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His face softens, just for a moment. Then he’s standing in front of me, so close we’re almost touching—almost. “I want to be very clear about something, Sophia. I don’t give a fuck what you tell me your decision is tomorrow. No matter what, if he gives you trouble again, you call me. I don’t care how trivial it is. If he makes you even the slightest bit uncomfortable, I’ll fucking kill him.”
The smile on my lips is entirely involuntary. I hate that I love how protective Xander is. “I know.”
He nods, stepping back. “Goodnight.”
I watch as he descends the stairs, and then I lock myself in my bedroom.
I have a call to make.
CHAPTER NINE
SOPHIA
I TALK to Blaze for two hours. He’s patient with me as I pick his brain, pulling as much information out of him as I can.
When I finally hang up, sleep comes easily. Until it doesn’t.
I wake to a dark, broad figure looming over me. My hands are tied, and when I try to scream, a hand clamps over my mouth.
I try to knee the man on top of me, kicking and squirming, but it’s all in vain.
“Shut up, Sophia. You’re only making this harder on yourself.”
I freeze at the voice.
No. No, no, no. What’s Tristan doing in my house?
“That’s right—you should be very afraid.” His hand wraps around my throat, squeezing too tightly.
“Tris-” I choke out, struggling against the ropes binding my wrists.
He lets up a little, and I gasp in a breath.
“What the hell—”
He slaps me, and the stinging pain across my cheeks shocks me into silence.
“I’ll keep this simple so your little brain can keep up.” A finger traces down my cheek. “You have my number one enemy wrapped around your finger. Tomorrow, when you have your little meetup to chat, you’re going to get back together with him. Do you understand?”
“How did you—”
“I know everything, Sophia. Everything. So tomorrow, you tell him yes. You’ll be his stupid little girlfriend, and you’ll sleep in his bed, and you’ll make him fall harder than he ever has before. And when the timing is right, you’re going to fucking break him.”
“W-what? No. Why would I do that?”
He slaps me again, and I grit my teeth to stop a whimper from escaping. Instead, I stay perfectly still and glare up at his dark figure.
“I have the power to completely destroy the entire Hendricks family. To take Alexander away from you, for life. To break poor little Brooke’s heart all over again. All I have to do is send one simple message to the local authorities. Is that what you’d like?”
“You’re bluffing.” I try to knee him again, but he just clamps his legs around my sides and squeezes—hard.
“Is that a chance you want to take?” He leans in close, until we share the same air.
My breath catches. “What do you have on him?”
Tristan lets out a low chuckle. “That’s need-to-know, my dear. And—well, you don’t. You’ll do exactly what I want you to.”
“And why do you think that?” I snap. Against my better judgment, I start struggling under him again.
