Chapter 2

I opened my eyes—and was immediately overwhelmed by terror.

First, because I felt awful. My head pounded with a violence that made me wonder if it might just burst open. Second, because I had no idea where I was. The last thing I remembered was losing consciousness at the races.

What happened?

Where was Eve?

Where the hell was I?

I sat up on the bed, pressing a shaky hand to my forehead. It felt like the worst hangover of my life—even though I was sure I hadn't touched a single drop of alcohol.

I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the room around me. It was... calm. Tastefully decorated, even. Beige and navy blue tones dominated the space. The wall opposite me was a deep midnight blue, while the others were a warm sand color. The furniture—white, minimalist. A navy carpet muffled my movements. Morning sunlight streamed through the open window, just past a small balcony.

Everything looked normal.

But nothing felt right.

I scrambled off the bed and grabbed my purse from the nearby chair. My hands shook as I pulled out my phone. Several missed calls. A message from Eve blinked on the screen.

"Selena, please let me know you're okay because I'm going out of my mind. I will never forgive myself if something happened to you. I hope you met someone who just dragged you to bed."

Typical Eve. Always ready with a joke—even when I could've been kidnapped.

Wait.

Kidnapped?

My heart started to race.

Was I?

Panic surged as I rushed to the door. But just as I reached for the handle, it opened—and I froze in place.

Standing there, holding a steaming mug, was Sebastian.

Sebastian.

I blinked, stunned. The once pretty boy I remembered from high school had become... a man. Broad shoulders, sharper features, confidence in the way he carried himself. He looked nothing like the teenage version I used to know.

I swallowed hard, unsure if it was nerves—or if I was just... impressed.

"Sebastian..." I whispered, barely believing it.

He shifted, clearly nervous. "I'm sorry if I scared you, Selena. I just... wanted to help."

"What happened?" I asked, still trying to process everything.

"Sit down," he said gently, offering me the mug. "Have some warm tea before you head back. I'll explain everything."

I hesitated—but it was Sebastian. Eve's ex-boyfriend. My old classmate. Someone who had once walked the same school halls as me, not some stranger off the street.

I took the tea and sat cautiously on the edge of the bed. He moved to the window, standing with his back to me.

"I don't know why you're in New York," he said quietly. "But you need to go back to Los Angeles. The sooner, the better."

I frowned, trying to figure out if this was some weird joke.

"Excuse me? I'm here on vacation," I replied slowly, then stopped myself from saying Eve's name. I wasn't sure how much he knew—or wanted to know—about her.

"With Eve?" he asked, not missing a beat.

I nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. With Eve and her daughter."

He didn't turn around, but I could practically feel his reaction.

"Does she get along well with Mike?" he asked.

"Yeah, they're doing great. They're a really solid couple."

He was silent for a moment.

"All the best to them," he said at last, but I heard the slight strain in his voice. "I wish them happiness."

I studied him carefully. "Sebastian... will you please tell me what I'm doing here? What happened at the race?"

He turned, finally facing me. "Someone tried to hurt you."

The mug trembled slightly in my hands.

"What?"

"The bartender—on someone's orders—slipped something into your water. That's why you lost consciousness." His gaze held mine. "It's a good thing I was there. I got to you first."

My stomach turned.

New York suddenly felt like a snake pit, coiled and waiting.

"You're not safe here, Selena. Not in this city."

I stared at him, disbelief curling through me. "Why not? I haven't done anything to anyone. I don't even know anyone here."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"

A chill slipped down my spine.

"I only had one weird encounter," I admitted slowly. "Some guy at the race... He was the one who started talking to me out of nowhere, like he knew something about me. I don't even—"

I trailed off when I saw the sharp look in Sebastian's eyes.

"That's exactly what I mean," he said, voice tight. "You don't know who you're dealing with, Selena. His name's Hero. And trust me—people like him don't get fixated for no reason."

I felt like I was slipping into the script of a movie I didn't remember agreeing to star in.

"I don't get it," I whispered. "Why me?"

"Because you're not just anyone. And Hero doesn't chase women for fun. He hunts. You need to leave. Go home. Before this gets worse."

I hesitated. "But... Sebastian..."

"There is no but," he cut in firmly. "You need to listen to me. Go back to Los Angeles."

I let out a breath, feeling trapped and confused. "Could you at least call me a cab?"

"I'll drive you myself," he said immediately. "It's the safest way."

