Killian got up from his seat quickly, his chair scraping against the floor. The news about Lucas escaping had changed everything. Lucas was dangerous when he was contained, but now that he was free and wounded, he would be desperate. Desperate men did stupid, violent things."Find him," Killian told his man again, his voice hard and commanding. "Make sure he doesn't get to Bella.""Yes, boss," the man said, rushing out of the office.Killian ran his hands through his hair. He should have killed Lucas when he had the chance. Now Bella was out there somewhere, alone and unprotected, and Lucas knew exactly how to hurt Killian the most."We need to move fast," Killian said to himself.He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. Every second that passed was another second Lucas could be getting closer to Bella.Meanwhile, Nora had left Killian's house and was walking toward her car when she saw someone standing beside it. A man in a nice suit was leaning against her car door, looking li
The man's scream cut off suddenly as his body hit the floor with a heavy thud. The room went quiet except for the sound of Bella breathing hard and fast.Bella sat in her chair, staring at the man on the floor. Blood was spreading around his head, dark red against the wooden floor. The scene kept playing over and over in her mind. The knife going into his eye. The terrible scream. The way his body went limp and fell.She had never seen anything like that before. She had never seen someone die right in front of her, had never watched someone be killed on purpose. Her hands were shaking, and she felt like she might be sick.The room started to spin around her. She gripped the arms of the chair, trying to stay steady, but everything was getting fuzzy. Her breathing got faster and faster until she couldn't catch her breath at all.Then everything went black.Bella fell forward in the chair, unconscious.Killian threw the bloody knife down next to the dead man and turned around. He was abo
The apartment was small and old, with peeling paint on the walls and a musty smell that made Bella wrinkle her nose. She sat on the worn sofa next to Killian, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She couldn't stop rubbing her wrist, a nervous habit she had when she was worried."Do you really think they could be my parents?" Bella asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Killian looked at her. He could see how scared and hopeful she was at the same time. Finding her parents was all she had talked about since she got her memory back, but now that they might actually be close to answers, she looked terrified."We're not sure yet," Killian said honestly. "But the people who live here lost a five-year-old daughter about fifteen years ago. She matches your description."Bella nodded, but she kept rubbing her wrist. "What if it's not them? What if we're wrong?""Then we keep looking," Killian said."What if it is them?" Bella asked. "What if they don't want to see me? What if they've moved
Killian looked at Angela standing by the bedside, still holding her pink stuffed animal. He needed to think fast. Angela was smart for her age, and she had seen him by Bella's bed."Bella was having a nightmare," Killian said, trying to keep his voice calm. "I was just checking on her."Angela tilted her head to one side, looking at him with those big eyes that seemed to see everything."But I saw you kiss her," Angela said.Killian felt his heart skip a beat. He had hoped she hadn't seen that part."You were kissing her forehead," Angela continued. "Like when you kiss mine when I have bad dreams."Killian nodded slowly. Maybe he could make her think it was just that simple.But then Angela's eyes lit up with excitement, and Killian knew he was in trouble."Are you going to marry Bella?" Angela asked, her voice getting louder with excitement."Angela," Killian said quickly, "don't ask questions like that.""But why not?" Angela asked, bouncing a little on her feet. "I think it would b
Killian stood there for what felt like forever, his back still turned to Bella. She could feel her heart beating fast as she waited for him to say something, anything. Her hand was still on his back, and she could feel how tense he was.Finally, he turned around.When he looked at her, his face was different. The soft look from before was completely gone. Now he looked cold, like the Killian she had seen with Lucas earlier."Bella," he said, his voice hard.She looked up at him, hoping to see something kind in his eyes. But there was nothing."You're just the nanny," he said, each word coming out sharp and clear. "Don't forget that."Bella felt like someone had hit her in the stomach. She stepped back from him, her hand falling away from his back."What?" she said, her voice small."You heard me. You're here to take care of Angela. That's all.""But I thought—" Bella started to say."Stop," Killian cut her off, his voice getting louder. "Stop talking if you still want to remain here f
Killian carried Bella through the hallway, her body light in his arms. She could feel his heart beating against her side as he walked. The house was quiet now, different from how it had been when Lucas was there making all that noise.When they got to the room, Killian pushed the door open with his shoulder. The room was dim, with only a small lamp giving off soft light. He walked to the bed and dropped her onto it, not rough but not gentle either.Bella landed on the soft sheets and looked up at him. He was standing there looking down at her, his face hard to read in the low light."Killian," she said softly."Bella," he said back, his voice quiet.He stood there for a moment, just looking at her. Bella could see something in his eyes, something that made her heart beat faster. It wasn't the same look he had when he was angry or when he was talking to his men. This was different."Fuck," Killian said under his breath, so quiet she almost didn't hear it.Then he leaned down toward her