Isadora came to in a warehouse.


    It wasn''t especiallyrge or small—just a dim, chilly space lined with stacks of lumber and steel beams. A battered wooden table and chair stood near the heavy metal door.


    Her hands were tied behind her back, her mouth stuffed with a wad of cloth. A lingering numbness in her limbs reminded her of the drug; she was weak, barely able to move.


    For a split second, she was transported back to the memory of herst kidnapping.


    A cold shudder ran down her spine. Fear crept in, icy and relentless.


    Suddenly, the metal door screeched open from the outside.


    Blinding white light flooded the room. Then, as the door mmed shut, the space plunged back into gloom.


    A muscr man in ck jeans and a ck shirt stalked in.


    "Mmmph..."


    The next instant, the cloth was yanked from Isadora''s mouth.


    The kidnapper wore a ck mask, revealing only a pair of fierce, predatory eyes.


    "Miss Vaughan. We meet again."


    The voice sent a jolt of recognition through her. "It''s you..."


    "You slipped awayst time. This time, you won''t get so lucky."


    Isadora''s voice trembled. "Who sent you? If it''s money you want, I can― I can pay."


    The kidnapper sneered. "Last time you took my little cocktail, and that guy came charging in to y hero. Lucky for him."


    He lingered on the thought, eyes raking over her helpless form. She could see the gleam in his eyes-the disgustingly eager anticipation.


    He reached out, his hand extending toward Isadora''s pale cheek.


    Before he could touch her, another man appeared in the doorway—a tall guy with a jagged scar running down his face.


    "Knock it off," the scarred man growled. "That guy who showed upst time put half of us in the hospital for months. We''re just here for the money. Once we get paid, we''re out of Capitolion."


    The first kidnapper shrugged, pulling his hand back and rubbing his nose.


    A momentter, a woman was shoved through the door-elegant, statuesque, and perfectlyposed in a forest-green knit dress.


    The scarred kidnapper shed a sly, twisted grin. "Well, look at that. Magnus''s past and present all in one ce. Youdies have a lot to catch up on."


    He locked eyes with Elise for a moment. Then both men stepped out, mming the door behind them.


    Elise stood tall and untouched, her hands free, her poise unbroken. She looked down at Isadora with a cold, sharp gaze.


    Isadora sat huddled against the wall-her clothes filthy and wrinkled, her hands still tied, helpless.


    Something about this felt wrong.


    Judging from what the kidnappers said, both she and Elise had been taken at the same time.


    Why, then, was she the only one in such a miserable state?


    "Long time no see, Isadora,” Elise said coolly.


    Isadora turned her face away, refusing to engage. This was not a situation where she held any advantage.


    Elise gave a dry, mirthlessugh. "Oh,e on. Every time you act like this, you make me sick."


    Crack!


    Elise''s hand whipped out, striking Isadora''s cheek. Pain blossomed across her face, leaving a hot, stinging mark.


    Isadora gasped.


    A momentter, Elise seized her hair, yanking her head up until their eyes met.


    It felt as though Elise might rip her scalp clean off.


    "Elise, don''t touch me! Magnus and I-we broke up!"


    "Broke up?" Eliseughed, the sound brittle. But as sheughed, tears glimmered in her eyes.


    "You may have left him, but he''s never let you go. The only way this ends is if we settle things, once and for all."


    A chilling realization dawned on Isadora. "You... You hired the kidnappers?"


    Elise smiled coldly. "The more you know, the shorter your life gets. But don''t


    worry. Hating you is the only thing keeping you alive right now."


    Isadora wrenched at the ropes around her wrists, desperate for escape.


    But the knots only dug in tighter, biting into her skin.


    Elise''s lips curled into a cruel smile. "Want to hear something fun? Magnus and I slept together."


    Wainwright Holdings, Executive Office.


    Gideon burst through the doors.


    "Magnus, did you hear? Elise has been kidnapped!”


    Magnus''s jaw was clenched tight, his whole frame rigid with tension. "Isadora too. They took Isadora."


    Gideon''s eyes widened. "Let''s pay Elise''s ransom first. You know she just had heart surgery-she can''t handle any more stress."


    Magnus''s voice was low and dangerous. "The kidnappers said twenty million. For one of them. Only one."


    Gideon frowned, thinking quickly. "What if we pay forty million-can we get them both back?"


    Magnus shook his head, grim. "I asked. They said no. Only one."