I looked up at him—and for the first time since last night, I felt like I could breathe again.

"Thank you," I said softly.

He nodded once, jaw tight.

And in that moment, I realized this wasn't just a bad night.

It was the beginning of something much darker.

*

On the way back, I called Eve. I promised to explain everything once I got home. She was frantic, but I assured her I was fine. When she asked who I was with, I only replied, "You'll see for yourself."

Sebastian drove in silence. The hum of the engine filled the space between us until I finally spoke.

"What happened that made you settle in New York?"

He was quiet for a while, the pause stretching longer than I expected.

"In Los Angeles, I only had my mother," he said at last, eyes fixed on the road. "After she died... I was lost. Completely. I didn't have anyone left. No support. Nothing to hold on to."

I stayed quiet, letting him speak at his own pace.

"I started drinking," he continued. "At first just to cope, but soon it was the only thing I did. I got to the point where I couldn't even leave the bar. One night, I stumbled into someone on the street, just brushed his shoulder—and he kicked me down like trash."

I winced.

"But someone helped me," he added. "Some man I didn't know. To this day, I don't understand why. But he picked me up off the ground. Took me in. That man became my boss. Former boss now. He got me out of that pit and brought me here. To New York. Everything I have now... I owe to him."

I glanced at him. "You've been through a lot. But it's good you met someone who helped you back on track."

He gave a short laugh, almost bitter. "He may not exactly be a good man... but I owe him everything."

Moments later, we pulled up in front of Eve's house. Before I could even open the door fully, a flash of blonde came running toward me. Eve threw herself into my arms, wrapping around me so tightly I could barely breathe.

"I will never leave you again," she sobbed. "I was going out of my mind. I kept imagining the worst. I'm so sorry, Selena."

"Hey, hey. It's not your fault I ran into some creep," I whispered, hugging her back.

"But I was the one who took you to the races…"

"Hi, Eve," Sebastian said calmly.

She broke from my arms and looked toward him—like she'd just seen a ghost. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Then she pointed at him, turning to me with a demand for explanation written all over her face.

"He helped me," I said quickly. "When I passed out. He brought me to his place."

"So he couldn't fucking pick up your phone to calm me down and tell me you were okay?" she exploded, her voice rising with all the emotions she'd been bottling up.

Sebastian scratched the back of his head, looking off to the side. "I see you haven't changed."

"And you," she shot back, arms crossed tightly over her chest, "have changed a lot. You look good."

A small, almost shy smile curved at the corner of his lips.

"Auntie!" Lily ran out of the house, her little feet pattering against the path as she launched herself at me. She clung to my leg like a koala.

Sebastian's eyes landed on the child, and something shifted in his expression.

"She looks just like her father," he said quietly.

"But the personality is all her mom's," Eve replied, forcing a smile.

"It was nice seeing you again," he said after a moment. "Take care, girls. And Selena—think about what I told you."

Then he got into the car and drove off, leaving a cloud of dust behind. Eve stared at me like I'd just committed treason.

"Seriously?" she asked. "Of all people—you had to run into him? In New York?"

I shrugged. "He helped me. Some strange guy attached himself to me at the race, and Sebastian said I was in danger. He told me I should go back to L.A."

Eve's brows furrowed. "What guy?"

"I don't know who he is. He approached me at the race, right after you walked ahead. Then again at the restaurant. I think... I think he somehow planned it. That you'd hear about the races. He wanted us there. I don't know how much he knows about me, but I'm starting to get scared."

Eve placed her hands on my shoulders. "If you want to go back to Los Angeles, say the word. Your safety is all that matters."

"No." I shook my head firmly. "Some psycho isn't going to ruin my vacation. We stay. We enjoy every single day. He'd have to chase me across the damn country to run into me again."

Eve didn't look convinced.

But I meant it.

At least, I wanted to believe I meant it.

*

The next three days passed quietly. We stayed in New York, and for once, nothing bad happened. Thankfully, I never saw the man again—the one whose presence had sent shivers down my spine.

We wandered the city like tourists, ate delicious food, and even took Lily to an amusement park. We did our best to make the most of every minute.

Now, with only two days left before returning to Los Angeles, Eve and I decided to spend the evening at a nightclub. One last night of fun.

Dressed in a white lace mini dress, I stood in front of the mirror, carefully fixing my red lipstick. My reflection smiled back at me—I looked good. And for once, I matched Eve, who wore a sleek black dress that hugged her figure and highlighted her cleavage with an intricate crisscross pattern.

