ie

was exactly as I remembered

lilies-a scent that once promised safet

igging into my palm. I wasn't here to stay.

ngs, sign whatever papers Marcus needed for his tax deductions regar

wed

y shirt. The metal was warm against my skin, a secret anc

f the shelves-the ones I had bought with my allowance, the ones with

're

iately. I placed a copy of *Pride and Preju

ves rolled up to his elbows, a glass of scotch in his hand. But there were dark circl

voice was flat. It sounded

s scanning the boxes. "You didn'

ant," I said. "I'm jus

, his tone sharpening with irritation. "Y

to trave

gne-sandalwood and rain-hit me. My stomach t

e set a date," h

ed to see if the little girl who used to fol

painted when I was fifteen. "That

er, I didn't care e

He swirled his drink, the ice clinking sharp and lon

years," I said.

that

his face. It was the look of a man who realized a piece of fur

" I said, changing the subject. "The

a long sip of his drink. "I don't know wh

"It was the only thing of my p

d dismissively. "Stop being dra

e me laugh. As if he could simply b

said. "I'll look

ner. I needed to get away from his suffocating presence. I reached up

rushed again

the sculpture. It was a sm

thought it had been lost in the move ten

dden in his study.

d he h

e of grief washed over me, so potent it made my knees w

e?" Marcus asked. He w

ade the room tilt dangerously. I hadn't eaten since I left Florence

ht on the ed

bled b

ll

pulling me hard against his chest to stop me from

ond, time

ers. I could feel the heat of his body searing through h

ist tightened, not letting go even though I had regained my balance.

ay, but my limbs f

ispered, a war

th, his breathing ragged, as if he was s