Sweet Revenge, Hot Romance

Chapter 5

I stepped out of the building and into the night, the cool air doing little to calm my racing mind. The elite part of the city was a maze of tall, glittering skyscrapers and high-end boutiques. I knew this area well, having been here on many shopping sprees with Jenna. The irony of it all was a sharp, bitter pill to swallow. I pulled my hood lower and began to walk.

My plan was simple: get to my apartment without being detected. I hailed a cab, and once inside, gave the driver the address of a building a block away from mine. I knew better than to be dropped off directly at my doorstep. Having rejected Mr. Crane's offer of protection, I was entirely on my own now, and I had to be vigilant.

As the taxi wove through the city streets, my mind drifted back to the last 24 hours. The betrayal, the escape, the mysterious rescue, and my strange, inexplicable reaction to Mr. Crane's voice. It was all so bizarre. His voice was a constant presence in my mind, an echo that I couldn't place no matter how hard I tried. And the name Crane… it rang no bells. How could he know me so well? Was it possible that I knew him, too?

“It doesn’t matter now,” I muttered to myself. “I'm not getting involved with him.”

"You still owe him, though," a little voice in my head countered.

“I’ll pay him back, and that will be the end of it,” I promised myself.

“We’re here, miss,” the driver announced, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Oh, thank you,” I said, handing him some cash from the wad Mr. Cross had given me. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for his foresight. I would have been stranded without it.

I stepped onto the sidewalk and took in the surroundings. Life went on here, oblivious to my crumbling world. The streets were busy, filled with the usual rush of people and vehicles. Everything seemed so normal. How could the world continue to spin as if nothing had happened?

I stopped for a moment, watching the people go about their lives, wishing I could go back to the way things were just two days ago. I thought back to the day I met Jay, a time when I truly believed in love at first sight. He was so charismatic, so charming and kind. It was impossible to reconcile that man with the cold, heartless voice I had heard on the phone. And Jenna… my best friend, my sister, a person I would have died for. How could she have conspired to have me killed?

The betrayal was a deep, festering wound that threatened to consume me. If only I could turn back time, I would have stayed far away from them both.

“Miss, are you okay? Are you lost?” A man’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I snapped out of my daze, realizing I had been standing there for a while. “Oh, no, thank you. I was just lost in thought. I used to live here, and it feels a bit different now.” I gave him a polite smile and hurried away.

I found a back alley I knew well and slipped into it, making my way to the back of my apartment building. I had already taken precautions to avoid being seen. I had bought a wig, a cap, and a mask to disguise my identity. People in this part of town often used disguises for various reasons, so I knew I wouldn’t attract any unwanted attention.

The building had two main entrances and a side entrance that was usually locked but was still accessible at this time of night. The building manager, a friend of mine, had given me a spare key. I was sure I could get in without anyone seeing me. I walked confidently, pretending to be a member of the management. It was better to act normal than to look suspicious.

I took the elevator to the fourth floor. There were about twenty units on each floor, and the building was generally busy, but at this time of night, it was mostly empty. I was on high alert, my eyes scanning for anyone or anything that seemed out of place. But everything looked normal.

I walked past my unit to make sure no one was lurking around. Once I was sure it was safe, I went back and reached under the doormat for my spare key. I unlocked the door and quickly slipped inside, locking it behind me. I didn’t dare turn on the hallway lights. I knew the layout of the apartment by heart, so I tiptoed into the living room in the dark.

I made my way to the bedroom and closed the door. A small sliver of light from the alleyway was peeking through the curtains, but it wasn't enough to see by. I knew no one could see me from the outside, so I felt safe enough to turn on the lights.

As my hand reached for the light switch, a shadow fell over me. A hand clamped over my mouth, and an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me backward into a firm, unyielding chest. My heart stopped. My legs went weak, and a paralyzing fear gripped me.

This was it. Jay had finally won. I should have listened to Mr. Crane. I should have taken his help. I had no one to blame but myself. I was a dead woman.