Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 207

Chapter 207

CELESTE

The first thing I registered was the ache in my shoulders, a dull throbbing that traveled up my neck and settled behind my eyes. The second thing was the rough texture of rope biting into my wrists, the kind of friction that promised bruises before I even opened my eyes to confirm my situation.

I forced my lids apart and the world swam into focus. A ceiling I did not recognize. Walls painted a pale yellow that felt deliberately cheerful in a way that made my stomach turn. was sitting on a wooden chair, my arms pulled behind my back, the rope wrapped around my wrists so tight that my fingers had started to tingle.

Kidnapped.

The word landed in my chest like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples of cold dread through every part of me.

Seraphine. That was the first name that surfaced, the most obvious conclusion. Who else would want me tied to a chair in a

Who else stranger’s house? Who else had the combination of spite and boldness to pull something like this off? Julian had been begging for my forgiveness. He would not dare. But Seraphine? She had already tried to destroy me once. This was just the sequel.

I tested the rope again, wincing as it bit into my skin. My fingers were already going numb. I needed to think. I needed to get out of here before whoever did this came back.

And then I remembered the bracelet.

The silver cuff Dominic had slid onto my wrist three days ago, his fingers lingering against my pulse point as he fastened it.” Keep this on,” he had said. “Always.”

I had assumed it was a gift, a piece of jewelry chosen for its delicate shimmer. But when I had examined it later, I had found the tiny catch, the hidden blade no longer than my thumbnail but sharp enough to slice through most things.

I twisted my arm, feeling for the clasp. My fingers brushed against it and I almost sobbed with relief. I adjusted my angle, pressing the hidden blade against the rope, and began to saw. The motion was awkward, my wrists bound too close together for proper leverage, but I kept at it, feeling the fibers give way millimeter by millimeter.

The door swung open.

Light flooded the room, a harsh overhead bulb that made me squint. A figure stepped through and I blinked repeatedly, trying to adjust, trying to make sense of the silhouette moving toward me.

My eyes cleared.

I stared.

Of all the faces I had expected to see, hers was not on the list. Not even close.

“What are you going to do?” Riley asked, and I could hear the war in her voice, the part of her that wanted to walk out and the part that was too afraid to defy her mother.

Elizabeth reached into her bag and pulled out a small transparent nylon pouch filled with white pills. She held it up like a trophy, letting the light catch the plastic.

“Here. There are so many pills in here. I am just going to feed them to her, and then, since she is a whore who loves being with men so much, I will arrange the men in the other room for her. I just need to let them out and give her the opportunity to have fun with them. I will record all of it and send it to Julian. Once he sees this, he will let her go as quickly as possible. So, what do you think of my plan?”

I let out a low chuckle, the sound surprising even me. My eyes darted around the room, cataloging every detail. My handbag was slumped against the wall near the far end of the room, close to the window. If I could get to it…

“Really?” I said, my voice dripping with disdain. “You are calling me a whore, but do you not need those men more than I do?”

Elizabeth’s face twisted. She crossed the distance between us in three quick strides and her palm connected with my cheek, the slap sharp enough to snap my head to the side. My skin stung and my ears rang but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

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