Her Heart, His Deadly Secret

A single bulb hung from the ceiling, casting long, ugly shadows. T

r, the loc

g a plastic bottle of water and a pie

ern. He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind he

at me," h

s on the cracked

ing for gentle. "You have to believe me. Chloe

were so absurd, she

oice dropping lower. "The offshore one. I know you h

at him. His eyes we

here," he promised. "We can go away. Forget

t, so insulting, it w

at stupid?" she sa

slipped, revealing the ugliness ben

d used for opening boxes. He didn' t point it at her, just opene

lat of the blade against her cheek, the metal cold and terrifying. "This face. It' s you

times, didn' t we? Remember that weekend in the mountai

mories. Trying to make her feel something, anything other

stood there, leaning agains

p playing with your food. The

ll trying to act tough? You have no idea w

He looked down at Ava, his face a

oe, the word making Ava feel sick. "That' s what the ini

a. "Last chance. Gi

s a gamble, a wild, desp

o you?" she said, her voice shaking but

hung in

r, confused. "Who the

ght she was making things up. The

find out,"

jaw. The impact was a bright flash of pain, followed by a dull, th

ded slap that sent her head slammi

onscious thought was of Ethan. Would he kill her for co

hloe were dead. They j