” She closed the distance between us and grabbed my hands. “Please, Wren. I can’t do this alone.”
My gaze narrowed at her. She looked like her mother, but she didn’t act like her. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” I began, “but are you sure Gabriella Reynolds is your mother? If she were in this situation, she’d throw punches left and right to get out of here.”
Peyton blew out a sigh. “Believe me, I would if I could. My mom taught me how to fight.”
“Then why don’t you?” I wondered.
Her eyes started to glisten. “Because I can’t risk it.”
“Risk what?” But then the breath caught in my throat, and I dropped my gaze to her stomach. “Oh my God, are you pregnant?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
It all started to come together.
“It’s Ethan’s, isn’t it?”
She answered me with a nod. “No one knows. I don’t know what they’d do to me if they found out.”
A fire burned within me, and I knew without a doubt that I wouldn’t fall victim to whatever game I’d been thrust into.
“Don’t worry,” I promised her. “If they want a fight, it’s a fight they’ll get. I don’t know what to do right now, but I’ll figure something out. I always do.”
The memory ended but was replaced by the one that would forever change my life.
“Do you know what you have to do?” Martin asked.
I’d just watched several videos of Peyton’s mother when she was my age, being forced to fight men for entertainment. Martin was just a young, aspiring movie director at the time and was obsessed with her.
