SIENNA
I pulled open the lounge door and stepped out; the heavy oak door thudded behind me. The swirling in my head was all about Zane. It was Always Zane. His actions played on in a maddening reel I couldn't pause. One moment, his hands were pulling me close, like I was his entire world. Next, he would turn his eyes at me distantly, like I was nothing more than a fleeting distraction. Once was a mistake. Twice was a pattern. Three times? That was a wound I couldn't keep reopening.
My mind processed every second of our encounter in the lounge. The way his lips had grazed my ear, and then his indifference afterward. That infuriating smirk as he leaned back without care, like I hadn't just bared my soul. Why did I say it? Those three words had slipped out mid-orgasm like some desperate part of me thought it could tether him to me.
His mocking laughter at my outburst still echoed in my ears, making me want to disappear. I was willing to give up anything just to rewind time and retract those words. But they were out, and now they hung between us.
I gripped the door handle of Jason's black SUV when I approached it. My fingers trembled, not from the chill but from the storm raging inside me. I didn't care about riding home with Zane. Not after that. I had driven here with Jason anyway, and now the decision felt like a small act of rebellion, and I loved it.
I yanked the door open and climbed into the passenger seat, my voice cutting through the silence. "Drive me home, Jason. Now."
Jason, leaning against the driver's side door, didn't move. His broad shoulders tensed, and his jaw ticked as he glanced toward the lounge entrance.
"Right now, Jason," I snapped, slamming my palm against the dashboard. The sting radiated up my arm, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. I didn't need his hesitation because of his loyalty to Zane. I needed to get out of here and away from the man who could unravel me with a single look. Jason's dark eyes met mine through the windshield, and for a moment, I thought he would argue. But he just sighed and didn't move.
My gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, catching the lounge door swinging open. Zane stepped out, glancing towards Jason's car. Even from here, his presence made my pulse race despite everything. He approached Jason and they started to talk in low whispers. I wasn't interested in what they discussed anyway. Zane's hand clapped Jason's shoulder, and then he gave a single nod.
Jason slid into the driver's seat. "I'm sorry about the tracker," he said, his voice rough. "I didn't know it was there. And about my hesitation to leave, I can't just take you without Zane's say-so."
I stared at him for a second. "Take me to Belinda's," I said, my voice with defiance. If Zane wants to follow, he can. He's got the damn GPS, doesn't he?"
Jason nodded, starting the engine. The SUV purred to life, and we pulled onto the road. I leaned back against the seat. Even then the memory of his hands on me sent a shiver down my spine. I was still drawn to him, like a moth to a flame that would burn me alive.
My hand drifted to my neck, an absent habit, as I sought the familiar weight of my necklace. But my fingers met my bare skin, and a pang of loss hit me. I sighed, remembering the moment Zane had broken it and the pieces were in my pocket now. I reached for them, pulling out the broken pendant and turning it between my fingers.
For five years, I had worn it without question. But now, as I studied the pendant's cracked surface, I saw something I had never noticed before. I pressed my thumbnail against the seam, and with a soft click, the pendant split open. Inside was a tiny flash drive, no bigger than a dime, nestled in a foam cutout.
All this time, I'd been carrying a secret, and I hadn't even known it. My father's voice grew louder in my memory about it being my lifeline. Was this what he meant? Something on this drive that could fill the gaps in my past, the years I couldn't piece together no matter how hard I tried?
I closed my fist around the drive, my pulse racing. What was on it? Documents? Photos? Something that could explain why my memories of that time were so fragmented? Or was it something darker, something that could put me in danger?
My mind spun with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last.
I glanced at Jason, his eyes fixed on the road, his expression unreadable. Could I trust him? He'd apologized for the tracker, but he'd still waited for Zane's approval. Whose side was he really on?
The SUV slowed as we approached our apartment building and I tucked the flash drive back into my pocket, my fingers lingering on the broken pendant. I needed to see what was on that drive. But first, I needed to shake the weight of Zane's indifference, his laughter still ringing in my ears.
