LOGINDate = 15 AugustA little later in the day.Place = San Francisco (Inferno)POV - EnriqueI touch my crotch with a groan.Abstinence from Aria is a crime against nature. Against art. Against manhood.She said we should not have sex before the wedding. She said it was symbolic. Romantic. Something ab
Alejandro shakes his head. “No.”“They’re probably squeezing in a quickie,” Jackson mutters, leaning back like this is all mildly entertaining.I shoot him a look sharp enough to draw blood. And it reminds me that I am absolutely having a conversation with him later.Alejandro lets out a strained la
“You still thinking about her?” I ask quietly.He doesn’t turn. “I don’t know what you mean,” he says.I let that sit between us. Brothers don’t need lies polished.“You went there to forget,” I say.He finishes, hands steady, movements practiced, and absentminded. He exhales slowly, tucking himself
“And look where that got us.” She points to her tummy, and he gets this stupid, proud smile on his stupid face.“Face it, angel, your man is a stud.”“As if it’s so difficult to make a bloody baby,” I grunt, trying to get past my slight nausea.“So you’re saying it’s as easy as riding a bike …” Dami
Date = 15 AugustPlace = San Francisco (Inferno)POV - EnriqueJust then, Mel wobbles up the last step, winded with a red face, with Damion holding her arm.“Sorry, we’re late,” Damion charms, “Your sister takes a while to walk up the stairs.”“She takes a while to walk, period,” Luke sneers. It ear
“You’re right,” River agrees, “but you don’t need to get married to do it. Damion and Mel are not married.”“The baby was an accident.” Luke walks forward with his usual smug, condescending smirk on his face.River rolls her eyes with theatrical flair, nudging at nothing with the toe of her pink boo
“Don’t,” Jackson growls through clenched teeth.PING.The elevator doors slide open like some kind of divine intervention. Jackson steps out smoothly, hands in his pockets, expression wiped clean. Like nothing happened.Logan stays against the wall, wide-eyed and rattled. “What the hell was that?” h
Ilkay looks up at us — and for a moment, he doesn’t look like the confident, sharp-edged doctor. He looks … sad. Almost pleading. Then, without a word, he shoves the test results back into the envelope and presses it into Jackson’s hands.The two of them exchange another long, heavy, hangdog look. S
I take a seat on the edge of the bed beside Aria and pass her a cup of coffee. She’s dressed in leggings and a thin knitted top, ready to be released. My fingers graze hers, and I feel it — the tremor in her hands. But it stops the moment I touch her.And that doesn’t go unnoticed.My heart stutters
No ransom angle either — you don’t kill something you want to ransom.And need … maybe.That leaves hate … sure, I’ve pissed people off. But enough to kill my unborn kid? Only one name comes to mind. “Brian.”Both of them turn their heads toward me, twin beams of scrutiny.Jackson’s mouth curls into







