The next morning, Eden woke up alone.
The sheets smelled like him.
The bruises on her hips were his signature.
And the silence in the penthouse felt like a warning.
Cassian was gone.
But he left behind a note on the pillow.
Just two words.
"Behave, angel."
She showered slowly.
Scrubbed hard.
But nothing erased the way his fingerprints still lived on her skin.
Or the ache between her thighs.
Or the pull in her chest that felt more like a chain than desire.
Her Phone Buzzed
It was an unknown number.
"Is this Eden Monroe?"
She hesitated.
"Yes."
"This is Dr. Sylvia Vance. I'm calling from the psychiatric institute at Crestwood."
Her stomach dropped.
"I'm sorry, who?"
"I was Marla Devine's therapist before she disappeared. She listed you as her only known friend."
"I haven't spoken to her in years."
"I know. But something came in yesterday. A letter with your name on it. We believe she wrote it before she was transferred out."
"Transferred?"
"Yes. Cassian Roth had her moved. Privately."
Eden couldn't breathe.
"I'd like to give you the letter in person."
Crestwood Looked Like a Prison for the Beautifully Damaged
The walls were white.
The smiles were fake.
The air was too clean.
Dr. Vance met her in the lobby.
She looked middle-aged, tight bun, smart eyes.
She handed Eden a sealed envelope.
"I don't know how much of this is true," she said, "but I believe Marla meant every word."
Eden took it with shaky hands.
"Where is she now?"
Dr. Vance looked away.
"I don't know. The transfer was confidential."
Eden stepped back.
But her legs felt wrong.
Unsteady.
Like the truth was waiting to pull the floor from under her.
She Opened the Letter in Her Car
It was handwritten.
Shaky. Rushed and emotional.
Eden,
He broke me.
Don't let him break you too.
Cassian doesn't want love. He wants control. He'll give you the illusion of choice while taking everything from you, including your mind.
The room with the tapes? That was his favorite part. Watching. Studying. Replaying pain like it turned him on.
When you think you're falling for him, you're already lost.
He told me once"You'll leave me either in a box or a memory." I believed him.
Get out before you can't.
..M
Eden read it three times.
Then drove straight back to the city.
But not to run.
She Walked Into His Penthouse Like a Storm
Cassian looked up from the couch.
Whiskey in hand.
Black shirt. No tie. Dangerous and calm.
"You look like hell," he said.
She threw the letter at him.
He didn't even blink.
"Where is she?"
"Dead."
Eden froze.
"What?"
He set the glass down.
"She hung herself in the private clinic I moved her to."
"That's not possible."
"She was unstable, Eden. She tried to stab a nurse."
"You're lying."
He stood.
Walked toward her like violence wrapped in silk.
"Does it feel like I'm lying?"
Her hand shook.
"You used her."
"I tried to fix her."
"No, you tried to own her. Just like you're doing to me."
Cassian reached out.
Touched her jaw.
Soft.
"I don't want to own you, angel. I want to ruin you."
And Then He Did
He backed her into the wall.
Kissed her like poison.
Unzipped her anger.
Ripped open her need.
She slapped him.
Hard.
He smiled.
Then grabbed her throat and kissed her harder.
And she moaned.
Because she was sick for him.
He knew it.
And so did she.
The Bedroom Was a Warzone
He tossed her down.
Tore off her jeans.
Buried his face between her thighs, sucked her pussy.
And didn't stop until she screamed.
Even then, he didn't let up.
He held her legs open with his shoulders, hands gripping so tight she'd bruise.
"Is this what you hate about me?" he asked between licks.
"That you love it?"
She sobbed.
"Yes."
Then he flipped her over.
Fucked her like she wasn't his.
Hard. Deep and relentless.
"Say it," he growled into her ear.
"No."
He bit her shoulder.
"Say you're mine."
Her body trembled.
"I hate you."
"Lie better."
After they were done having sex, she lay on his chest.
Hating herself.
Loving the way his fingers threaded through her hair like he owned her thoughts.
"This isn't love," she whispered.
"I never said it was."
"Then what is it?"
"Obsession."
"I should leave."
"You won't."
"How do you know?"
He kissed her forehead.
"Because even broken, I make you feel whole."
Two Days Later
She showed up to work.
And her boss called her in.
"You've got a visitor," he said.
"A who?"
"A man. Says he's your cousin. Real sharp suit. Accent. British, maybe?"
Eden frowned.
"I don't have a cousin."
He pointed toward the door.
"Tall. Dark. Looks like trouble."
She stepped into the hall.
And froze.
The man was standing by the elevators.
Charcoal suit.
Green eyes.
Sharp jaw.
He looked like secrets.
And she recognized him.
From a photo in Marla's old apartment.
This was the man who used to visit her.
The one Marla called The Watcher.
He Smiled
"Hello, Eden."
"Who are you?"
"My name's Rowan."
"What do you want?"
"I want to help you finish what Marla started."
She took a step back.
"I'm not interested."
"You should be."
"Why?"
"Because Cassian killed her."
Eden's heart punched her ribs.
"You're lying."
"No. You just don't want it to be true."
He handed her a drive.
"What's this?"
"Everything he recorded. Every woman. Every room."
Her hands shook.
"I don't want it."
"You need it."
He leaned closer.
"And you need me."
That Night
Eden didn't go to Cassian's.
She went home.
Locked the door.
Stared at the drive.
For hours.
It sat like a weapon on her table.
And eventually..,
She plugged it in.
There Were Hundreds of Files
Women.
Blindfolded.
Begging.
Crying.
Moaning.
Some of them looked like they wanted it.
Some didn't.
And one..
One looked just like her.
Same hair. Same build. Same voice.
But it wasn't her.
It was a recording labeled "Eden_1".
Her blood ran cold.
She clicked play.
And watched
As the woman on screen begged Cassian to stop.
And he didn't.
The Video Cut to Black
Eden was shaking.
Hands to her mouth.
She didn't know what hurt more
The horror of what she saw,
Or the realization that she still wanted him anyway.
Her phone buzzed.
It was Cassian.
"Where are you, angel? I miss you."
And she answered.
"I'll be there soon."
She Arrived at Midnight
His lights were low.
Jazz playing.
Whiskey poured.
He smiled when he saw her.
"Couldn't stay away?"
She walked toward him.
Kissed him hard.
Fierce and Desperate.
He groaned into her mouth.
Lifted her by the waist.
She wrapped her legs around him.
Pressed her lips to his ear.
And whispered
"I know what you did."