Chapter 3

SCARLETT

A black luxury car mounted the curb, tires smoking as it slammed to a halt inches from the thug’s legs.

The back door flew open.

"Get in," a voice commanded. It wasn't a request. It was an order wrapped in pure, unadulterated Alpha authority.

The thugs froze, their instincts screaming at them to run. They recognized the car. They recognized the power rolling off it in waves. And of course, they recognized the man perched at the edge of the seat wearing sunglasses at night.

Classic. Alpha Blackwood.

They dropped my arm and scrambled back into the shadows without a word.

I stood there, staring into the dark interior of the car. Carter Blackwood sat there.

"I said, get in, Scarlett," he growled. "Before I change my mind and let them have you."

Oh, he knows my name.

I didn't argue. I threw my suitcase into the footwell and scrambled into the backseat, slamming the door shut.

The lock clicked. The car sped off, merging seamlessly into traffic.

Silence stretched between us. Heavy.

Suffocating.

I was shivering violently, partly from the cold, partly from shock. Without a word, Carter peeled off his suit jacket and tossed it onto my lap. It was heavy, warm, and smelled like rain, expensive scotch, and him.

"Put it on," he said.

I slipped my arms into the sleeves. It swallowed me whole, but the warmth was instant.

"Thank you," I whispered.

I looked up, and my breath hitched. He was staring at me. Not with the cold disdain from the driveway, but with something else. Something darker. His pupils were blown wide, eclipsing the iris.

"Why?" I asked, voice barely audible. "Why did you stop?"

"Because," he murmured, leaning across the center console. "You smell like distress. And it’s driving me insane."

"Uh... Thanks?" I said, not sure if that's a compliment, but okay.

He didn't acknowledge the thanks. He just stared straight ahead. "Where am I taking you?"

My stomach dropped.

"Uh..." I stalled, my fingers toying with a loose button on his cuff.

"Address, Scarlett. I’m not driving around all night."

"Well, funny story about that," I let out a dry, nervous laugh. "My current residence was that bench you just found me on. Very airy. Open concept. Great view of the pigeons."

He slowly turned his head to look at me.

"You’re telling me," he said slowly, "that you are homeless?"

"Temporarily displaced," I corrected, lifting my chin. "My phone died, so I can't call my friend. And my bank account is currently hosting a tumbleweed. So... yeah."

He stared at me for a long, uncomfortable moment. He looked at the bruise forming on my wrist where the thug had grabbed me. He looked at the suitcase jammed in the footwell.

He let out a breath, rubbing his temples. "Driver. Home."

"Yes sir."

Someone who seemed to be invisible said from the front seat.

Wait. He said home.

"Home? Your home? Look, I appreciate the rescue, but I’m not—"

"Do you have somewhere else to go?" he cut in.

"No."

"Then shut up."

The rest of the drive was silent. I huddled in the corner, watching the city blur by until the buildings got taller, cleaner, and more expensive.

The car pulled into the underground garage of an exclusive building in the city. We took a private elevator that opened directly into the penthouse.

I stepped out, expecting a bustling mansion. I expected maids, guards, maybe a girlfriend wondering who the stray cat was.

But the penthouse was... empty.

It was massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows—cold. Sterile. There were no personal photos. No clutter. It looked like a hotel room where someone just happened to sleep.

"You live here alone?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Carter walked past me, loosening his tie. "I value my privacy."

"So..." I drawled. "You're just gonna let me stay here free of charge."

He pointed to a door on the far left, ignoring my question. "Guest room. It has an en-suite bathroom. There are fresh towels."

He turned to face me. He looked tired. For a second, the scary Alpha mask slipped, and he just looked like a man who came home to a very large, very empty house every night.

"Lock the door from the inside. I’ll have my chef send up food. Eat. Sleep. We’ll figure out what to do with you in the morning."

"Carter," I started, not sure what I wanted to say. Maybe sorry for crashing into you. Maybe why are you helping me?

He held up a hand, stopping me.

"Don't get used to it, Scarlett," he said coldly, turning his back on me. "I’m not running a charity. I just didn't want a death on my conscience."

He walked toward the master bedroom, leaving me standing in the middle of his million-dollar living room, clutching his jacket, wondering why the richest man in the city seemed lonelier than the girl with the suitcase.

I finally moved, dragging my broken-wheeled suitcase toward the guest suite. The room was everything the living room was not: soft, welcoming, and quiet. I dropped my luggage, careful not to let the banshee screech again, and walked into the bathroom.

It was everything I'd missed. The huge soaking tub made me realize how long it had been since I’d felt truly clean.

I peeled off the borrowed suit jacket, then wrestled with the remains of my torn chiffon and filthy jeans. My body was a mess of scrapes and dust from the street.

I turned the taps, letting the water run scalding hot. The steam felt incredible against my skin.

I stepped onto the tile floor beside the tub. My exhausted legs were shaking, and my worn-out sneakers were still wet from walking through the damp streets. As I lifted my foot to step over the tub, my wet sneaker glided on the marble.

Slipping was inevitable and instant.

My feet flew out from under me. I threw my arms out reflexively, trying to catch myself, but I was useless. I landed hard on the floor with a loud thud. And a strained gasp.

My head hit the back of the tub, and I saw stars bursting behind my eyes for a terrifying second.

"What the fuck was that?"

I heard his voice.

He came bursting in, eyes wide as he saw me helpless on the floor, my head resting on the tub.

I sniffled. "Help me, please."

He didn't hesitate. He closed the distance in seconds and carried my naked body away.

Wait, I'm naked!!