Once inside the club, the first thing I did was pull Eve straight to the bathroom with me. Only then could I finally catch my breath and take a good look around.

The place was massive—two floors, with balconies overlooking the dance floor below. Colorful lights flashed in sync with the pulsing beat, and the music vibrated through my chest. I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. It had been a long time since I felt this free.

We made our way to the bar and ordered shots—just one round to get us started. The alcohol slid down warm and fast, and with it came a delicious wave of courage and joy. The night suddenly felt wide open.

We dove onto the dance floor, letting the music take control. I moved instinctively, losing myself in the rhythm, not caring who was watching. It felt so good to just let go, to let every emotion pour out through my body as I danced like the night would never end.

I closed my eyes.

And then—hands on my hips.

I turned my head slightly, catching sight of a man behind me. He wasn't much taller than me and had shoulder-length red hair that somehow suited him perfectly. He wasn't bad-looking either.

"What's your name?" he asked, his lips brushing close to my ear.

"Selena," I answered over the music.

"You from New York?"

I shook my head, and he smiled in response.

I glanced to my side and saw Eve fending someone off. She swatted at his hands with visible irritation before yelling something I couldn't hear and pointing for him to back off. The man finally walked away, and she went back to dancing.

The red-haired guy took my hand and tugged gently, pulling me off to the side. I hesitated at first, eyes narrowing slightly, but calmed down when he said he just wanted to go outside to smoke and talk.

So this time, I was the one who left Eve behind.

My head buzzed, not unpleasantly, as I leaned back against the wall outside. The cool air kissed my flushed cheeks. The guy stood in front of me, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the night.

"Are you a student, Selena?" he asked casually.

I shook my head, smiling. "No. I'm way past that stage. Just hanging out in New York, relaxing on vacation."

"Wow. I would've guessed high school, maybe college," he said, stepping a bit closer and reaching for my chin.

I tilted my head away and laughed, a little giddy. The alcohol was definitely kicking in now.

"It's just really good makeup," I joked, waving a hand in front of my face.

He caught my hand midair, looking into my eyes. "I like older girls…" he murmured, inching closer as if he was about to kiss me.

Before I could react, another hand appeared—fingers adorned with silver rings—gripping his wrist tightly.

"Touch her, and I'll kill you."

That voice. It sent a chill down my spine.

I blinked, unsure if I was hallucinating. But there he was.

Felix.

He stood beside me, shoulder-length black hair tousled, a leather jacket clinging to his frame. He looked like every dark fantasy I'd ever had—dangerous, untouchable, devastatingly beautiful.

The red-haired guy backed off instantly, disappearing without a word.

I stared after him, then extended my hand toward the empty air, calling out, "Hey! Redhead! Where are you going? You're just gonna leave me alone?"

"I hate it when you're drunk," Felix said, his voice tight with frustration.

I stared at him, swaying slightly, amused by the vision in front of me. I must've been more drunk than I thought—now I was hallucinating old obsessions.

"My first love, the perfect bad boy has come to protect me," I giggled, touching his cheek. "Even my imagination can't make you less hot."

People around me were probably laughing at the drunk girl talking to herself in the alley. I didn't care.

"Felix!" someone called from behind him.

I looked up and burst into laughter.

Now I was hallucinating him too—the one Sebastian warned me about.

"Look, Felix. It's the Big Bad Wolf. The guy who tried to hurt me," I said with mock seriousness. "Protect me from him. Please. He's beautiful, but I'm scared."

"Felix, leave her alone!" the man barked, stepping closer.

Felix didn't move.

"Give me a chance, Lucas," he said calmly. "I swear... she won't make it worse. I can handle it."

"I don't believe that for a second," the other man snapped—Hero, or whatever my imagination decided to name him. He glared at me like I was some cursed object. I just stuck my tongue out at him like a child.

"Screw this sick destiny," he muttered before storming back inside.

I lifted my eyes to Felix and gave a drunken pout.

"Can I stay like this forever? Please? Let me never wake up from this dream," I whispered, resting my head against his chest.

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me so tightly I thought I might disappear into him.

"I've waited too long to find you," he murmured. "I'm not letting go. You're safe now. No one can hurt you."

His hand slid gently through my hair, and I closed my eyes.

If this was a dream, I never wanted to wake up.