nca'

I'm hearing about yo

n trapped in. Damien Sinclair. His name had been echoing in my head lik

rom the untouched f

g the glass table and the crystal chandelier above,

owed with self-righteous indignation. To his left-directl

and swallowing the poison they so generously served-literally. But not today.

hicken, buttered green beans, and a bottle of wine that sparkled like temptation. Ev

her eyes with a lace handkerchief. Her lower lip trembled like a soap

icker. But

rocodile t

o comfort her, only to be blamed. Nathan would yell,

this

?" I asked, keepi

d said you were... off. Mum went to check on you and you sl

truth until the devi

in. In my mind, I hurled it across the table. Right

d. Polite. Contro

d softly. "I had a nightmare.

trembling, shoulders shaking like a wind-up do

his time. Reveling in t

you today?" he asked sharply. "After everythi

me slowly and sm

tened my voice. "It's not like that. I had a horrible ni

t di

is brow furrowed. He didn't expect me to speak f

a fresh sob, l

n apology." Then stared me dead in the eyes. "

oney, no, please-it hasn't gotten to that..." s

g it. Or maybe he was ju

own up. Actions h

riumph, marked by that subtle, cru

rotting corpse would I

, I let my voice break t

d rang o

ed. I won't repeat myse

len

t grates agai

of the room stopped moving, w

e Holy Spirit and burst into tears agai

n shifted from disb

ross the marble. "Look what you've done!" he roa

king me to my feet with a for

he growled, dragging me toward th

t me go, Nathan!

ed rooted, helple

the floor as I resi

stumbling back with a wince. My

ady apologized.

me like I wa

s exactly wh

sn't the woma

front door. My heart was pounding, but m

ed th

I heard his sharp and furious voice yell, "You better not come back until you've droppe

myself as I

this l

**

why my feet b

, the cemetery sign faded and rusted above it. My slippers met the soft earth

me when they

hey lowered

hollow prayers and people who ne

dn't

p in lies wrapped with ribbons, too high on the illu

pat

past as I stopped befo

d M. C

Fierce Protector

I blinked fast, refus

, I

I had no right to bring them. No right to stand here after everything. But here I wa

y knees on the

ng as I laid the flowers down on the

I pressed my hand to my lips, kissed my fi

haky voice. "I promise. I'll get you t

at first-I just let them fall, letting myself feel somet

My knees ached, but

my hand. I didn't know where I was going next.

ward the exit, the s

ho

nni

clicking

par

nd a marble angel s

s and shouting over one another. I watched them chase

stom-plated. Tinted windows. Power hummi

adn't

Why would a car like

nglasses. The last thing I needed was to be recognized.

e shoulder of a breathless f

on?" I asked, kee

in New York. After years abroad. He's officially taking over Sinclair Industries. That's his car-

again, swallowed

en Si

co

nt memories surfaced-this was the day he

.. wh

together in my head. None of it made sense. From what I re

, mind still racing, when so

s we both crashed to the ground. My glasses

re you're-"

himself up with one strong arm. His

he loo

a familiar pair of icy b