RYDER’S POINT OF VIEW “I’ll be here for you, Ryder. I’m going to be a constant in your life that will never leave. No matter what happens, I’ve got you.”That was a bloody lie. He’d said that to make me feel better. Theo never meant what he said. If he did, he wouldn’t be lying lifeless in a coffin with both hands placed on his chest and his eyes sealed shut. As I stared at him, I couldn’t help the heaviness in my chest. The feeling of pure misery I had felt when Isabella died was back. This time, worse.As I stood in the palace yard waiting for the hearse to arrive, Mirabel was wheeled out of the house by Jackson, who wore a black button-up shirt and pants, whereas Mirabel wore a black dress just like Annalise. Mirabel’s eyes were just as red as mine. She was fond of Theo. Anna, on the other hand, looked like she was trying to hold back her emotions. I locked eyes with her and she gave a forced smile before coming to me.“I’m sorry,” she wrapped her arms around me, pullin

ELENA’S POINT OF VIEW Why was it so hard to believe my innocence? “Because they choose not to.” I blinked, bringing myself to reality. Kai was seated beside me, scrolling through his phone I so wished was in my hands. “Did you respond to my thought?” He didn’t look at me. “You were thinking really loudly.” “Sorry.” I sunk deeper into the couch. “It’s just that I am tired of staying in here, doing absolutely nothing.” He dropped his phone on the center table and turned to me. “You haven’t been doing absolutely nothing. You’ve been annoying the hell out of me.” “You wouldn’t give me your cellphone.” I reasoned. “And I won’t even if you continue begging.” I sighed. “Fine. I guess it’s us two ladies in a house.” “What does that mean?” I looked him dead in the eye. “You’re being a pussy.” Okay. I had been around Kai for some weeks now, and I always knew he was a handsome fellow. I just never paid much attention. Blame my predicament. Now was a different kind of predicament, th

RYDER’S POINT OF VIEW That Elena woman was messing up my head. I had her where I wanted her and now she had to go loco and even spit on me. I was so convinced she was faking her insanity until she hit her head on the sink. That could not have been acting, so it all boiled down to one thing now.Elena was insane.A few hours in a cell broke her. What a weakling.“Unbelievable.” Mira sighed.“I’m sorry.” I readjusted in my seat in front of Doctor Maria, regaining my composure. For days, I had convinced Mirabel to come with me to see Maria and when she agreed, my mind was elsewhere. Truly unbelievable. “Did I miss something?”The corners of Maria’s lips lifted in a small smile. “The drugs prescribed should help her. I am not one hundred percent sure she’ll be completely fine after this, but they’ll help a lot.”“Thank you.” I told her. “We’ll be back here next week.”“That’s alright.”“No, we won’t.”It’s obvious what answer was Mirabel’s. I faced her. “Why not?”“Because I h

KAI’S POINT OF VIEW Days had gone by and there was nothing from Elena or Alistair. He did not send anyone a message concerning Elena’s wellbeing or if she had woken up or not. It was driving me insane. Arianna and Ricky were with me in the police station as we awaited a report from the police that always turned negative. At a point, Ryder refused to believe I, Ricky and Jay knew nothing of Elena’s disappearance until we gave him a list of properties we owned in Ordene as we were certain she was still in the country. After checking everything, he changed his mind. A little, by the way. He still believed I had other friends that were hiding her from him. “Chief, is there anything?” Annalise asked, stroking Mirabel’s head. “Nothing yet, Miss Sanchez.” He took off his glasses and placed them on his desk. “My men are doing everything they can to find the both of them.” “Do more, chief.” She continued, “We can’t leave Mirabel at home anymore because we’re afraid she can come

Later that day, it was just Kai and me in the house. We’d had dinner and gone to our separate rooms just like before I was taken away, yet I could not close my eyes and sleep. I tossed and turned on the bed. Maybe I would sleep better if I were with Kai.Whoa! Hold it, woman.Where did that thought come from?“Milk.” I got up from the bed and arranged my robe. “Warm milk should help.”I put on my flip-flops and left the room. As I went down the stairs, I couldn’t help but feel like I was lying to myself. I knew what I wanted, so what was stopping me from turning around and heading for his room?“Elena,” I inhaled deeply. “Man up and go in there. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”I took uncertain steps towards his room, hoping to be as stealthy as possible, just in case I didn’t have the courage to go in. I stopped in front of his room, stared at the door for who knows how long before knocking.“Kai?”There was no response.“Are you asleep already?”I knocked again and, like before; he did n