here, so solid and real and concerned, was almost too much. The c

d. He had always been the epitome of control, a man who moved through the world with

ast life, after the horror of the wedding, after the crash, it was his face I rememb

urying my face in his chest. For a moment, he was perfectly still, shocked by my for

murmured into my hair. "

e seep into my bones. He was my rock. He had alw

had always watched me from a distance, his feelings a quiet, unspoken secret. He respected my relationship with Edward, never once crossing a line. He ha

, last-ditch effort. He just wanted to hear my voice. He never expected me to a

. I pulled back, wiping my

rushing away a stray tear from my cheek

erior of the car was comforting. On the center console, there was a bag of my favor

with Dara, and that they had left me at the club. I left out the part about the murd

white on the steering wheel. "That bast

a hand on his arm. "

ng an affair, Josiah. They're trying to take everything from me. My i

to me. It's my mother's legacy. It's in my blood. I will not let a spineless man w

e saw the pain, but he also saw the strength, the fire

irm. "Whatever you need. My resources

st time in what felt like an eternity. "Tha

work, anything and everything except Edward and Dara. It was a brief, welcome respite from the

ou here with him," he said, his hand lingering on

added, "In a guest room, of course. I j

On impulse, I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek. "I can't, not yet.

him. "But soo

full of a warmth that melted the

silent apartment. I didn't go to the master bedroom. I went to the guest room at t

bed, my phone buzzed. It

spital. Dara is being se

her hand resting protectively on her stomac

tor's name is on her chart. I can get

me, Edward would marry the grieving "sister," and she would produce an "heir" to solidify their clai

e he touch you? Don't worry, I'll make sure he pays.

ck a quick reply. Get me those records. A

. Then, after a long pause, a new m

since my world had ended, I felt a sense of peace. I