Olivia’s POV
I was quiet after Kira’s outburst, my mind spinning through possibilities I didn’t want to consider.
Yes, the lines connected. Yes, Damien seemed like the perfect candidate to be my stranger. The timing worked. He’d been at the mansion that night. He had the mischievous personality to pull off elaborate games.
But I didn’t like it.
I didn’t want Damien as my stranger. Not one bit.
It would have made so much more sense if it was Maxwell. Maxwell also ticked boxes - so many boxes. The way he watched me. The possessive streak. The games he played. Maxwell being my stranger would make my heart race with possibility.
But Damien?
Hell no.
"We need to confront him right now," Kira was already standing, her voice fierce. "March back in there and demand he tell us the truth. That motherfucker doesn’t get to play with two best friends like we’re some kind of..."
"Wait." I grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "We shouldn’t rush into this."
"Why not?"
"Because we might be wrong." I stood too, facing her. "And if we go storming in there, making accusations, we’re going to look like two crazy girls having flings with strangers we’re not even sure of."
Kira paused, the fire in her eyes dimming slightly. "But..."
"Think about it. Kennedy is out there. My brother. What’s he going to think if you burst into Damien’s room screaming about online boyfriends and secret identities?" I lowered my voice. "And what’s he going to think about me? His sister? If he finds out I’ve been getting gifts from some anonymous stranger who comes to my room at night?"
That stopped her cold.
"Shit," she breathed. "You’re right."
"We need to be smart about this. Careful. We need proof before we make accusations."
Kira slumped back to the floor, her anger deflating into exhaustion. "God, what am I supposed to do, Liv?"
I sat beside her again. "How do you feel about all of this? Really feel?"
She was quiet for a long moment, staring at the bathroom tiles.
"I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t find Damien attractive," she admitted finally. "Even when I thought he was just my boss, there was something there. Something that made me nervous and excited at the same time."
"And Eddie?"
"I loved Eddie." Her voice cracked. "All those times I was alone and bored, I talked to him every day. Fell asleep texting him. Woke up to his messages. He knew everything about me...my fears, my dreams, my stupid jokes. I loved him."
"Until Kennedy came along."
"Until Kennedy came along," she repeated. "And Kennedy is real, Liv. He’s solid. He’s here. He’s not hiding behind a screen or playing games. He’s just... there. Completely there. For me."
"So what are you going to do?"
Kira looked up at me, her eyes red but determined. "I’m sure about Kennedy. I’m sticking with him."
Relief flooded through me. "Good. That’s good."
"I’m going to ignore Damien. Pretend like he never said anything. Move on with Kennedy like none of this happened." She took a shaky breath. "After all, I’m done working for him now. I won’t have to see him anymore."
"Exactly. You can put all of this behind you."
"Kira!" Kennedy’s voice came from outside the door, worried. "Are you okay in there? It’s been a while."
Kira and I exchanged glances.
"We’re coming!" I called back.
We stood, helping each other up, and I pulled Kira into one more quick hug.
"You’ve got this," I whispered.
"We’ve got this," she corrected.
I pushed open the door to find Kennedy immediately there, his arms wrapping around Kira before she’d fully stepped out.
"Is everything okay?" His hands were on her face, checking her like she might break. "What happened? You’ve been crying."
"I’m okay." Kira leaned into him. "Just processing everything from the kidnapping. Olivia helped me through it."
Kennedy looked at me over Kira’s head, mouthing a silent "thank you."
I nodded.
We rejoined the others in the waiting area. Maxwell was slumped in a chair, his face pale, one hand still pressed to his bandaged side. Gabriel stood nearby, checking his phone.
"Everything alright?" Gabriel asked when he saw us.
"Fine," I said quickly. "Kira just needed a minute."
Maxwell’s eyes found mine, searching, but I looked away.
Gabriel pocketed his phone. "We should probably find a place to stay. Maxwell needs rest, and we all need to sleep. It’s been..." he glanced at his watch, "...over twenty-four hours since any of us slept properly."
"There’s a hotel about ten minutes from here," Kira offered. "The one Damien and I were staying at. They should have rooms available."
"Perfect." Kennedy’s arm was still around Kira. "Let’s get out of here."
Maxwell tried to stand on his own and immediately swayed.
"Whoa..." Gabriel was there instantly, catching him. "Easy. Let me help."
"I’m fine," Maxwell gritted out.
"You’re not fine. You got stabbed less than twelve hours ago." Gabriel positioned himself on Maxwell’s right side. "Kennedy, can you get his other side?"
Kennedy reluctantly let go of Kira to help support Maxwell on his left.
Together, they half-carried, half-walked Maxwell toward the elevator.
Kira fell into step beside me, and I saw her glance back at Damien’s closed door one more time.
"Don’t," I whispered.
She nodded and faced forward.
The hotel was nice - modern and clean, with a lobby that was both elegant and understated. Kira spoke to the front desk, gesturing at our group, and the receptionist nodded, typing quickly.
"How many rooms?" the receptionist asked in accented English.
"Four rooms, please." Kira said.
The receptionist tapped more keys. "I have three singles available on the fifth floor, and one double on the sixth floor."
"Perfect."
Papers were signed. Credit cards were swiped. Key cards were distributed.
Kira took hers first. "I’m in 502."
Kennedy took the other single. "503. Right next to you."
Maxwell took the last single room key, and Gabriel accepted the double room key. "601."
Which left Olivia without a room.
"Oh," the receptionist said, checking her screen. "I apologize. I thought you needed four rooms total. Do you need a fifth."
"No, it’s fine," I said quickly. "Gabriel and I can share. We’re dating, so..."
"Actually," Maxwell interrupted, his voice tight with pain, "I’d like to request a room change."
Everyone looked at him.