Tori sat huddled into a tight ball, staring out the floor to ceiling windows next to her. She had her arms wrapped around her knees, hugging them to her chest. She was wrapped in a large cable knit sweater and was sitting on a huge white sofa, looking out over all of San Francisco from a high rise penthouse apartment.

Wulfric Stone's place was stunning, Tori couldn't deny that. The man was cold and arrogant and taciturn, but he had impeccable taste in real estate. And women, since he'd chosen her best friend to marry.

Tori had come into San Francisco just to get some clothing. Upon learning that, Katya had insisted on seeing her. Tori didn't want to go out, though. She didn't want to do anything, but she knew she owed a lot to Katya and Wulf for all their help, so she'd agreed to meet at their place before she went back to Carmel. Back to her parents' house, far away from everyone. Far away from Thailand.

Liam had been like a white knight. When she'd talked to him on the phone in Thailand, he'd asked if she'd still had her credit card for the bar's account, and pure relief had washed over her. She'd forgotten – she'd been nervous in the camp, thefts were fairly common and happened often. So she'd actually hidden the bar's credit card, along with a ring she'd gotten from her grandmother, in a coffee tin, which she'd then buried under their tent. All they had to do was go back and get it, and at least she wouldn't be penniless.

So under Liam's instructions, she checked into the nicest, most secure hotel she could find in Bangkok. Then she immediately called Katya, then the U.S. embassy in Thailand. She didn't want to give the whole story, didn't want a huge mess and police investigation, so she just explained that she'd been mugged and said they'd stolen her passport.

It was required that she go down to the consulate to fill out paperwork, but she was too scared to leave her hotel room. Velez had dropped her off, then promptly vanished. She was completely alone in a strange city where she didn't speak the language.

Thank god Liam showed up that night. She hadn't been expecting him, she hadn't been able to get him on the phone since she'd called him from Velez's burner phone. It turned out after they'd hung up, he'd caught the first plane he could out of San Francisco. So when she opened her hotel room door to find him standing there, it had been a bit of a shock.

For a second – just one heart stopping second – she had thought it was Landon.

But then he was pulling her into his arms and holding her tightly, and she knew it was the wrong twin. Or the right one. Whichever. Landon didn't offer comfort. Only Liam did that. No, Landon was a sociopath, incapable of true feelings or any kind of empathy.

She'd cried for a long time, pressing her face into Liam's chest and hating herself for wishing he was someone else.

I'm so very, very stupid.

He took charge of everything, it was kind of shocking to see him so focused. Mr. Laid Back Surfer Dude was nowhere to be found as he hustled her from one stop to the next. They got her some more clothing, then passport photos. Thankfully, Katya'd had the foresight to go to Tori's apartment and find some pieces of identification – Liam had her birth certificate and an expired driver's license.

The consulate warned them it could take as long as a week, but Liam wasn't having any of that. He explained how Tori had been the victim of a violent mugging and that she no longer felt safe in Bangkok, and how awful it would be for the consulate if a social media post about her dreadful treatment in Thailand happened to go viral. She had a flight out in three days, and she damn well better be getting on it.

Within twenty-four hours, Tori had an emergency temporary passport. Better than that, she had more support – Katya, Wulf, and Ayumi flew into the city. Thankfully, though, both Wulf and Ayumi were intuitive enough to keep away from Tori. They had their own rooms in other parts of the hotel, and though Liam and Katya would take turns during the day to spend a couple hours with their partners, they slept in Tori's room.

It had been rough. Worse than anything she'd ever gone through in her life. Nightmares about the drug dealers. Waking up crying. Clinging to Liam's arm and pretending to sleep when she knew she'd be awake until dawn. And the constant battle going on in her mind. So much anger and hatred for Landon, and yet ...

She was worried. No one had heard anything from him. Liam never said it out loud, but she knew he was worried, too. His brother was missing, after all. Bangkok was enormous, no one knew where to look. Wulf had apparently hired a private investigator, but by the time they all flew back to the states, there'd been no results. Landon had just ... disappeared.

And two weeks later, Tori was still thinking about him. Wondering if he was okay. Wondering if he'd meant any of the stuff he'd said to her. Wondering why she always made such bad choices.

She'd gone straight from the airport to her parents home in Carmel, but it wouldn't be her permanent home. She refused to let that asshole ruin her entire life. She didn't care how much therapy it took, she would get back to normal. She just needed a little more time.

Just a couple more minutes. A couple different choices. I think I loved him. I thought he loved me. So stupid.

“Penny for you thoughts.”

Katya's voice broke through the fog in Tori's brain and she turned to look at her friend. The willowy, auburn haired girl was striding into her living room, carrying two large coffee mugs in her hands. She put one down on the center table, then handed the other to Tori. Hot tea steamed in the cups.

“They're not even worth a penny,” Tori chuckled, blowing at the liquid.

“C'mon, don't say that,” Katya urged, sitting down and snuggling close to her friend. “You know I'm here for you, right? And I promise, I won't be judgemental or all mom-y.”

“I know, I know,” Tori breathed, closing her eyes. “I just can't ... I don't want to talk about it. With anyone. Not yet.”

“Okay, okay. So when do you head back to Carmel?” her friend changed the subject.

“I wanted to be on the road in the next hour,” Tori replied, glancing at her watch. “I've been helping my mom with dinner every night. I may turn into a cook yet.”

“I'll believe it when I see it,” Katya teased. “And when do you think you'll be coming home?”

“I was thinking next weekend. It's time. My mom doesn't keep any alcohol in the house and I really think if I ever deserved some late night cocktails, it's now,” Tori laughed. Katya nodded in agreement.

