“Hello?”

“Bianca?” It was Rosie. “Where have you been? Who is the guy you left the bar with? Why haven’t you called me?”

“Rosie?” I sank onto the couch. “Oh, Rosie.” My voice trembled.

“Oh my God, Bianca, what’s wrong?” She sounded worried. “Did he rape you?”

“Did who rape me?” I asked in confusion.

“The guy you left the bar with.”

“Rosie, I didn’t leave the bar with anyone. I was kidnapped.”

“What?” she screamed. “What?”

“Rosie”—I started crying—“I’m scared. I think someone is after me.”

“What’s going on, Bianca?”

“I think someone might be in the apartment with me right now,” I whispered into the phone, my body frozen on the couch. I was still listening to Rosie’s voice over the phone, but all my other senses were on high alert to what was going on in my apartment.

“What are you talking about?”

“I think someone broke into my apartment.” I took a deep breath and stood up. “I’m going to check.”

“Are you crazy?” Rosie sounded shocked. “Leave the apartment now and call the police.”

“Stay on the phone with me,” I said softly as I walked to the kitchen quickly. I grabbed a knife from my butcher block and took a deep breath. “I’m going to check now.”

“Bianca, this doesn’t sound like a good idea.” Rosie spoke quickly. “Please just leave your apartment and call the police!”

“It’s fine.” As I crept past the couch, I heard the loud creak in front of me again and nearly jumped out of my skin. My face was burning and my stomach was a bundle of nerves, but then I stepped back and forward again and I heard the same creak. “It’s the floorboards.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s just the floorboards. Stupid old apartment.”

“Are you sure?”

“Let me check.” I walked into my bedroom and looked inside the closets quickly, the knife held in front of me as I surveyed all the small spaces. “I’m going into the bathroom now.” I pushed the door open and jumped back before moving forward and checking. “It’s all clear.”

“You’re scaring me, Bianca. What’s going on?”

“Can you come over so we can talk in person?” I asked softly. “Please.”

“I’ll come over now,” she said passionately. “Oh my God, what happened to you, Bianca?”

“Just come over,” I sobbed, my composure breaking again now that I knew I was alone.

“I’m on my way.”

She hung up and I sat back and closed my eyes, letting the tears flow freely.

Then my phone beeped again—a new text. Be careful, Bianca. You can’t trust anyone.

The text was from the number Jakob had called me from the night before. I deleted the text and closed my eyes. Why was he tormenting me? What more did he want from me? Then another text came through. I grabbed my phone angrily, ready to give Jakob a piece of my mind, but this time it wasn’t from him.

You looked so peaceful last night as you tossed and turned in bed. Maybe next time I’ll stay and keep you warm.

I stared at the text message and frowned. Why was Jakob sending me text messages from two different numbers? Why was he calling me and threatening me at the same time? It didn’t make any sense. Unless Jakob hadn’t been lying when he said he hadn’t sent that text. My body felt cold as I remembered something he’d said about Steve—Jakob had been confused about Steve’s going crazy as well. That hadn’t been a part of his plan. And if that hadn’t been a part of his plan, then someone else had a role in everything. And I needed to find out who that was.

Maybe Mattias wasn’t the mastermind after all. Maybe it was David. After all, what did I really know about him?

Chapter Four

“Bianca!” I could hear Rosie banging on the door. “Open up.”

I walked to the door and opened it slowly, staring at her for a few seconds before she pulled me into her arms.

“Oh, Bianca,” she said in a soft tone.

“Why didn’t you just let yourself in?” I mumbled against her shoulder, happy to finally be with someone I trusted.

“I let myself into the building but didn’t want to just come into the apartment in case I scared you. Oh my God, Bianca, what happened to you?”

“I don’t even know where to start.” I sighed and closed the door. “Let’s sit down.”

“What were you talking about when you said someone kidnapped you? What’s going on, Bianca?” Rosie’s voice was frantic as she gazed at me. “You’re freaking me out.”

“I don’t really know what’s going on.” I bit my lower lip. “Do you still have my handbag from the night in the bar?”

“Yeah, I brought it with me. I thought it was weird you left it.” She looked thoughtful. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know why I just believed the bartender. I didn’t think you would do something like that, but I figured maybe you had a few drinks and got carried away and you know . . .”

“You thought I just needed to get laid?”

“Yeah.” She closed her eyes. “I know that’s not you, though. I know you wouldn’t hook up with a guy you just met. Well, not unless he’s absolutely gorgeous.”