LOGINARIELLA The room was still dark, the faintest hint of early morning barely touching the curtains, and for a second I was too lost in the feeling of him even to think properly. By the time he finally pulled back, I was breathing hard, completely flushed, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I tri
ARIELLA "What do you mean?" “Tonight..... My mother humiliated me in front of everyone. Creating problems for you publicly... in front of everyone.” I looked away from him. “I know how these people are. I know how they talk and you have a reputation to uphold. I am supposed to....” Asher's enti
ARIELLA My voice cracked completely after that. “She is my mother." I began, trying to hold it together. "She's the only relative I have left, the only parent I have left, and I know my dad loved her. And as much as my mom was... that to me...” I swallowed painfully. “She was there for my father.
ARIELLA Leon had been a very welcome, loving, and warm distraction from all the emotions and the pain I was fighting inside. He had occupied my mind when I helped him to bed, when I read him a story, and when he fell asleep and I just sat there on his bed, watching him sleep, seeing him taking in
ARIELLA Asher helped me into the car carefully, like I might shatter if he moved too fast. The second I sat down, he followed after me, pulling the door shut behind him before anyone else could touch it. Outside, I could still see movement near the ballroom entrance. Men collecting phones and Guar
ARIELLA Asher lifted his hand slowly toward my face. For one terrifying second, I thought he was going to wipe the spit away himself.... Instead, he took out a handkerchief from inside his jacket and placed it gently into my hand. Like he knew I would break completely if he touched my face right n
ARIELLA When Asher arrived, I had already packed my bags. I’d already had that talk with Leon and Maria. I told them we were leaving, that Asher was coming to get us. Leon was super excited, almost too much. Every five minutes, he’d ask, “Is dad coming? Is he here?” and I had to keep telling him t
ARIELLA I should have known the moment the plane began to descend, the ocean below was too familiar, the curve of the coastline too. The island. The same island Asher had taken me to before. The one where he had built that sprawling, luxurious hotel that rose out of the cliffs like a secret only
ASHER I had hoped that giving my brother power would make him see me, really see me. I thought it would bring us closer, maybe even make him turn away from this ridiculous plan he had with Dinara. I believed, foolishly, that if he felt valued, if he held something of his own, he would let go of th
ASHER The second shot tore through the air, a hot, sharp sting across my shoulder. Pain flared, but I didn’t falter. My instincts kicked in before my mind could process. I spun, gun raised, and caught the glint of Dinara’s weapon aimed directly at me. Her eyes were unflinching, burning. The chaos