“You know ... I talked to Wulf. We'd be happy to have you stay here,” she suggested. Tori blanched, then tried to cover it up.

“No. No, but thank you. I need to be on my own, you know? Need to just ... jump back on that horse, or whatever. So really, no thanks,” she spoke quickly.

“Yeah. I figured you'd say that. He's really not bad to live with,” Katya insisted, referring to Wulf. Tori made a face.

“You only think that because you get to boink him at night.”

“Yeah, that and he's, like, stupid rich. Totally worth it.”

They both laughed. Tori knew Wulf could be penniless and impotent, and Katya would still be with him.

“Actually,” Tori started again. “I was thinking of trying to find my own place.”

Katya blinked rapidly in surprise.

“Move out of the Twin Estates?” she checked.

“Yeah. I mean, I love it there, but there aren't any openings. And maybe it's for the best, you know?”

“Liam wouldn't let you go. Remember when I tried to move out? He threatened to sue me for breach of lease. You're like his bestie, he'll never let you go.”

“Yeah, well, I just don't think I can go back to my old life. No more having you cook for me and Genevieve Stone clean up after me,” Tori sighed, thinking of her roommate, Wulf's younger sister. “I've just gone from one fuck up to another, and if the last one is anything to judge by, I can't afford another one. Time to be an adult.”

“Well ... just wait on it, okay?” Katya asked in a nervous voice. “Maybe there'll be an opening.”

“Maybe. We'll see.”

They made idle chit chat after that, but Katya seemed distracted. Still kind of nervous. Tori started wrapping things up by getting ready to leave. Before she could get on the elevator, though, her friend stopped her.

“Wait,” Katya breathed, fiddling with the end of her ponytail.

“What? What's going on?” Tori asked, glancing around them.

“I ... I said I wouldn't say anything,” Katya started speaking fast. “But if it was me, I'd want to know, and you're a part of me, so you should know.”

“Jesus, Katya, know what? You're freaking me out!”

“Landon's back.”

For a moment, Tori thought the bottom of the elevator fell out from under her. She braced herself against the open doors and pressed a hand over her heart.

“I'm sorry ... what?”

“He's been back for about ten days now.”

“And you knew!?”

“No,” Katya held up her hands. “No, I swear I didn't. I just found out the other night – that's why I asked you to come over today, I wanted to tell you.”

“Start at the beginning. Tell me what's going on,” Tori demanded.

“I walked in on Wulf and Liam talking, down at the club. I guess Landon came home just a couple days after the rest of us. He didn't come here, though, just went straight to his parents' house in Santa Cruz. His mother called Liam, so he went down there to kick his ass,” Katya started. Tori stared blankly at the wall behind them.

“Good. I hope he did.”

“He wanted to, but ... he said Landon's different. They did something to him over there, his arm is all screwed up. He's quiet now, and even though Liam called him every evil name he could think of, Landon just nodded and agreed.”

Good, Landon was every evil name that ever existed, and then some. He deserved to hear all those things, and get his ass kicked. Tori wanted to feel glad. But really, she just felt sick to her stomach. Happy he was alive. Angry at what he'd done to her. Sad that it had all been a lie. It was all just ripping the wound fresh open again.

“Good,” Tori breathed, then she cleared her throat. “Good, thank you for telling me. Now I know to avoid Santa Cruz.”

“Tori, do you think maybe you should -”

“No,” she cut off her friend. “I shouldn't. It's just an ugly awful chapter of my life, and now it's over.”

“Tori,” Katya whispered her name, then she pulled her friend into a hug.

“It's so awful. He was amazing and so different,” Tori cried. “He made me feel like a different person. Like a good person, capable of doing great things. And it was all a lie.”

“It wasn't,” Katya insisted. “You are a good person, and you do great things all the time. Who's there any time any of us are having a crisis? You're the glue that holds everyone together, Tori. None of us would be able to function without you. You're amazing.”

“Amazing,” Tori echoed, then she cried harder.

“And for what it's worth, I don't think it was all a lie. I think he really did care for you. He just ... he'd forgotten how to be normal. He made some really bad, awful, dangerous decisions, but ... he cared about you.”

“Jesus,” Tori pulled free of Katya. “What are you saying? It sounds like you want us to be together!”

“God no,” Katya waved her hand in the air. “He almost got you sold into sex slavery! I'm just trying to say maybe it wasn't all a lie. Maybe he did genuinely like you, and he tried to show you in the only way he knew how.”

“I can't,” Tori held up her hand and stepped back into the elevator. “I can't do this. I told you I didn't want to. He's back, fine, whatever, but I do not want to see him again, alright?”

“Alright.”

“I'm serious, Kat. If you arrange some romance movie style get together, I will never speak to you again. This is a big deal.”

“I won't!” Katya swore. “I promise. I haven't even seen him, and if I ever do, I won't say a word about you.”

“Good. I've gotta head out now,” Tori said, angrily stabbing the button for the ground floor.

“I love you, Tori Bellows. You're quite possibly insane and you give me an ulcer, but I ... I know I haven't always been the best best-friend lately. You had things going on, and I wasn't paying attention. I wasn't listening. You always listen to everyone else, and we ... we let you down. I just wanted you to know, I appreciate everything you've ever done for me, and I would die if anything ever happened to you,” Katya spoke quickly. Tori tried to blink back more tears. She couldn't handle a moment like this, not right now.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, tryin' to get on my good side, Tocci. You know that requires liquor,” she joked in a low voice. Katya smiled.

“And you love me, too.”

“Always,” Tori whispered, then the elevator door slid shut.