~VANESSA~

For a second, my mind went completely blank as I stared at Bryan.

Confusion, shame, and a sickening dread twisted together inside me.

“What?” My voice came out louder than I meant it to.

“You heard me,” Bryan said flatly. “I don’t like repeating myself.”

“You’re a fucking joke if you think I’m doing that.”

He moved quickly, closing the distance between us until I could smell his cologne.

“You’d better do as I say,” he warned. “Otherwise, I call the police.”

He pointed to the heap of jewelry on the table. “With that much evidence, you’ll end up behind bars.” His gaze locked onto mine. “And you don’t...