The Devil's Contract Bride

Chapter Five

~JANICE~

Ice slithered down my spine at the ominous sound of those words. I gulped, trying to keep myself still. My uncle was watching me carefully, and I couldn't let him think I was hopeless before this conversation even went any further.

"Something?" I asked, managing not to stutter. "What is it?"

"Nothing too difficult," he replied. "Just an errand, really. There's a package I need delivered, but due to its valuable nature, there aren't many people I can trust not to run off with it."

"Oh," I said.

I felt my shoulders relax, coming down from where they had hiked up to my ears.

That sounded simple.

"I can do it," I replied confidently.

He smiled, the gesture softening the stern lines around his face and making him look instantly more approachable.

"I'm happy to hear that," he said, leaning back in his seat. He added, "You know, you should have come to me sooner. It's not too late to save the Chambers empire. Just succeed in this one thing, and you can leave the rest to me."

By the time I left his ville, I was brimming with fresh hope. Matteo and I had talked further over lunch, where he gave me all the details, including where to pick up the package and the drop location where a trusted employee of his would be waiting to collect it. Time was of utmost importance, so I headed out that very evening to deliver the large, sealed box.

The rendezvous point was somewhere on the outskirts of Evergreen State, cities away from the luxury district where the powerful families lived. Even with specific directions from Matteo, it took me longer than expected to find the place– a car park. My instructions were clear: look for a black Lexus LS 500 with the engine running, and approach it. The employee would roll down their window to collect the package, then drive off, leaving me free to return home.

I spotted the car immediately, since it was actually the only one there at the moment.

"Okay," I murmured. "So far so good."

As I walked up to it, whoever was inside must have seen me, because the window slid down immediately. I leaned forward to hand him the package, and that was when I felt a presence behind me. But before I could turn around, something covered my face. Some sort of fabric, smelling of this sharp scent that started to make me feel lightheaded. I tried to fight, but one strong arm restricted my movements as the other pressed that fabric tighter over my nose and mouth. It wasn't long before I passed out.

When I woke up, it was with a startle.

I scrambled into a sitting position, gasping for breath, looking around frantically.

I could still feel that muscular arm, a tight band pinning my hands to my sides as I choked on that painful scent.

"You're awake."

I jolted, turning sharply. I hadn't even considered that I might not be alone in this room. There was a man sitting on a chair right beside me. An unfamiliar man with pale skin, his thin lips pressed even thinner as he regarded me through sharp, narrowed green eyes. Now that I had noticed his presence, it was impossible to ignore. It was a solid, heavy weight in the room, making sweat trickle down the back of my neck. Instinctively, I scooted backwards till I was pressed against the wall behind me.

Every cell in my body wanted to get as far away from this intimidating stranger as possible.

His eyes narrowed even further at that action. I couldn't hold that cold gaze, so I turned to gaze frantically around the room instead. Who knows what other scary people were planning to pull a jump scare on me. I saw bare walls, empty spaces, no furniture besides this bed and this chair, and no other person in the room. He and I were alone, which was not a cause for relief, either.

'Okay,' I thought. 'At least it's just one person. I have a better chance of escaping.'

Someone had left a steel flask on the bed beside me. I picked it up, pretending to study the engravings on the bottom. Out of the corner of my eye, I was watching him instead, taking note of how tall and muscular he was, with broad shoulders and defined arms that could definitely break my neck with little effort.

This wasn't going to be easy.

I gulped, shaking the flask. It was full of what sounded like water. My throat was parched from being unconscious for so long, but I wasn't naive enough to drink anything from this place. Besides, I needed it to be as heavy as possible. It was the only weapon I had, after all.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked.

I blinked at him, testing my grip on the handle of the flask. What sort of question was that? Was I supposed to know him?

I studied him briefly, trying to see if he looked familiar. But he really wasn't ringing any bells. He was wearing a sleek black suit that I could tell was Armani, so maybe he's one of Father's business associates? But he's a little young for that, isn't he? Early thirties at most. Besides, why would I be expected to know any of the people Father had worked with?

"No," I replied cautiously. "I don't know who you are."

Something flashed in his eyes– anger, it seemed like– and he lifted a hand. Panic flared within me. I didn't know what he intended to do. I didn't wait to find out.

I swung, lashing out with the flask, but he seemed to have anticipated my movements, because he snatched my weapon from my hands and tossed it aside. I fought as hard as I could, scratching and kicking at him, but he pinned me down till I was flat on my back, unable to move a muscle. Till all I could do was stare into those cold eyes.