LOGINCASSIAN'S POVI always knew Nina Cross would ruin me.I just didn’t expect another man to be standing there when it finally happened.Make that two, because Lucas is walking straight towards me, halting only when he sees Nina.“Oh…Nina. You're here…” His voice trails off when his eyes fall to Nina's hand still hooked in Axel's.Nina's eyes dart to me and back to Lucas, pulse throbbing in her throat. “Detective, what an unpleasant surprise.” I step forward, jaw tight.He looks almost normal in his purple shirt and brown jacket—until I see the badge on his hip.He ignores me, eyes trained on Nina and the subtle shrink of her shoulders. She sucks in a sharp breath, rubbing Axel's arm gingerly. Come on, Nina…“We'll get out of your hair. Have a good day.” “Sure.” Lucas nods curtly, but my eyes follow the soft billow in her hair, and my lungs suck in air, searching for traces of her scent like an addict in need of a fix.There it is. Vanilla.“What do you want?” My attention flicks to
NINA'S POV Two days is not enough time for a heart to stop breaking and start pretending it never did, but the world keeps spinning like I didn’t leave the man I love standing in the middle of it.Loved. Let's keep that in the past, shall we?I had ignored his emails to come in for work, but today my heels click against the marble floor, and I breeze past the receptionist with a frozen smile. Heat settles against my skin, pricking under my blazer, but I keep a straight face because God forbid that I squirm in his presence. The letter in my purse weighs down on my shoulder, but I must do this. It's the only way…The walls of the elevator seem to grow thicker with each floor we pass, and my breath echoes back to me in a panicked cycle. Finally, the doors whoosh open on our office floor, and I step out, forcing my confidence to follow. His door is ajar, and I suck in a sharp breath at the faint whiff of his cologne mixed with brewing coffee. I crane my neck to peer into the sunlit
NINA'S POV I rip the sheets off my bed like they’re the reason my chest won’t fucking open.Maybe they are. His scent is everywhere, lodging in my throat with each failed breath. I should have burned the stupid thing the moment he left me to be with her. My fingers grip the silk hems, and I let the sound of ripping fabric mirror the gashing in my heart. What was I thinking, going into that tiny, dark space with the one man I should be running from?I almost let him kiss me…fucking hell…My fingers work hard at the fabric, rending my once favourite sheets into shreds. The pieces slip through my fingers and pool at my feet, and I realise that the sharp throbbing in my finger nail is real. I've broken the damn thing.My feet stumble backwards into my vanity table, and every breath I suck in feels less like oxygen and more like death.These fucking ugly curtains…I fist my fingers in the green curtain, flinching as the rail breaks free, clattering to the ground in a dusty mess. Golde
NINA'S POV Sloane is pregnant, Cassian is in cuffs, and somehow, I’m still the idiot standing here waiting for him to look at me.The air is cold, forcing a chatter from my teeth when his eyes finally rake up my body and linger on my face.“Hello, sister. You look like you've seen a ghost.” Lucas frowns, placing a hand on Cassian's shoulder and squeezing lightly.Cassian huffs and shrugs off his hand, eyes never leaving mine.“Lucas —oh my god…” my mom chokes, brushing past me, arms spread wide.Lucas hesitates, brows furrowed.“Mom?” His eyes light with recognition. “Mom!” I fold my hands and shrink away from the soppy reunion. At least they get to be happy while my world is falling apart. Cassian's eyes follow me as I back into a corner, shoulders sagged. “I don't suppose you can take these cuffs off, can you? I'm not that dangerous.” His voice cuts through the sugary moment, gaze shifting to Lucas and Grace.The air goes still. Lucas pulls away, face flushed from his little bre
NINA'S POV “Well, now I know not to sit across from my enemy.” Axel groans when the credits start rolling.“What do you mean? It's a cute story.” “It is, it's just a bit unrealistic, don't you think?” He stands up and offers a hand.“It’s a love story. It's never realistic.” Like me and Cassian.I accept his hand, noting its warmth as I rise unsteadily to my feet.“You're right. Love shouldn't have any rules.” His stare lingers on my face, and I feel my cheeks blooming red. “What time is it? I should get going…” I glance at my watch, dreading that it's only midday.“And I should go…wherever the assholes go.” Axel falls in stride and we exit the dark room, and I force my smile to stay hidden.His arm brushes mine lightly, and he mutters an apology, but heat is already crawling up my spine. My day had started off bleak, but walking beside this handsome stranger just makes it all feel worth it…if murder is ever truly worth it.My footsteps slow as we approach the exit. “Are you oka
CASSIAN'S POV I’ve faced men with guns and walked away without flinching, but a grainy black-and-white screen has my hands trembling in my lap.The white walls blur together, and I wonder if this is what purgatory looks like—sterile, silent, and impossible to escape. My back is rigid in the uncomfortable chair, eyes glued to my hands, anything but actually looking at her.How did this happen? I know, it's a fucking dumb question, no thanks to biology, but I hoped…What was I thinking? Sloane reclines on the sheet covered hospital bed, legs stretched out at the edge. I should say something to her, to ask if the scowl on her face is because she couldn't keep her breakfast down, but I'll only be buying into her fantasy. She doesn't notice my silence. She hasn't noticed much over the past two days, just dwelling in her own cocoon.I can't be a father. I can't—“The doctor will be here any minute, so…fix your face?” Her voice grates my ears, and I lift my gaze and actually look at he







