Tattoos crept out from his unbuttoned vintage white shirt, and gold earrings hung from his ears. He had a glistening gaze and an alluring smile.

“Dude! Where have you been?” the visitor asked enthusiastically.

“Sebastian—” Alexander was shocked. My boyfriend was familiar with the guy I thought was a stranger.

“What are you doing here?”

“That’s what I wanted to ask you. I had to find out from your parents that you weren’t returning to Romania.

But now I see why…” His gaze bore through me. “Well, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“This is Sebastian,” Alexander said politely. “Sebastian, this is—”

“Raven.” Sebastian took my hand in his. He wore more rings than I did and sported black polish on his bitten fingernails. He kissed my hand. I couldn’t quite tell if this character was charming or just an annoying flirt.

“Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asked with a wide grin.

“Of course,” Alexander replied, still surprised.

Alexander stepped back, but Sebastian didn’t follow.

“Just a minute,” Sebastian said. “I’ll get my things.”

“Things?” Alexander asked, his mouth hanging agape.

Sebastian had already taken off toward a vintage mint-condition 1960s black Mustang with silver racing stripes, which was parked in the Mansion’s drive.

“Alexander…who is…?” I began softly.

Alexander didn’t answer. Instead, he remained focused on Sebastian.

The handsome visitor popped open the trunk and reached inside. I could see in the distance that he was pulling out a large duffel bag and setting it on the drive. He reached in again and placed another bag on the broken pavement. Then another.