Eloise

The first thing I did when I woke up was fumble for my phone. My heart was pounding so hard you’d think I had run a marathon in my sleep.

Barely any sleep, if I was being honest. I’d tossed and turned until the early hours, staring at the ceiling, jumping at every sound from the street. I told myself it was because my brother wasn’t home, because I didn’t know if he was safe, because my brain couldn’t stop replaying worst-case scenarios.

Not because I had just aided in the kidnapping of a man.

No, of course not.

My screen lit up with no new messages. My stomach twisted, a knot pulling tighter with every passing second.

And then my phone buzzed with an incoming call.

“Mac,” I whispered, even before I answered.

“Morning, sweetheart,” he said, too chipper for someone who orchestrated crimes in his free time. “Get dressed. 324 Riverbend Avenue. He’s refusing to cooperate unless he sees you.”

My fingers tightened around the phone. “What? Why me?”

“You’re the one he trusts, apparently. Or at least the one he wants answers from. Either way, congratulations, you’ve made yourself useful.” He hung up before I could protest.

I threw the covers off and stumbled out of bed, my nerves firing on all cylinders.

After the quickest shower of my life, I pulled on denim shorts and a loose T-shirt. My hands shook as I buttered toast and left it on the counter for my brother, just in case he came home while I was gone. A note scrawled in messy handwriting sat beside it: Eat. Call me.

I shoved my phone into my pocket and forced my legs to move.

Riverbend Avenue wasn’t far, but every step toward that house felt like I was dragging weights behind me. The place looked abandoned from the outside, blinds drawn, weeds pushing through the cracks in the sidewalk. Perfect for hiding something ugly inside.

Mac was waiting at the door, his smirk firmly in place. “Right on time. Come on in.”

My stomach dropped as he led me through a dim hallway into a room that smelled faintly of dust and liquor.

There he was. Tied to a chair and blindfolded.

The sight nearly knocked the air out of me. His chest rose and fell steadily, his head tilted back, his wrists bound tight with thick rope.

Mac clapped me on the shoulder. “He wants to see you. Don’t take too long.” With that, he slipped out, leaving me alone with the man I’d betrayed.

I wiped my sweaty palms down the sides of my shorts, took a shaky breath, and whispered, “Hi."

I licked my lips, tried again. “Hi.”

For a long moment, nothing. Then his voice, low and sharp: “Why?”

My throat closed, guilt flooding hot in my veins. “I—I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I really am. I just… I need your help. If you could just cooperate, this will all be over soon.”

His mouth curved into something like a bitter smile. “Remove the blindfold.”

My hand trembled as I reached forward and tugged the fabric free.

And then I was staring into those same hazel eyes, only now they burned with Disgust and Fury.

“You have no idea who you’ve taken,” he said in a low threatening voice.

“Of course I don’t,” I snapped back, even though my pulse was racing. “That’s the whole point. You talk, they call your family, and this all ends with a fat ransom.”

His eyes narrowed. “I am Eli Montero.”

I blinked. And then—I laughed. Loud, sharp, uncontrollable laughter that echoed in the grimy little room.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, gasping between chuckles. “Sorry—I’m sorry. I just—” Another laugh slipped out. “I didn’t think you’d crack a joke while being kidnapped. Impressive. You really think I would believe that you are 'the Eli Montero'.”

His glare deepened. “You really are dumb. Just like all blondes.”

The laughter died on my lips. Heat surged up my neck, my temper flaring.

“Excuse me?” I stabbed a finger into his chest, hard enough that he jerked against the ropes. “Don’t you ever call me dumb again. Got it?”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away.

I leaned closer, my finger pressing harder into his solid chest. “Besides,” I hissed, “this dumb blonde just outsmarted your ass and had you kidnapped. So maybe think twice before underestimating me.”