Page 52 of Sapphire

“You’re right, so right. Please forgive me, Sapphire, sorry—Zoe. I just …” He lets out a heavy sigh. “Miss your company.”

That confession is filled with lust, desire, and need. I don’t understand what he is talking about. There’s no way in the world I would ever be with someone like him. He’s old enough to be my father.

Ruby grabs the man’s hand and rubs it over her breasts, which are pouring out from her elegant red gown. “Forget about her, you have me now, and I for one, am happy to be in your company.”

The man smiles at her and nods in agreement. “Yes, my precious stone.”

I cringe at his words to her. What does she see in this man?

“Why don’t you run back inside and see if you can find Constantine as you need to speak to him.”

The man nods at Ruby’s suggestion. “You’re quite right, my dear. Say your goodbyes to Sapphire and meet me back inside in ten,” he tells her as he leans over and kisses her passionately.

Ruby hums with appreciation at his kiss.

I want to be sick over it.

“See you around, Sapphire,” the man says to me before he walks away back through the gardens.

When he’s finally out of sight, the redhead turns to me, and she looks freaked out.

“What the hell, Sapphire. You’re supposed to be dead.”

17

ZOE

“Dead?”

“Yes, dead. D.E.A.D.” She spells it out for me.

“I have no idea who you are.”

Ruby’s eyes narrow at me. “Now you’ve escaped. You’re too good for us?” Her voice is laced with anger.

“No, of course not. I genuinely have no idea who you are.”

Her green eyes study me as unshed tears glisten. “You turned your back on us. We made a promise that if anyone escaped, we would send for help.”

“You’re in trouble?” I ask her my voice raising in surprise.

“Are you joking? Have you seriously forgotten what they do to us?”

“At the agency?”

Ruby’s brows pull together even tighter. “You know there’s no fucking agency, Sapphire.”

“My name is Zoe,” I bite back.

“Zoe. Sapphire. Whoever the fuck you are, you abandoned us. You are out dressed in designer clothes, probably on the arm of some billionaire living your best life while we are stuck living a nightmare,” Ruby spits at me. Tears fall down her cheeks and her arms wrap around herself as she begins to shake.

“I don’t know who you are, but you seem to know me. If you need my help, I’ll help you. Tell me what you need me to do?”

Ruby stares at me then her face falls. “You honestly don’t know who I am?”

I shake my head. “I had an accident a couple of months ago. I’ve lost my memory. I’m sorry I don’t know who you are. But I’ll help you if you need it. Is that man hurting you?”

Ruby gasps. “Shit, Saffy, you’re serious. You need to run. Do not ever come to something so public like this ever again. Please hide.”

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