Why didn't he care? Why did he pull me close only to push me away? I wanted to scream at him for answers, but the thought of facing him again made my chest tighten. I was terrified of what I would see in his eyes...nothing. Or worse, pity.
"Sienna," Jason said, breaking the silence as he parked. "Are you okay?"
I forced a nod, my throat tight. "Yeah. Thanks for the ride."
He studied me for a moment, his brow furrowed. "If you need to talk..."
"I don't," I cut him off, sharper than I meant to. I softened my tone. "I just need to see Belinda."
He nodded, but his eyes lingered on me, like he knew I was holding something back. I climbed out of the SUV. As I walked toward the building, I felt Jason's gaze on my back, and I wondered if he'd report this to Zane. Probably. The thought made my stomach churn, but I pushed it aside. I have bigger things to worry about now. For the first time in years, I felt as though I was close to something that could explain the gaps in my past. I wasn't going to let Zane or my feelings for him stop me now.
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Jason trailed behind me as we reached the door, his footsteps heavy on the hallway. He stopped at the porch, leaning against the frame. "I will wait here," he muttered, his voice low, giving me the privacy I desperately needed but didn't know how to use.
I knocked, rapping my knuckles softly against the wood. The door swung open, and Belinda stood there, her dark curls piled into a messy bun, a glass of red wine in one hand. Her eyes widened, scanning me from head to toe, and her lips parted in a silent question.
"Sienna? Girl, you look like you just survived a hurricane." She stepped aside, waving me in. "Get in here before you collapse."
I managed a weak smile as I stepped into the warmth of our apartment. The scent of lavender candles and leftover takeout hit me, grounding me in the familiarity of our space. Jason stood at the door, his gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder, like he was trying not to intrude. I didn't care. I just needed to breathe.
Belinda plopped onto the couch, patting the cushion next to her. "Sit. Talk. You want wine? Coffee? A whole-ass therapy session?" she said, her eyes searching mine for the truth.
I sank onto the couch, the soft leather creaking under me. My fingers fidgeted with the sleeve of my sweatshirt. "I'm fine," I lied.
Belinda raised an eyebrow, setting her wineglass on the coffee table with a deliberate clink. "Uh-huh. And I'm the queen of England. Spill it, Sienna. What's got you looking like you just lost a fight with your own heart?"
I tried to laugh, but it came out as a sob and I quickly placed my palm to my face, covering the tears that spilled over before I could stop them. Belinda was at my side for an instant, her arms wrapped around me, while she rested her chin on my shoulder. "Hey, hey, it's okay," she murmured, her voice soft but firm. "Whatever it is, we will figure it out. Just breathe."
I clung to her, my sobs muffled against her shirt. When I finally pulled back, my cheeks were wet. "It's Zane. I'm such an idiot."
Belinda's eyes softened, but she didn't interrupt. She just handed me a tissue from the box on the coffee table and waited, her silence an invitation to let it all out. I wiped my face, crumpling the tissue in my palm. "I told him I loved him," I paused to catch my breath.
"Okay??"
"In the middle of... you know. It just slipped out, Bel. And he laughed. Like it was a joke. Like I was a joke."
Her mouth dropped open, and for a moment, she just stared at me in shock. "He laughed? Oh, hell no. What kind of man laughs at that?" She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Okay, back up. Start from the beginning. What happened?"
I took a shaky breath, my fingers twisting the tissue into knots. "We were in the lounge. Things got... intense. Like they always do with him." My cheeks burned at the memory of his hands on me, the way he had pulled me into the booth, his breath hot against my neck.
"It's like he's two different people. One minute, he's all. He acts all protective and possessive, like I'm the only thing that matters. And then after, he's cold and distant. Like he doesn't even see me." I swallowed hard, the sting of his laughter cutting deeper with every word.
"I didn't mean to say it, Bel. It just came out. And he laughed, like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard."
Belinda's lips twitched, and for a horrifying second, I thought she was going to laugh too. But then she leaned forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Girl, he must've been laying it down good for you to be blurting out the L-word mid-orgasm." She wiggled her eyebrows, and a giggle bubbled out of me.
