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I turn onto my back and see some boxes stacked in the corner, an old rusty wood stove, and what looks like an old work desk covered in tools.

A shudder involuntarily runs through me as it all comes back to me.

Neil. Candy.

Garth.

This is his doing, I have no doubt about that but can’t figure out why Candy and Neil would be involved.

Money, most likely.

Garth’s motivations have to be personal, but anyone else he dragged into this is most likely in it to get paid.

God, I was so fucking stupid. I never should have gone with Neil. It never occurred to me he would be in cahoots with Garth considering he and Candy are having an affair. But that might not be the case at all. In fact, I probably have no idea what’s really going on.

That’s what scares me.

The only reason I’m not completely freaking out is because I know Elliott will come for me. Daniil, Grim, and the others too. Daniil vowed I would always be safe if I went to work for him and for the most part, he’s been right.

This is my own fault. If I’d just gone straight to where Daniil and the others were waiting, none of this would have happened.

Stupid.

I’d been so caught up in what I was doing, proving that I was right, I walked right into Garth’s trap.

Dammit.

Tears sting my eyes even as I fight valiantly not to cry. Crying isn’t going to get me out of this. I have to use my head now, and do whatever is necessary to survive until Elliott comes for me.

Because he will.

He has to.

Even if our relationship doesn’t survive, he’ll come for me.

A noise startles me and I jump, looking around.

Then I see it—a rat.

Oh, fuck no.

I wiggle into a sitting position, looking around for anything I can use to fight it off if it comes near me. It’s small, so I’m not worried about it overpowering me—I’m worried about falling asleep and it deciding to eat me. Or maybe small parts of me.

Shuddering again, I wiggle until I’m against a wall, with my feet straight out in front of me. Luckily, Garth or whoever tied my hands in front and not the back, so I can be reasonably comfortable.

A sliding sound gets my attention and this time I know it’s going to be something much larger than a rat. I steel myself. There’s no point in pretending to be asleep. If he’s going to beat me and kill me, he’ll just do it.

“You’re awake.” Garth comes into the room still wearing his clothes from last night. Tonight? I have no concept of the time, so I don’t know how long it’s been.

“What time is it?” I ask.

He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Time means nothing to you now. Because you don’t have a lot left.”

I stare at him. “What do you want?”

“What do I want?” He stares at me, hands on his hips. “I want my money back. I want my fucking life back!” He kicks a random piece of plywood that’s on the floor. “Do you have any idea what you cost me?”

“Do you have any idea what you cost me?” I counter. Being nice isn’t going to fix this, so I might as well say what’s on my mind.