LOGINMelissa Pov“Who hurt you?” Sophia asked quietly.I looked up at her through swollen eyes. “What?”“Someone hurt you.” Her expression was soft. Understanding. “I can see it. Someone broke your heart.”Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.“He killed my father,” I whispered, rubbing the tears off my cheek but it just kept falling.Sophia went very still. “What?”“The man I love. He killed my father, he killed my—ahhh.” The words sounded insane. Like something from a nightmare. “Twenty years ago. And I didn’t know. I didn’t know and I fell in love with him and I…”I couldn’t finish. Couldn’t voice all the things Gavin and I had done together. All the ways he’d touched me. Claimed me. Made me his. All while knowing he’d murdered my father. Was it really that much fun playing with our lives? And was my mom even any better?“Oh, honey.” Sophia’s arms tightened around me. “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”“He lied to me.” My voice broke. “About everything. Our whole relationship was built on
Melissa’s POVI couldn’t see.The tears were coming too fast, blurring everything. The streetlights smeared into abstract streaks of gold and white. The road wavered like it was underwater.I blinked hard, trying to clear my vision, but it didn’t help.My hands gripped the steering wheel so tight my knuckles had gone white. My whole body was shaking.Gavin killed my father.The words kept repeating in my mind like a broken record.Gavin killed my father.Gavin killed my father.Gavin killed my father.The man I loved. The man I’d given everything to. The man who’d touched me and kissed me and made love to me and promised to protect me. Had murdered my father.A sob tore out of my throat. It was raw and very ugly.I couldn’t breathe. I couldn't think. Couldn’t…A figure stepped into the crosswalk ahead.I saw them too late.And I slammed on the brakes.The car screeched and swerved and then hit something.Oh God.Oh God, I’d hit someone.I threw the car into park with trembling hands and
Melissa’s POVI ran through the penthouse, my vision blurred with tears, my chest heaving with sobs I couldn’t control.The elevator. I needed to get to the elevator. Away from them. Away from that image burned into my brain.My mother and Jason together was just too much for me right now.I slammed my hand against the elevator button repeatedly, not caring that it wouldn’t make it come faster.“Come on, come on, come on,” I whispered frantically.The doors finally opened. I threw myself inside and jabbed the garage level button.The doors started to close..:A hand shot through, stopping them.“No!” I pressed myself against the back wall.But the doors opened anyway. Diana stood there, hastily dressed in Jason’s shirt and her skirt, her hair was wild, and her face flushed.“Melissa baby, please..:”I pushed past her and ran for the stairs instead. Down. Down. Down.My feet pounded against the concrete steps, echoing in the stairwell.I burst through the door into the garage, my hands
Melissa’s POVMy fist slammed into the table.The sound echoed through Marcus’s office. Papers scattered. A coffee mug rattled dangerously close to the edge.Marcus didn’t even blink. Just looked at me with that maddeningly blank expression he always wore.“Where is he?”“Who?” Marcus asked calmly.I leaned across the table until we were eye level. “Where. Is. My. Gavin.”“Miss Hayes…”“He’s been hiding for two days.” My voice cracked slightly. I hated that it did. “He’s not picking up my calls. Not answering my messages. I’ve been everywhere. His office. The arena. Even checked the club. Nothing.”Marcus’s expression didn’t change. “Mr. Cross asked to be left alone for a few days. He just needs some time to rest. Once he comes back…”“Don’t give me that corporate bullshit, Marcus.” I straightened up. “Something’s wrong. I know something’s wrong. He doesn’t just disappear like this. Not from me.”“Melissa.” Marcus’s tone softened slightly. “He asked specifically not to be disturbed. W
Third Person POVThe private plane touched down at Teterboro just after three in the afternoon.Diana descended the stairs slowly, a massive wide-brimmed hat covering most of her head, oversized sunglasses hiding her eyes. The wind caught the hat’s brim, making it flutter dangerously.Then a particularly strong gust lifted it completely off her head.It tumbled through the air, spinning like a dark bird. Someone caught it mid-flight.Jason.He stood at the bottom of the stairs, the hat now in his hands, and a smile playing at his lips.Diana had already gotten to the bottom of the stairs, her red hair catching the afternoon light now that it was free. She looked elegant and well composed. Like she’d just returned from a spa retreat rather than two weeks away.Jason held out the hat.“I thought you’d never come back,” he said.Diana took the hat, but didn’t put it back on. “How could I do such a thing?” Her smile was sharp. “Did you miss me?”“Of course I did.” He stepped closer. “So m
Third Person POVGavin stared at the pendant on the floor. It was silver with a hue of green, a very delicate looking thing . The chain coiled like a question mark against the hardwood.He crossed the room and picked it up, his movements were slow almost like he was scared to approach it.The moment the metal touched his palm, recognition slammed into him like a fist to the gut. He knew this pendant.His eyes moved to Melissa. She was curled on her side, snoring softly. Her face was peaceful in sleep, she looked really young and innocent to him at that moment.Gavin’s hand closed around the pendant. He turned and walked out of the room, his footsteps were silent on the floor.He walked down the hallway, past his bedroom and straight into his study.He locked the door behind him with a soft click.The bottom drawer of his desk required both a key and fingerprint scan. His hands were steady as he opened it, pulling out a small wooden box that hadn’t seen daylight in a while.Inside, nes







