“You even had time to go to dinner?”
Lexi expected Victor.
Instead, she found Sebastian Blackwood behind the wheel.
The photos scattered across the seat were of her and Evan at dinner.
He’d had her followed.
“I’m human,” she said coolly.
“I eat.”
She tore the photos in half and threw them out the window.
“I warned you,” Sebastian said.
“Stay away from Evan Cole. He’s not what you think.”
His patience was thinning.
If not for that night between them, he wouldn’t have cared.
Lexi smiled faintly.
“Then warn your precious Lauren. First she tried to drown me. Then she replaced fake blades with real ones.”
Two days on set.
Two near-deaths.
Sebastian’s gaze sharpened.
“You won’t film for a few days. I’ll investigate. If you’re lying…” His voice dropped.
“You’ll regret it.”
He pushed her out of the car.
It sped away.
Lexi winced, rubbing her scraped knee.
After everything—he still didn’t trust her.
Before dawn, her phone rang.
“I found evidence against Lauren,” Evan said urgently.
“Meet me at the artificial lake.”
She hesitated—then went.
The lake was empty.
Darkness swallowed her.
When she woke, the car was speeding down a highway.
Evan’s assistant was driving.
Evan sat beside her.
But the warmth was gone.
His eyes were cold.
She tried to move.
Her limbs wouldn’t respond.
“Relax,” he said with a faint smile.
“I won’t kill you.”
Her phone rang.
Evan answered.
Sebastian’s voice roared through the speaker.
“Evan Cole. Return Lexi. Now.”
Evan chuckled.
“You’re late. Tell Sebastian Blackwood to come see me.”
He threw the phone out the window.
Lexi stared at him.
“Who are you? What do you want?”
“I wanted more time,” he said.
“But Sebastian moves fast.”
The city skyline faded into empty countryside.
Her chest tightened.
She had trusted him.
Because he reminded her of someone she once loved.
Sebastian had warned her.
He’d been right.
“Sir,” the assistant said through the comms, “Connor called again. They’ll send Sebastian once Lexi is confirmed safe.”
The car stopped before a white villa, isolated and immaculate.
Evan carried her inside—not roughly, but firmly.
“Why Sebastian?” she asked weakly.
“What does this have to do with me?”
Upstairs, he placed her on a bed.
A framed photo sat on the nightstand—a boy with a fishing rod, laughing beside an older man.
“That’s my father,” Evan said.
“Don Cole. Head of the Cole Syndicate. Seven years ago, Sebastian Blackwood took everything. My father jumped from the sixty-sixth floor.”
His voice stayed calm.
His eyes did not.
Lexi swallowed.
“Why would Sebastian come for me? Lauren is his girlfriend.”
Evan set the photo down.
“When Victor chased you at Halo Nightclub, I noticed you. I saw how Sebastian reacted. He would risk anything for you.”
So it had all been planned.
The clock read five p.m.
One hour.
Evan closed the curtains and moved toward the door—
It burst open.
Connor stormed in, gun aimed at Evan’s assistant.
“Release Lexi. Or he dies.”
Evan’s surprise flickered—then vanished.
Four armed men stepped out from the wardrobe.
With a small gesture, Evan lifted Lexi and pressed a gun to her side.
“My goal is already achieved,” he said calmly.
“Nic is expendable. Her life depends on you.”
A helicopter roared overhead.
A ladder dropped.
Guards moved into position.
“I’ll give Sebastian more time,” Evan said.
“Let him come in person.”
If she boarded that helicopter, she might disappear forever.
Then Sebastian’s voice rang out from outside:
“Your father buried the company in debt. The Blackwoods spared you. This is between families. Release Lexi—and you might walk away alive.”