After My Fiancé Kissed Her, He Tried to Kill Me

The city lights of Seattle twinkled below like fallen stars as Callahan Reed bolted upright in his penthouse bed, a scream caught in his throat. Sweat soaked through his silk sheets, his heart hammering against his ribs as the nightmare retreated.

"Sienna," he whispered, the name falling from his lips like a prayer or a curse.

It was always the same dream—darkness, the smell of blood and fear, and Sienna's small hand reaching for his in that abandoned warehouse. Only this time, her fingers had slipped through his, and he'd watched helplessly as she disappeared into shadow.

The door to his bedroom opened silently, and Marcus Chen entered with the quiet efficiency that had earned him his position as Callahan's head of security.

"You're awake," Marcus observed, placing a folder on the bedside table. "The surveillance reports are in."

Callahan ran a hand through his damp hair, his eyes fixed on the Seattle skyline. "Anything unusual?"

"The Wagner heir is hosting a party in the Cascades," Marcus said, his tone carefully neutral. "Nothing suspicious about it. Just rich kids with too much time and money."

Something cold slithered down Callahan's spine. He turned to Marcus, his expression suddenly sharp. "Where in the Cascades?"

"The north ridge, about two hours from here." Marcus frowned slightly. "Is there a problem?"

Callahan was already reaching for his phone. "Prepare the helicopter. Now."

"Sir?" Marcus's eyebrow raised slightly. "May I ask—"

"Sienna Greene is there," Callahan interrupted, his fingers flying across his phone screen. "And she's in danger."

Marcus didn't question him further. Years of working for Callahan had taught him that his employer's instincts were rarely wrong—especially when it came to Sienna Greene.

---

The campfire had burned down to embers, casting eerie shadows across the clearing. I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to make myself smaller as Juliana's eyes gleamed with malicious intent.

"Your turn, Sienna," she said, her voice carrying across the hushed gathering. "Truth or dare?"

I could feel Tommy watching me, his gaze heavy with something that wasn't quite concern. The others waited, their faces indistinct in the flickering light.

"Truth," I said quietly.

Juliana's smile widened. "What's the grossest part of your body?"

The question hit like a physical blow. I felt heat rise to my cheeks as whispers rippled through the group.

"My scars," I admitted, my fingers unconsciously tracing the ridged tissue along my jawline.

"No," Juliana corrected, leaning forward with predatory intensity. "The grossest part is your attitude. Acting all victim-y when Tommy's only with you out of pity."

The words hung in the air like poison. No one spoke. No one defended me.

"Your turn," Juliana continued, passing me the bottle. "Truth or dare?"

I clutched the bottle, feeling its weight like a weapon or a shield. Around us, the forest seemed to press closer, darkness beyond the firelight thick and impenetrable.

"Dare," I said finally, lifting my chin.

Juliana's eyes gleamed with triumph. "I dare you to show us all exactly how you'd survive if Tommy ever left you."

My stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"

"Simple." Juliana stood up, her movements fluid and predatory. "Unbuckle your prosthetic leg and hop back to the cabin. Alone."

Panic surged through me. "Juliana, you know I can't—"

"That's the dare," she cut me off. "Unless you're too scared?"

The word 'scared' hung in the air between us. I looked to Tommy, silently pleading for intervention.

"Tommy," I whispered, "you know I can't be alone in the dark. Not since—"

"Not since the kidnapping," he finished for me, his voice flat. "You'll have to learn to get over it sometime, Sienna."

I stared at him in disbelief. "You're not seriously going along with this?"

"Maybe it's time you faced your fears," he said, but his eyes weren't on me—they were on Juliana, watching for her reaction.

"Tommy, please," I begged, my voice breaking. "You know what happens when I'm alone in the dark."

He stood up then, moving toward me with deliberate steps. "This ends now, Sienna."

Before I could react, he was beside me, his hands reaching for my prosthetic leg. I tried to push him away, but he was stronger than me.

"Tommy, don't!" I cried out as he unbuckled the straps holding my prosthetic in place.

"You need to learn," he muttered, his face set in hard lines I'd never seen before.

With a swift motion, he pulled the prosthetic free and stood up. I scrambled to my feet, balancing precariously on one leg, reaching for him.

"Give it back!" I screamed, panic rising in my throat as I hopped toward him.

Tommy turned away from me, his arm drawing back like a pitcher's windup. With all his strength, he hurled my prosthetic leg into the darkness beyond the firelight.

It disappeared into the shadows with a distant clatter, bouncing down the rocky slope of the mountain trail.

"Now hop back to the cabin," he said coldly. "If you can."