The One My Heart Craves

ex

ing wheel so tight my knuckles turned white. Caroline's words

e fast enough. Every seco

from the couch, her face pale but relieved. "A

g my voice to stay steady. "How are

I got a call from Dad. He and Marcus can't make it back today. There's a major issue

k of keeping Sophia safe while

She tried to smile, but I could see the disappointmen

e knew how dangerou

s?" she asked quietly. "Did

sting bitter on my tongue. "You don

ing I need to do. I need to go back to my penthouse to get my suitcase-the one I left when I... when I caught Ethan." Her voice caught slight

started ringing. "Sophia,

hurt me anymore. Besides, I'll be quick.

kseat beside Sophia, watching her fidget with her hands. My driver, James, ke

I said as we pulled

is alone. If Ethan sees you or anyone with me, it'll just m

me, I nodded reluctantly. "Fifteen m

squeezed my arm

in the car, counting every second. James glanced a

assed. Then te

bolted from the car and ran into the building, taki

r was u

warning sign that m

heard it, the sound of glass shattering, fo

Ethan! J

nd them. Sophia was backed against the wall near the window, tears streaming down her

contorted with rage. "Five years, Sophia! Five years

en, desperate. "I found you in ou

etting louder, more violent. "But you... you run strai

t cruelly. "You think he actually cares abou

!" Sophia cri

nk. I didn't hesitate. I launched myself at Ethan with the fur

o the coffee table. Glass scattered everywhere as he hit the ground, but I wasn

I snarled, drawing back for a

ough my fury, but the protective ins

ressed against his throat. "If you ever, ever, tou

ow, blood trickling from his nose an

o her," I growled, pres

a's voice was despera

han, but of what I was becoming. Slowly, I released

but determined. "Three days to get your things and get out of m

t. Don't let him turn you against me. He's not your brother, he's not your f

's expression. When she spo

will ever be. Don't you dare co

d her bedroom, leaving Etha

reer, your reputation, your entire future," I said quietly, "you'll stay away from her. Because if I see you

r Sophia's shaky breathing. She stared at t

hing sobs that seemed to come from the very core of her being. I immediately pulled he

I'm so sorry you had to see that. I'm sorr

er hair gently. "You have not

g us privacy while I held Sophia as she

ispered into her hair. "Every

I was trapped in an engagement that would keep me from Sop

s. We got ice cream, went skating, watched a movie, anything to put a smile back on her

resting against the window. I carried her up to the guest roo

leave, her vo

whispered, her

g and healing at the same

d in my mind: I have cameras watching your penthouse,

ander Kane. I need your best security sweep team at my penthouse. Now. Full electron

silently, methodically, sweeping every room, every corner, every possible hiding

earching, the team leader approac

ice. There are no surveillance devices anywher

. "That's impossi

t available. If there were any electronic surveillanc

ne had been bluffing. There were no cameras. She'd played me perfectly, making me believe she w

d now I was engaged to a woman who'd

another message: Touching scene tonight, darling. I do hope you enjoyed your littl

the message was a photo of me carry

. Whatever Caroline was planning, tomorrow w

ow far would she go