Chapter 4

"Richard... Mr. Lowell, what are you doing?"

I recoiled instinctively, my pulse hammering in my throat. Every muscle screamed at me to run.

"Emily, didn't your husband Daniel tell you to come here and keep me company?"

"But—we share the same last name. We're both Mr. Lowell..."

Richard smirked, exchanging knowing glances with the slimy men behind him. Their grins made my skin crawl.

I turned to bolt, but my legs suddenly felt like lead. A cold dread washed over me—the juice Daniel had handed me earlier. Drugged.

I pressed a hand to my temple, shaking my head hard to fight the fog creeping in.

"Stay... stay away from me!" My voice came out ragged.

"One more step and I swear to God, I'm calling the police!"

I lurched toward the door, my vision swimming.

Fumbling with my purse, I made a desperate grab for the exit—but the handle wouldn't turn. Locked from the inside.

"Emily, where's the fire?" Richard's voice oozed false sympathy as he stepped into view.

"Didn't you promise Daniel you'd entertain me? Leaving so soon?"

His grin widened. "That's not happening, sweetheart."

The way his beady eyes roamed over me made my stomach twist.

"Don't—don't you dare touch me!"

My hands shook violently as I dug through my purse for my phone. "I mean it—I'll call the cops!"

The phone slipped from my fingers, clattering to the floor. My blood ran cold.

"Cut the act, Emily." Richard let out a low, ugly laugh.

"Your husband set this up. Is that spineless bastard really worth protecting?"

The truth hit me like a punch to the gut. Daniel's sudden promotion. His insistence I come tonight.

He'd sold me out for a damn title. The betrayal stole the breath from my lungs.

"Relax, honey." Richard took another step forward as my back hit the wall.

"Play nice tonight, and Daniel gets his promotion tomorrow. Everybody wins."

The other men closed in, their greedy eyes undressing me.

Then I remembered—the small fruit knife I'd slipped into my bag just in case.

My fingers closed around the cool metal. I whipped it out, my voice shaking but fierce.

"Back off! I swear to God, I'll use this!"