Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

She didn't snap out of it until a voice whispered in her ear.

"What are you staring at?"

She lowered her lashes, repeating softly, "Dylan, please. Just let me go back for a bit."

She meant it—she needed to make sure Z was okay. She couldn't let Walter's anger land on him.

Dylan went silent. He always did this whenever she brought up Z-like it was some kind of trigger.

Clara took a deep breath. The question had been on her mind for so long, she finally just blurted it out.

"Do you really hate Z?"

With everyone else, Dylan always seemed untouchable, like nothing anyone did could ever bother him. But Z was different. Dylan's whole vibe shifted whenever Z came up even the corners of his mouth would drop lower than usual.

Clara had never heard of Dylan hating anyone. How could he possibly have beef with Z?

She watched his face, searching for the tiniest hint of emotion.

What she didn't expect was how honest he was.

"Yeah. I really do."

Clara was speechless for a moment.

A weird, hot anger bubbled up inside her, and she let out a short, almost bitter laugh.

"Why? What's he ever done to you?"

Z mostly kept to himself. He was always alone, except for the occasional shift at Nightshade. He barely talked to anyone. If someone didn't like him, it definitely wasn't Z's fault.

Clara, when she cared about someone, wasn't exactly logical.

Dylan started to wheel himself away, and she rushed after him. "Dylan."

Normally, she'd call him Mr. Dylan, only using his first name if things were urgent. But right now, it slipped out naturally, like she'd said it a thousand times before.

She stopped, confused, as fragments of old memories flickered through her mind.

Dylan.

Dylan.

Frowning, she called after him, "Did I used to always call you by your name?"

He froze, hands still on the wheels. "Did you remember something?"

Clara rubbed her forehead. Honestly, not really. She was just tired-too many sleepless nights, her nerves shot.

She massaged her temples, feeling a little better, and tried again.

“Let that guy from earlier go back with me. He seems capable, right? Don't worry, I'll come back with him."

Dylan turned to face her, eyes locked on hers, searching, intense.

Clara always found it hard to meet his gaze. There was something burning in Dylan's eyes, like he could melt straight through her, even though his expression stayed icy cold.

She waited, hoping he'd give in.

But then he let out a sharp, cold laugh—a sound she'd never heard from him before.

"I really don't get what you see in a guy like that."

Clara stared at him in disbelief. She'd always thought Dylan was different.

He'd been in love with Shelly for years, stayed single just for her. She thought he'dnoveldrama

understand-sometimes feelingmet

between people just didn't make sense. It didn't matter who was "worthy."

But hearing him say that, she realized he cared about things like status, just like everyone else.

Clara stood frozen for a few seconds, then turned and walked away.

She felt stupid for ever thinking she could reason with Dylan.

He hated Z. There was no way he'd let her go.

Dylan watched her leave, his hand at his side slowly curling into a fist.

Clara went back to the first door she'd found, but it was closed now.

She stood there quietly, regret trickling in. Maybe she should've just left when she had the chance.

*

On the other side of town, Simon had been staking out near Palm Bay for days.

But Dylan hadn't shown his face in ages. If he really was keeping Clara locked up, what was he doing with her all this time?

Simon's chest burned with

ki he hadn't even gotten to shake the thought onto

kiss Clara, and now he and now

shake the thought of Dylan with her.

He was desperate to catch Dylan doing something wrong, to show Clara who he

really was.

But he couldn't even get close enough to see her, let alone pass her a message.

He'd been waiting since morning when suddenly, someone messaged him-Dylan

had posted a photo of a marriage certificate online.

Simon thought he'd misheard. His heart dropped, and when he saw the screenshot, his face went pale.

The call was from Megan.

Megan had already suspected something like this. If Dylan could lock someone

up, dragging her to get married wouldn't be a stretch.

She gripped her phone so tight, she thought she might break it.

What was so special about Clara? How could she push Dylan this far-make a

man like him throw away his pride and become so obsessed?

Jealousy twisted inside her, sharp and wild, her eyes burning red.