Twisted Hearts... Tangled hearts

s, Ethan's face flashed in her mind-his intense gaze, the raw

ng here. You b

be true when she ha

nymore. But if that were the case, why had Julian been so quick to get rid of him? And why

se, staring up at the ceiling. The room was dark except for the faint

ng wasn

ept in a carefully controlled reality-one where Jul

realization pressed

to know

silent, the only sound the ticking of a clock on the wall. Julian had said he

ave the penthouse since she was discharged from the hospital-Julian insist

wasn't c

the door open and peeked into

the cool marble floor. She didn't know exactly what she was looking

, she hesitated outside Julian's o

he shouldn't be doing this. That Juli

needed

she pushed the door o

ong shadows across the sleek black furniture. A large desk sat a

rs trembling as she reached for the laptop. If Julia

open it, a soft cre

eath c

d, her heart hamm

the doorway, clo

d her until the person stepped fo

ha

eath h

doing here?"

nto the room, his movements caref

nded. "How di

eyes scanning her face, searching. "

her mind reeling. "Julian sai

d in Ethan's expre

ce was low, almost dangerous. "Did

omach

she br

s dark hair. "Of course he didn't. Because that would r

ad. "That can't be

closer, his voice raw. "Emilia, we were in love. You we

mething an argument, desperate whispers, a kiss in the rain flitte

essing a hand

g to you. Keeping you here, away

d in her thr

an. His words clashed violently against everything Julian had to

ve him. And then... t

t be true.

shattered memory to rearrange themselves, to show he

e found wa

. Ethan. His touch sent a strange shiver through her not of

urgent, but no less desperate. "You have

She hesitated, her pulse rac

nodded as if he had expected that

mmed in th

a sti

n was

is jaw tightening. "Damn it,"

things would get ugly she didn't know how she knew

rs, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that stole he

proached, gr

balcony doors. "If you want answers, come find me

was gone-disappearing into the nigh

g in on Emilia standing frozen in the middle of his o

answer, for a lie that wou

said, forcing a small smile

eadable. Then, without a word, he step

the lock sent a ch

ht, Emilia," he said smoothly, closing th

er. Not because of the

hing his fingers along her cheek. His touch w

n murmured, tilting his head.

d. Did he know? H

hake her head. "No. Jus

adable lurked beneath the surface. "I told you, the

as he making sur

, his lips grazing the top of her head. "C

back to the bedroom. But as she lay beside hi

y on Fifth

a choice

g up in this nightmare, she was re

-