CHAPTER 001
Emma’s Point of View
I woke up to a sharp, aching throb at the back of my head. The city lights outside the giant window poured into the dark room, flickering like they were trying to stab through my skull. I blinked hard, trying to clear the fog in my mind, but it clung stubbornly, like a terrible dream I couldn’t shake.
Where the hell was I? My skin felt sticky, and my mouth tasted like metal. I tried to sit up, but my muscles protested, heavy and weak. Then the memories of the wild party last night, the endless drinks, and the laughter that had turned into a dizzy blur flooded back. But I couldn’t remember much else.
I looked around the room. It was beautiful, sleek, and modern—definitely not my place. A massive bed with soft white sheets, a polished black desk with a laptop, and expensive art on the walls. This had to be Logan’s penthouse. I swallowed hard.
My eyes landed on the nightstand, searching for my phone. It wasn’t there. Neither were my keys nor my wallet. Panic crept in, cold and fast. I scrambled out of the bed, feeling the cool floor beneath my feet. The door was closed. I walked over and tried the handle. Locked. I pulled at it again. Nothing. Locked tight.
My heart started to race.
Then I saw it. I noticed a note that had been slipped under a nearby drawer. I grabbed it with trembling fingers and read the message, scrawled in sharp handwriting: Stay away from Logan.
I dropped the paper and looked around, every shadow now threatening. How had I ended up here? And why the warning?
The pounding in my head got worse, and I rubbed my temples, trying to calm down. I pressed my back against the door and slid down to the floor, breathing hard.
“Okay, think. What do I remember?” I whispered to myself. But the answers were missing, like someone had erased parts of my night.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed on the desk. I froze and looked over. It wasn’t mine—I was sure of it. The screen lit up with an unknown number.
I reached for it cautiously and answered.
“Hello?”
A voice, low and cold, hissed back, “We have proof. Proof about Logan.”
“Who is this? What proof?” I demanded.
“Meet me. Alone. Or it’s over for you.”
Then the line went dead.
I held the phone tight, my fingers shaking. My breath hitched. Who was watching me? Why was someone threatening me? And how much did Logan’s world really hide beneath the surface?
I got to my feet and moved toward the window, my eyes scanning the city below. The lights twinkled, but my eyes caught something dark. A man. Covered in tattoos. Standing across the street, watching this building. Watching me.
His gaze was cold, sharp like a blade. He didn’t move, just stared. I felt exposed, like he saw everything—even the parts of me I was trying to hide.
The chill in my spine deepened.
I closed the curtains fast, my hands trembling. My mind spun, trying to piece together the puzzle. Was this man the same stranger I spoke to on the phone? Was he a threat? Or something worse?
Then I heard a soft knock on the door.
My heart jumped. I swallowed hard and called out, “Who is it?”
No answer. Just another soft knock.
I moved to the door, hesitated, and then slid down to the floor again, hugging my knees. I was alone but not safe. This place felt like a trap. Like I was a prisoner in Logan’s world, tangled in something bigger than I understood.
Memories flashed in my mind—Logan’s cold smile at the office, the way he looked at me yesterday. There was a hint of danger in his gaze. I wanted to trust him, but now, I wasn’t sure.
My phone buzzed again. This time, I received another message.
Don’t try to escape. We’re watching.
I pressed the phone to my chest, a wave of fear crashing over me.
Why me? Why now?
I sank deeper into myself, the walls closing in.
Then a voice echoed in my mind—Logan’s voice. “You belong here.”
Did I? Did I?
I didn’t know anymore.
The night stretched ahead like a long dark tunnel. I had no idea what was waiting on the other side. All I knew was that I had to survive. Find the truth. And somehow get out.
But could I? Was anyone on my side?
I didn’t have answers. Only questions that burnt hotter every second.
Then I heard it—a faint sound behind the door. A click.
Someone was coming in.
And I wasn’t ready.
Why was I trapped in a nightmare that felt all too real? What secrets was Logan hiding? And who was the man watching me from the shadows?
I bit my lip, fighting the rising panic.
This was just the beginning.
But how deep did the darkness go?