Page 21 of Secret Seduction

“My stepfather’s men,” I cry out. “He’s trying to sell me to some guy he owes money to,” I blurt out, hoping it’s enough to convince him to drive away with me in the car.

Lorenzo curses under his breath, but thankfully, he takes off, leaving the two men behind.

He hits a button on his steering wheel and says, “Call Matteo,” and a second later, his phone rings over Bluetooth.

“Russo,” Matteo drawls. “Did I seriously see that crazy chick get into the car with you?”

Lorenzo glances at me. “Eric Vanderbilt sent two men to pick her up.”

“And? The last thing you want is to get involved in that family’s drama,” Matteo says, making my heart drop.

If he convinces Lorenzo to dump me on the side of the road, I’m screwed.

“It’s not family drama,” I choke out, knowing if I don’t tell them what’s going on, I have no chance of them helping me. “Eric owes some guy money, and I overheard Eric tell him that he would sell me to the guy in exchange for his debt being paid off.”

“Who?” Matteo asks.

“Santiago. I don’t know his last name. I just heard him call him Santiago.”

Lorenzo curses under his breath at the same time Matteo curses out loud.

“Please,” I say to them both. “I didn’t know what else to do or where else to go. He told him I was a virgin and worth millions.”

“Jesus fuck.” Lorenzo shakes his head. “That’s why you drugged and raped me?”

“I didn’t rape you,” I insist, refusing to admit we didn’t have sex and risk either of them telling anyone that I’m still a virgin.

I hate that he thinks we had sex and doesn’t remember it, but I’m not taking any chances. My life is literally on the line.

“Please,” I say to him. “I know what I did was fucked up, but I didn’t have any other choice. He’s going to sell me!” Sobs rack my body, and I cover my face with my hands, trying to calm my breathing. When it doesn’t work, I reach for my purse to grab my pills, only I don’t have them because I put everything in my luggage … which I left back at the dock.

“Shit,” I hiss.

“What?” Lorenzo asks.

“My pills—they’re in my luggage back at the dock.” I try to catch my breath, but I’ve had enough anxiety attacks to know that once I reach this point, the only way to help is by taking a pill.

“The pills you drugged me with?” Lorenzo accuses.

I try to suck in air, but each breath isn’t bringing enough oxygen to my lungs, and within a few seconds of my body not calming, I start to freak out, afraid of what’s to come.

“Lorenzo,” I gasp, my eyes meeting his, “I’m … having an … anxiety attack.”

His eyes go wide with concern.

“I’m … going to black out.”

“What?”

Black dots mar my vision.

My head turns fuzzy.

The world around me starts to spin.

“Please … don’t let … him take me.”

I’ve only just said the last word when everything goes dark, and I pray when I wake up, I won’t be on my way to be sex trafficked.