Page 16 of Seal My Fate

“The tropical beach,” she says, sitting up and fixing me with a flirty look. “You and me, little drinks with umbrellas in it, wild vacation sex…”

“Oh really?” I arch an eyebrow, grinning. “Tell me, what in particular is special about vacation sex?”

“The coconuts,” Tessa replies, with a playful grin.

I laugh, pulling her closer for a real kiss, the kind of slow, sensual exploration that makes her body flush and her eyes turn glassy. But before I can tip her back into the pillows and show her that I don’t need tropical fruit to make her come screaming, she pulls away. “I’m too hungry to function. Ravenous,” she adds, and bats her eyelashes at me.

I can take a hint, especially when it’s delivered by the naked woman who has my heart in a chokehold. “Breakfast, then,” I agree, smiling. Her phone buzzes again, and she checks the screen.

“I’ll be right down.”

I make my way to the kitchen and put some music on as I collect eggs and veggies for a simple scramble. It’s a dreary, overcast day, typical for November in London, and I can’t help thinking of that tropical beach somewhere… Max and Annabelle’s wedding is in a week, and I wouldn’t miss my old friend getting hitched for the world, but after that, there’s no reason why I can’t whisk Tessa away for a little sunshine. And some coconuts…

I’m just sliding some toast onto her plate when Tessa comes in, cheeks pink from the shower, dressed in comfy jeans and an oversized sweater. “Le petit dejeuneris served,” I say, setting the plate down with a flourish. But she pauses in the doorway, biting her lip. “What is it? I promise, I fished out all the shell,” I add.

She smiles, but looks reluctant. “I have something to tell you,” she says softly.

“You hate my eggs?” I joke.

She shakes her head, looking more serious now. “I know I shouldn’t have kept it secret,” Tessa says in a rush. “But I promised, and I didn’t want to spook her, not right away, and—”

Before I can ask what on earth she means, the doorbell sounds.

Tessa looks relieved. “I’ll explain everything,” she reassures me, before disappearing down the hall to answer it. A moment later, I hear voices, another woman talking with Tessa as they approach the kitchen.

“… Are you sure he won’t be back—”

Then they’re in the doorway, and the strange woman stops dead, looking at me in fear and panic. “You said he was out, that it was safe to meet here!” she cries, and Tessa immediately leaps to soothe her.

“It’s OK, I promise, we can trust him—”

“Tessa, no!” She’s got dirty brown hair under a ballcap, bundled up in a shapeless coat and scarf.

“Please, just calm down and listen for a moment,” Tessa implores her. “We need him if we’re going to figure out how to end this. Five minutes, that’s all. Please, Wren…”

Wren?

I stare at the stranger in disbelief as they bicker. Tessa showed me her sister in photos, and now, if I look closer, I can see the resemblance: the same bright, intelligent eyes and jawline, even under the ratty hair and smudged makeup.

It’s her.

But how in the world…?

“Does someone want to tell me what’s going on?” I finally ask, my voice coming out far calmer and more reasonable than I feel, for a man who’s staring at a ghost.

A ghost whose death has been haunting Tessa every moment I’ve known her, driving her to unthinkable lengths.

“There’s something you need to know,” Tessa takes a deep breath, then turns to Wren. “Tell him,” she instructs her sister firmly.

“No—” Wren tries to argue, but Tessa stares her down.

“Yes. It’s time, Wren. Tell him everything you told me, about Ashford, and the drug trials. I’m not going to keep this secret from him. I love him, and he needs to know the truth.”

And just like that, my whole world turns upside down.

Ten minutes later,I’m sitting at the table with Tessa and Wren, dumbstruck by the news: Wren was never really dead—and the reason for her disappearance.

“I’m so sorry,” Tessa says, taking my hand. “She showed up Friday night, after the party. I wanted to tell you, but she made me promise not to.”

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