Chapter 4

Wren’s POV

I woke up alone, feeling utterly and totally satisfied. Yet for whatever reason, I couldn’t recall why.

After taking a shower, I noticed some bruising on my thighs, and a hickey on my neck. Some of last night's memories came rushing in. A man with his face between my thighs. Touching me, doing things to me.

“Josh was here?!” I gasped, filled with part glee because he came back, and part horror because I couldn’t remember.

This is why I don’t drink.

I quickly got dressed in my clothes from the night, even though I couldn’t find my panties. I took my phone and called Josh, excitement making me nearly drop my phone.

“What?” He snapped after three rings.

“You came for me!” I cried out.

“Why did you leave so soon? We could have gone home together.”

A soft, feminine voice called from the background. “Babe! Come back to bed!”

My heart tanked and my smile vanished.

“Don’t call me again. And stop spewing rubbish about me. We’re done, Wren. Get a fucking hint.” He hung up before I could reply.

The phone slipped from my hand and fell to the ground.

Right. He broke up with me. There’s no way he’d come all the way down here.

But then who was the man from last night?

I tried hard to remember but all that came up was a massive headache. With a soft sigh, I wiped my eyes, picked up my things and left the hotel.

Anna had already left, shooting me a text about how she had an emergency and I should please forgive her.

I felt alone. Discarded, like I was worth nothing.

But the man from last night didn’t make me feel like I was nothing. The way he held me, the way he—

No. Wren, focus.

Outside, I took a taxi and went home.

Mom was back from her shift, which was a welcome surprise because I rarely saw her around. She worked as a nurse in the same hospital where my twin sister was admitted.

“Hi mom,” I said. I noticed she was dressed in a nice black dress and looked ready to go out.

“What’s the occasion?” I asked, smiling softly as I walked up to her.

“Nothing. Just a little self date thingy.” She replied, kissing my cheek. “I might be back late, don’t stay up too late okay? And tomorrow, go and see your sister. You haven’t visited her in two weeks, baby.”

My stomach tanked. Lizzie was sick. Ever since we were kids. She’d always been in and out of hospitals. Dad used to foot all her medical bills but then he cheated on Mom and moved out with his new family. And now mom is left pinching pennies to keep up.

I want more than anything to help her out. But each time I see Lizzie, I’m filled with so much guilt. I feel angry at myself for being the healthy twin while my sister wastes away in a hospital.

With a soft sigh, I nod. “I will. Have fun.”

She squeezes a fifty-dollar bill into my palm and leaves. Wow. Did she hit a jackpot or what?

Was this from the man she talked about? Wait! Is this self date thingy a date with her man?

Ugh! She just has to tell me, rather than letting me run wild with imaginations.

I spent the rest of my day searching for jobs online and making as many applications as I could.

The next day, I woke up to commotion outside my door. Stunned, I sat still for two seconds to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating anything. Mom wasn’t back yet, so I went to answer the door.

The moment I pulled the door open, three men dressed in dark suits jumped into the apartment and shut the door.

“Wren Anderson?” One of them said, stepping forward. He looked like he had eaten stones for breakfast.

Swallowing thickly, I grabbed my pant leg so they wouldn’t see me trembling, while calculating how long it would take to bolt for the door.

“That’s me,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. “And who are you?”

“Where’s Patricia Anderson, your mother?”

“She’s out. Won’t be back for a while. Is there anything you want, I’ll relay the message to her.”

The door opened and from there a new voice came. “The message is that she owes me a fuck ton of money.” A deep, oddly familiar voice said.

The fourth man walked into our tiny living room. Right away, my breath got trapped in my throat. He was tall, and broad, with an intimidating prescience that quickly filled the small apartment. With dark hair and even darker eyes, he looked more myth than man, his features sculpted to perfection, his eyes glaring down at me like I was a pest.

I swear I’ve seen those eyes before. But where?

“W-who are you?” I gasped taking a step back as he got closer to me.

Standing in front of me, he was so tall I had to crane my neck all the way back just to meet his eyes. The next thing I knew, he grabbed my chin and forced me closer to him.

“You don’t remember? How heartbreaking,” he chuckled. His voice sent heat through my body and I don’t know what makes me clench my thighs together. Was it his scent? His tough hand on my face? Or his voice I swear I’ve heard before.

“I…I don’t know…”

His eye scanned my face. “Your mother ran away with my money, Wren. Five million fucking dollars.”

I forgot how to breathe. “Five—five—“

“Yes, yes. I can’t reach her. But guess who I can reach?”

“There has to be a mistake!” I cried out. “She wouldn’t do that!”

His brows shot up and his eyes glinted. Then he released me. “Very well. Call her. Either way, I don’t care what you do, all that matters is I leave here with my money.”

“You bet!” I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed my mom. The call rang out four times before she picked up.

“Hey, baby!”

“Mom!” I cried. “Where are you?! There’s some…some guys here saying you owe them money!”

“Sweetie what’s that?! I can’t hear you! The connection is terrible!”

“Mom! Please! What’s going on?!”

“Your voice is breaking baby! I’m sorry I’ll call you back okay?!”

“Mom—“ The call ended.

“Well?” The man asked, as if he knew.

I ignored him and called my mom again. The call didn’t connect talk less of ringing. I tried again and again and again, till my phone was plucked out of my hand.

The man stood before, tossing my phone between his middle finger and thumb. “What a terrible situation we’ve all found ourselves in. Looks like mommy dearest has abandoned you, Wren.”

Hot tears filled my eyes. “She wouldn’t…”

But I thought about yesterday. How dressed up she looked. The fifty-dollar bill she slipped me. Everything else.

The man grabbed my chin again, crouching down to meet my watery eyes. “Now, let’s talk about my repayment.”