All Chapters of SOLD TO THE DEVIL IN SILK: Chapter 11 - Chapter 17

Emily The clock on my nightstand read 11:30 PM. Thunder still rumbled outside, but the storm had settled into a steady, heavy rain. I sat on my bed, staring at Ethan's note for the hundredth time.‘Storm tomorrow. Midnight. Kitchen window. Trust me.’But there was something else. In the dim light, I noticed tiny marks along the edges of the paper. Holding it up to the lamp, I could make out faint pencil scratches. My heart raced as I realized it was a code.The marks spelled out: ‘MAZE GARDEN. CENTER. BE CAREFUL.’The maze garden. I'd seen from my balcony, a complex pattern of tall hedges behind the mansion. At its center was a small gazebo.I looked at the clock again. 11:45 PM.My hands shook as I changed into dark clothes, black jeans and a sweater I'd found in the closet. I slipped Sarah's letter and Ethan's note into my pocket, along with the silver key. Whatever happened tonight, I wasn't leaving those behind.At exactly midnight, I crept to my door and pressed my ear against i

Emily POV The gun barrel felt like ice against my temple. James's finger rested on the trigger, and I could see the madness dancing in his dark eyes."One more lie, and your lover bleeds," he whispered.Something inside me snapped. Maybe it was fear, maybe it was rage, or maybe I was just tired of being afraid. But suddenly, I wasn't thinking anymore.I was moving.I slammed my hands against James's chest with everything I had. He stumbled backward, the gun swinging away from my head. "Run!" I screamed to Ethan. "Run now!"Ethan didn't hesitate. He dove through the glass panel he'd come from, rolling into the darkness outside. James roared and pointed the gun toward the opening, but Ethan was already gone."You little.." James grabbed my throat, his fingers digging into my skin."Go ahead," I gasped. "Kill me. Then you'll have nothing left to control."For a moment, I thought he might actually do it. His grip tightened, and black spots danced at the edges of my vision. But then he l

Emily POV James held the diamond necklace in one hand and the map in the other. I waited for the explosion, for the rage, for the violence. But instead, he just smiled. It was the coldest smile I'd ever seen. Like winter itself had taken human form."You know what I love about you, Emily?" He walked to the fireplace and tossed the map into the flames. "You never fail to surprise me."The paper curled and blackened, my escape route turning to ash."James, I can explain..""Can you?" He dropped the necklace onto my dresser with a soft clink. "Can you explain how my property ended up in your jewelry box? Can you explain Julian's detailed map of my security?""I didn't steal that necklace. Someone put it there.""Someone." He turned back to me, that terrible smile still playing on his lips. "How convenient. Mystery thieves planting evidence, mysterious lawyers bearing gifts.""It's the truth.""The truth." He tasted the words like wine. "Such a rare commodity in this house."I stood up f

Emily POV The gun pointed at Ethan's head like a silver snake ready to strike. Julian's finger rested on the trigger, and I could see the madness dancing in his sapphire eyes. Just like James. They were all the same underneath their pretty masks."Choose," Julian repeated. "Him or me."My heart hammered against my ribs. Ethan was bleeding, his face pale with pain, but his green eyes stayed locked on mine. Even facing death, he was trying to be brave for me."I choose..." I started, then stopped.In that split second, I remembered something my mother once told me: "When men try to control you with ultimatums, Emily, the answer is always the same. You choose yourself."I lunged forward, grabbing Julian's wrist and shoving his gun toward the ceiling. The weapon fired, the sound deafening in the narrow tunnel."Emily, what are you.." Julian gasped.I twisted his wrist hard, using every self-defense move I'd ever learned. He cursed and dropped the gun, which clattered across the stone flo