𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 18+

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟖

The courtroom buzzed with soft murmurs, but I tuned them out, my gaze locked on Professor Mikkelsen, who stood across the room, too close to Mia. His body language was relaxed, confident even, but there was something wrong about the way his hand rested on her arm, his fingers grazing her skin just a little too intimately. Mia, ever oblivious, smiled up at him, completely unaware of the storm that swirled just beneath the surface.

My stomach twisted with a mixture of dread and anger. He's a killer. I knew it as sure as I knew my own name. He had something to do with Jake's disappearance, and now he was weaving his way even deeper into Mia's life. I couldn't let that happen. Not again.

I tore my gaze away, focusing on the cold, hard fact that we'd just won another case, but I couldn't enjoy the victory. My mind was spinning, caught between the present and the gnawing questions about Jake. The feeling of unease was like a weight on my chest, growing heavier with each passing moment.

"Ms. Belmont?"

A deep voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I blinked, turning to face the source, and was met with the sight of a man I didn't recognize. He was tall, with honey blond hair and sharp brown earthy eyes that practically drilled into mine. Dressed in a fitted black suit, he had the look of someone who had seen a lot and wasn't easily surprised. There was something about him—maybe the subtle strength in his posture or the calculated way he carried himself—that made him instantly... imposing.

I wouldn't have called him handsome, but he was the type of man other women might fawn over. Still, I felt nothing.

"Detective Foster," he introduced himself, offering a small, polite smile. "I need to speak with you privately. It's about Jake Bishop."

The mention of Jake's name sent a chill down my spine. My pulse quickened, but I forced myself to stay calm. I had no idea who Jake was before that night, but his name had been haunting me ever since. "Sure," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "What about him?"

Foster glanced around, making sure no one was listening, before gesturing for me to follow him out into the hallway. My legs felt heavy as I walked, my mind spinning in a thousand directions. Jake. What more could there be?

The detective led me to a quiet corner, away from the crowds. His intense gaze was unsettling, but I met it head-on, refusing to let him see how much this was rattling me.

"We've recently come across new information regarding Jake Bishop's disappearance," Foster began, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall. "I'm sure you're aware of how unusual his case is."

I swallowed, nodding. Unusual was an understatement. Jake had assaulted me in the bar, and the next thing I knew, he was lying dead at my feet, his blood pooling on the pavement. I hadn't reported an assault; I hadn't even known who he was. All I did was tell the police that I'd found a body. And then that body disappeared without a trace. Just... gone.

"What kind of new information?" I asked, bracing myself for whatever came next.

Foster's expression darkened. "Jake was involved in something serious—illegal activities that go far beyond what you reported. Human trafficking. Specifically, the kidnapping of women. We have evidence that suggests he was part of a network, and there's footage from the bar showing him following you that night."

My heart stuttered in my chest. Trafficking? Jake was part of a trafficking ring? My skin crawled at the thought.

Foster continued, his voice low, as if the information itself was too disturbing to speak aloud. "The footage shows him approaching you, but after that... things get strange. There's no clear evidence of what happened next. No body, no crime scene, nothing. Just you, walking away, and Jake disappearing into thin air."