Bullet in the Heart

antic movie evenings. Even though the silverware was already immaculate, her well-groomed hands shook a little as she made one m

rm. Walls covered in elegant taupe and ivory, high ceilings with elaborate chandeliers, and panoramic windows provide an unparalleled

chestnut hair, which cascaded in gentle waves about her shoulders. She wanted everything to be flawless tonight. She wanted to resp

ngertips touched the package. She pictured his response: astonishment, happiness, maybe even the unique tenderness he let her see.

the vast auditorium, she mumble

sloyalty, Zane had been locked up in his office longer than normal. She was impressed by his determination and unwavering focu

out power struggles or boardroom

Below, the city glistened, each glimmer bearing witness to the aspirations and perseverance of its builders.

oor opening. Aurora felt a flutter in her heart as she waited

et as she called out, and the soun

ans

ked into the hallway. A slight muttering became increasingly

way from whatever bargain or plan he was focused on at the moment. His commen

e tone, Zane stated, "I married

Aurora's hand linger

t he did, do you think I would have done this? Love isn't what this is, Vivienne. Thi

to her chest. She was positive he could hear her he

growing a conscience." Lux Vivienne. She was a pretty redhead with a reputation for

humor. "Conscience? Avoid being absurd. Aurora served as a tool

nd the temperature was oppressive. Aurora steadied herself by pressing a palm against the wall. H

ant voice. She doesn't even realize it. Don't let her figure

ere talking about a business transaction rat

ling, she suppressed a gasp. All of it might have been a lie. It couldn't be t

the shiny floor reverberated more loudly than she had anti

uld move, the

ze, Zane stood in the doorway. For an instant, ti

weet as ever when

her thoughts. Her voice trailed off a little

eyes remained fixed. "I'll be leaving

nd was racing with questions as she made her way back to the table, but one idea sto

ce door's cool wood. The quiet, venomous tones of his voi

e of venom she had never heard before. Aurora Kensington serves only as a too

to make sense of the difference between the Zane she knew, the one who held her close on chilly e

leased laugh. "You are so honorable, Zane. I beli

inality, Zane answered, "I don't go

ey had spent together, their wedding day, the silent vows, felt like glass fragments piercing her heart. Her nails dug

cation. Indeed, Zane was a man of passion in addition to ambition. He couldn't have lied when he touched

eyes full of unshed tears, she dared to peek through the broken door. With his tailored suit immaculate and one hand

ake care of it, Vivienne." "And the Kensingt

onse. Her heel caught on the rug's edge as she took a step back. He

ring sensation grounding her. It was the guy she had truste

g steps faltered. The gentle click of the latch was so

ror

e, that wasn't a greeting. It was a directive, tinged wit

where she could pretend she hadn't heard anything. But Zane was already there when she tu

held to during their time together was gone from that glance. Rather,

ard. Clearing her throat, she wished for her po

caught when he took a step forward and closed the gap between them. He mo

ought to be in the dining room." "I as

her gown, her knuckles white, she compelled herself to look into his eyes. She r

ething she couldn't identify appeared in his expression. "Business," h

r she'd overheard, or the man she loved? Her stomach roiled as she struggled t

y but cold voice, Zane p

e felt his heavy, questioning gaze linger on her as she tur

he arrived in the dining room with a practiced grace. Her hands trembled as she rearranged the

resence was powerful and unavoidable as he entered the room

Aurora, probing her as if he could see through the barriers she had hurriedl

penetrable as he said, "E

re Aurora, they sounded insincere. She tighte

elieved she knew when they sat down to eat, the air between them weighted