Ca

break could evolve in

care that my world is burning down. I hail a cab with trembling fingers and mutter Vanessa's address to t

p echoing. You we

ng. I should've told him I was pregnant the night we made love. When he traced my collarbone like I was a poem

except the truth. And Emily. And somethin

s power. Gold-framed glass doors. Security. Cameras. The kind

nough. "Stay," I tell the cab driver. "I might need

oor before h

cket. The one Leo gave me months ago. "Just in case," he'd s

tant tries to block me at the front de

ncible. I storm into the elevator and hit the penthouse butt

ed every possible scenario in my head.

the armrests, and Vanessa... perched beside him, her h

you to join us." He lifts his head slow

did you do to

thing to keep him compliant. Don't

y fist. "Let him go." She lau

m not the same girl you used to bu

every shell account, every stolen design. Leo traced the

ddenly her smile falt

idence, you would've used it already." I walk to the nearest lapt

come prepared?" Her

ither did Dante. He had someone look into

e still just a poor, knocked-up nobody!" I don't flinch. "Maybe. But I'm the mot

oice is thick with haze, but he sees me now. R

s sting my lashes. "I didn't give you a reason to.

hard from the broken vase and lung

bursts in seconds later... thanks to the panic button I hit w

Bleeding from his lip, eyes r

ut Emily. I was scared. You were everything, and I was n

he baby. I left because I thought you didn't love me. Th

't a mistake. You were the

t, trembling, and I

houldn't." He closes his eyes like the

ch. "I love you too, I said

years and pain and longing wrapped into one breathless mo

lieved. He looks terrified. "Carina," he p

orking alone." I look down, and the photo that star

sa in a blurry club photo, holding the same via

er, and for the first ti