Chapter 24. The Intruder

Taya's POV

My heart felt like it was going to jump right out of my chest, it was pounding so hard. Why had this man shown up instead of Roman? Why was he wearing a mask to cover his face? Why did he turn off all the lights after coming in? What did he want?

My mind was a mess, and I had no idea what to do. Dealing with Roman was one thing, but this changed everything. I gritted my teeth and tried to force my body into compliance—I needed to seem strong and sure of myself. No matter who this was, I would find a way to deal with him. I HAD to.

I released my tightly clenched fists and played dumb.

“Beta Starke,” I said, “if you wanted to roleplay, you shouldn’t have turned off the lights. It’s too dark to see anything.”

As I spoke, I picked up the glass on the table next to me and discreetly filled it with a little bit of the crushed sleeping pills. I poured wine into it, then walked over to the man to hand the glass to him.

“Why don