From Mafia Doll To Montana Queen

via

grounding me in the quiet work of creation.

bsession. Sketches of Marcus's hands. Oil paintings of his silhou

g breath, I beg

s burned, but the pain in my chest was sharper

ng on the terrace, a rare moment of vulnerability I had ca

er the dried pain

my voice cracking. "You're just

it onto

s. A candid shot from a Fourth of July party years ago. The crowd was pushing, and

ocus wasn't on me at all; it was locked on

so long. I had named it love. Now, looking at his indifferent profile,

rried it down to the main hall's massive firepla

to in first. Th

uck a

the paper. It curled, turni

distort in the heat be

eadlights swept across the front w

fr

, peering through the

n the driveway. He got o

head thrown back in a display of carefree intimacy. She l

t door like a king and quee

Physically, v

wing the rest of the canvases i

e heat scorching my

later, Iz

ook I wasn't absorbing, the word

ike silk wrapped around a razor blade

miling, but her eyes w

I said, clos

tilting her head mockingly. "Charcoal. Canvas. And

od ran

she invaded my personal space. "But obsession can be dange

nd my ear. It felt less like a gesture of affect

said. "I need help with the decorations

sn't a

The alliance negotiations were stalli

ements were slightly delayed, like he wa

something. A mild seda

htly as he stood

rain. I stood up, reac

s," I

e in a second, her hand on hi

ipping with fake concern. "Olivia, ple

e table, at the

pered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Al

ce went red. T

re hazy, confused. He didn't def

I tried to d

his voice cracking like a whi

t D

ow

s brief, a flash of

would try to help. She turne

onfined to my qua

lectured me later. "Trying to seduce the Underbo

med, but he slammed

e New York skyline. The city l

I was a pawn. And n

mething else took their pl

he thought by locking me aw

was

given me the

vid Hayes's daughter. I knew where the skeletons were bur

iary, the pen digging deep into the paper. Bu

ed once, telling me it was for my own go

me the

my door. No stamp.

was a

window of the garden hou

Stay away from him, or the nex

e photo. My

hing me. Insid

st jealousy. T

idn't look like a sanctuary a

e photo i

fear anymore

ation, heavy and

hidden behind my vanity.

ng to wait t