"Bel!" I swatted her arm, my tears forgotten for a moment. "It's not funny!"
"It's a little funny," she said, grinning. Come on, Sienna. You're out here confessing your love in the throes of passion? That's some romance novel shit." She dissolved into laughter, and I couldn't help but join her. For the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe.
"Okay, fine," I said, wiping my eyes. "It's a little ridiculous. But it still hurts. He doesn't trust me, Bel. He doesn't want me. Just... my body.
"What's his deal? Wait a second, did he get you so mushy you forgot your locket?"
"That's part of my gist." I reached into my pocket, pulling out the broken pendant. I held it out to her, "Zane broke it, not intentionally, but I think it was necessary."
"What do you mean?"
"I found this in my necklace. It's a flash drive, Bel. Remember, I said when my dad gave me this necklace five years ago, he said it was my lifeline. I never knew it was hiding this."
Belinda's eyes widened as she took the pendant, turning it over in her fingers. "That's some spy movie nonsense right there." She squinted at the drive, her thumb brushing over the tiny port. "This is an old-school connector. Like old generation desktop. You would need a specific port to read it." She looked up at me, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern. "What do you think is on it?"
"I don't know, but it's got to be important. Why else would he hide it like that? It could explain everything." I leaned forward, my heart pounding. "I need to know, Bel. But I'm scared. What if it's something dangerous that could hurt me?"
Belinda set the pendant on the coffee table, her fingers lingering on it. "Okay, let's think this through. I've got a colleague in IT at work who's a wizard with old tech. I could ask him to take a look, see if he can get it open."
I shook my head, my pulse spiking. "No. I don't know who to trust. What if this flash drive has something they want? Or something they're all trying to keep me from finding?" My voice trembled, and I hated how paranoid I sounded.
Belinda reached for my hand and squeezed it. "Hey, we will figure it out. You don't have to do this alone. However, you're right; we need to be cautious. We need a computer we know is secure."
Before I could respond, the door creaked open, and Jason stepped inside. "Sienna, we have got to go," he said, his voice clipped. His eyes flicked to Belinda, then to the pendant on the table. "What's that?"
I froze, my hand instinctively closing over the pendant. But Belinda, ever the fearless one, held it up. "This," she said, her tone challenging, "is a mystery we're trying to solve. You know anything about old-school flash drives, Jason?"
Jason's brow furrowed as he stepped closer, peering at the flash drive. "That's a Type-A connector. You would need an old desktop to read it." He paused, his gaze shifting to me. "There's one at the penthouse. Zane's got a setup in his office with all kinds of ports. It'd probably work."
My stomach twisted at the mention of Zane's penthouse. The thought of going back there, of being in his space after everything, made my skin crawl. But I needed answers, and if the penthouse was my only shot, I would take it. "Fine," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "Let's go."
Belinda's eyes lit up, and she was on her feet in an instant, grabbing her jacket. "Oh, I'm coming too. No way I'm missing out on this." She shot me a grin, her excitement infectious, "What? You think I'm going to let you and Jason have all the fun? This is some Nancy Drew shit, and I'm here for it."
I couldn't help but smile, even as my heart raced. "You're ridiculous," I said. Having Belinda with me made the unknown feel a little less daunting.
Jason sighed, clearly not thrilled about the extra passenger, but he didn't argue. "Let's move, then," he said, heading for the door.
We piled into the SUV and Belinda slid into the backseat, her chatter filling the silence as Jason started the engine. "So, Sienna, you think this drive's got, like, government secrets? Or maybe it's your dad's secret recipe for the world's best spaghetti sauce." She laughed, nudging my shoulder from behind.
I rolled my eyes, but my lips twitched. "If it's spaghetti sauce, I'm gonna be pissed," I said, playing along. But my mind was elsewhere, spinning with possibilities. What if the drive held the key to my family's past? Or worse, what if it was something that could put us all in danger? I clutched the pendant tighter, my fingers tracing the jagged edges. Whatever was on that drive, I was about to find out and I wasn't sure I was ready.
