LOGINThird Person POV Dina was still reeling from the sting of her failed plan. She had everything worked out. She was going to work Ary to the point where something inside him would break because no one knew his insecurities better than her. And she did. Maybe too much. Ary broke but exploded, and the next thing she knew, old Jim bundled her out like yesterday's trash. She clenched her fists at the memory. She'd gone there prepared to spend the night, tend to him, and eventually coax his trust. If all had gone as she planned, she'd have been in his house by his side. Instead, she paced her living room, frustration riding on her every breath. Ary was stronger than she gave him credit for. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, thinking of what else she could do to gain entry back into her son's life. Suddenly, she slowed down to a stop, considering the next obvious option. Julia. Ary's anchor. If Julia was out of his life, he would be crushed. He'd have no spirit l
The light from the kitchen lit up the hallway. Ary headed toward the kitchen. Elena was there cleaning surfaces that were already spotless. Her hands moved with precision, wiping down counters and rearranging cutlery, but her tensed shoulders betrayed her agitation. She worked as if she could scrub away the exchange that just happened between them. “Ms. Nolan.” His low tone cut through the quiet. She stopped mid-motion, then turned slowly to face him. “Sir…” He wasn’t ready to hear another stinging word from her, so he said the first thing that came to mind, if only to silence her, while he sorted out his thoughts. “Coffee, please.” Her eyes flicked up, disbelief flashing at the absurdity of the request, but she obeyed.While she worked, Ary busied himself with making tea. The air stayed taut with tension. Neither spoke. Neither looked at the other. When she finally the cup of coffee before him, he took it and, in turn, gave her the tea he’d made. Elena stare
Elena made a very simple dinner: white rice, pork stew, and boiled eggs. She moved in the now foreign kitchen as if an invisible force guided her hands. While she served his dinner, her mind was a thousand miles away, yet she was painfully self-aware, barely making it through the process. Ary let her be. He didn’t trust himself with words, and this time, he wasn’t ashamed to admit to himself that he didn’t know what to do. Better to stay silent than say something that might push her farther away. After dinner, Elena put Sky to bed, and slipped out quietly. Because she had slept until late afternoon, she couldn’t fall asleep. She decided to walk outside, hoping to clear her head. Remembering the encounter at the pool, she decided instead to go sit at the patio. The night wind howled quietly as she stepped into the patio, blowing cold against her face. She stood for a moment, taking in the burst of air. “Can't sleep?” Ary’s voice startled her. Her heart skipped in fri
Elena returned after about forty-five minutes with a tray, placing it on the bedside table top. Ary stepped out of the bathroom, and two bowls stared back at him, steam curling upward, aromas mixing in the air. One was with chicken and the other with fish. He'd asked for either chicken or fish broth. She'd prepared both in such a short time after pulling an all-nighter watching over him. He turned to look at her. “We'll see how well your appetite does now, huh?” Elena asked, a smile tugging at her lips, pleased at the flicker of surprise he couldn't hide. Ary felt something pull tight in his chest at the sight. But he said nothing. He sat and picked up the spoon, tasting the chicken first. The meat was steeped in its broth alive with heat and spice, which spread through his veins like a revitalizing force. It reminded him of the comfort of Julia's meals, yet it was undeniably distinct. Next, he savored the fish. It was softer, more delicate, nuanced with the sharper not
Third Person POV Ary slipped in and out of awareness and every time he surfaced, Elena was there.She'd call his name, begging him to wake up.At other times, she scolded him for scaring her half to death.Cool towels pressed against his skin, shifting from his forehead to his neck, his arms, even his feet. She worked as if she could drag the fever out of him with her bare hands.Once, through the haze, he saw her walk out of the room. Panic clawed at him, until she returned, wheeling Sky’s crib inside. She set it at the foot of his bed, her glance at him conveying a silent reassurance.The realization cut through the fever’s fog. She hadn’t only stayed. She had brought her child, her whole world, into his space. Entrusting it all to him.Between him and the baby, she moved with gentle resolve, swapping one towel for another across his fevered brow, adjusting Sky’s blanket, whispering soothing words to them both.Her presence and touch with Sky's steady breathing, all wove togethe
Dina’s eyes swept the room, moving slowly, deliberately, before lowering herself into a couch. She moved as if she were sick. She knew she wouldn't have a lot of time with him, so she had to strike fast. “Ary, you had a difficult childhood,” she began, her voice thin. “You didn’t deserve that. I was young, and hurt. And you got caught in between.” She paused. He didn’t flinch. “I couldn't be around you,” she continued. “Your father… he never loved me. What we had was just a business transaction.” “He only wanted an heir …you.” Her voice broke. “And after you came, everything worsened. He had no time for me, only for you. Then he reconnected with the woman he truly loved.” She let her words hang. And it worked because Ary finally reacted. He didn’t remember the man, but Julia’s memories of him had taught him enough to have nothing but respect for his father. His jaw locked, his voice dangerously low. “You really don’t know when to stop. This is what you needed to s
Third Person POV Back in Lawrence, Brad applied for a leave, then got on a train and headed for Boston. Now that the Moranos had begun acting without involving him, he had to go hunt on his own. For that, he needed time and could not afford to have cop responsibilities dangling over his head.
Ary returned to his home after leaving the penthouse.A dull headache pressed against his temples while he lay awake in bed that night. Annoyed, he rolled over to the side of his bed and smashed the wireless call button on the nightstand. Jim appeared almost instantly.“Valerian Tea.”Jim left to
Third Person POV Ary returned his attention to the little girl quietly waiting for him. “Ruby, you should have the last one,” he said as he cut the slice into a smaller size for her. “Open up,” he instructed as he lowered himself and gently placed the slice into her open mouth. “Mmm…,” Ruby moa
ELENA“Hey Julia,” I said, smiling as she stepped into my room. I’d just finished bathing Sky and zipped her into a warm onesie for the night.Holding her against my chest, I rocked her slowly.“She’s ready for bed,” I told her, then froze at the look on her face.When she returned from her outing







