crept up my spine. I knew I had started over and was now five years

worry, fear...

excit

I was in

was soft, almost too gentle. "I brou

eep, stead

sed to say when

t her like a good friend. That

t.

at he

as my

from my thoughts. His tone was gentle, but his gaze wa

elf, a thin layer of sw

t be more fun for the two of us to

forcing a smile, and

soft laugh the

old out

me

t you didn't wan

iffe

ever, but there was something hidden

said lightly. "In fact, we were

" she giggled. "I

white dress flutter. Before I could say anything e

!" Her voice was warm, sweet.

didn't

ecause you're mad?"

han remai

ing special-your favorite venison. The freshest steak

The meat was fresh-too fresh. The edges were sligh

lmost eager in the way she moved, a lightnes

n these details

or shifted the moment Sophia p

oved

mu

a wer

glistening, still drippin

neasy feeling cra

for Ethan," Sophia said, turn

amed with so

ying too much. I'm jus

.

e was with me, the stea

trying t

s steak too rare; he p

ything and walked over to the tab

gaze. It was the kind of look an Italian might give

ded not

retend not

and started frying the meat. The sizzling sound an

sion in the room weighed on me, yet somehow, the simple a

here did I put

ack, but couldn't find it. Just as I tur

caught in

ow loomed beyo

mistakable sh

lickering light, casting an

my

ran down

ctly the same as the one I saw f

s werew

hell is

five years before she r

to run, but my body wouldn't obey. My hands cle

ena. You have

s in my head, forci

an? Were they trying to expose me

didn't ma

h

han's voice cut through the tensi

the massive sha

out a frust

k forming in her usually sweet facade. "D

ur fian

ice she used in the past. The warmth, t

the rea

e she had used when she murd

y thinly veiled di

me! You're not seriously

ut

there was an undeniable edge to it. "If s

as detache

tween us, I could feel t

d, Ethan? The man I once

I never truly k

se qui

er. "You're protecting her? Her

reath before continui

an's voice was

a plaything," he said

e in a war

id quietly, "It's been three ye

u don't really take her

idn't r

dn't know if he had been hit o