Collin

ling, searching for answers that never came. My mind chased itself in frantic

would be useless, maybe even dangerous. Luca only paid attention w

om him, I'd have to bea

elt about as safe as putting my hand in a lion's mouth. Still, it was the only card I had left to pla

door. A woman entered, pushing a clothing rack lined

utfit is labeled for a specific day." She spoke quietly, e

andpicking every dress, deciding how I w

. Every dress was beautiful, elegant, impossibly expensive-and each one screamed res

t a partner," I muttered to myself

estled among the carefully folded fabrics was a scrap o

" I muttered, holding it up g

e, trying to figure out which end was which.

you?" His voice, smooth and edged wi

n my body clenched, the lace

Pulling stunts like that won't work on me.

erie onto the bed with an exaggerated sigh and turn

go by, there's nothing in this world you actually like. As for this- cl

and quietly menacing. His stare w

meone from my past,"

sing the lace into the drawer as if I were throwing out a scrap o

y are you af

nd slowly t

e my sister. That's

etween us thick enough to cut. My own brea

lous marriage," I continued, forcing my pride down. "But if there's any decen

k, his express

cts, sometimes dodging bullets or putting others in the ground," he said wi

t the thought of Emma-hooked up t

whatever

g like triumph, hungry to see

ouse archive. Five rooms filled with decades' worth of files and junk. Nobod

ook a step back, disbelief

ot even p

re's your chance." He gave a cold half-s

y breath, forcing myse

'd better keep

tween us. His hand found my chin, tilting my fac

t up or stay down, whether you open your legs or keep them closed. But you're lucky-I don't

ay before his lips could find mine. That flicker

t, leaving a chill in his wake. I had no idea wha

-

led up and hair pulled back. Chalk and marker stained my hands as I sorted crumbling fil

add up, records that repeated, even a signatu

k about Luca. If I finished before morning,

d behind me. I turned, and there

t bothering to hide the pride in my voice. "There are odd papers in here. For

silent for

ad through

they don't want found. Bring me a laptop- I'll scan and digiti

me with a mix of suspicion and somet

the morning. There'll be a car waiting.

was doing and f

nk y

e. I still don

o. Just make sure

cond longer, then he turned away

rst time since being trapped in this house, a smile broke through- small,

shed when I retu

d his tie and stepped out of his shoes with infuriat

y stomach. What i