All Chapters of Tempted by the blind beauty : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Fractured MemoriesLana's POVWe returned to the safe room in silence. The guards positioned themselves outside. Derrick locked the door behind us."We need help," he said. "Professional help. Someone who can unlock what's buried in your memory.""A therapist?""A psychiatrist. Someone who specializes in recovered memories. Trauma. I know someone. Dr. Sarah Chen. She's worked with trauma victims for twenty years. Helped people remember things they thought were lost forever.""You want to dig around in my head.""I want to help you remember. There's more in there, Lana. More than what you just recalled. I can feel it. Elena knows something about that night. Something she thinks will destroy us. We need to know what it is before she uses it against us."I sat down on the edge of the couch. The music box was still in my hands. I couldn't seem to let it go."Okay," I said. "Call your psychiatrist."Derrick wheeled to the desk. I heard him dial. The phone rang three times before someone an

Protective CustodyLana's POVI woke to the sound of voices outside the safe room. Multiple voices. All men. All serious."What's happening?" I asked, sitting up.Derrick's wheelchair whirred closer. "Security detail. I'm assembling a team for today. People I trust completely.""How many people?""Eight. Plus the driver. And two more at the bank as advance scouts.""That's eleven people, Derrick. For one trip to a bank.""It's necessary."I stood, stretching my stiff muscles. "It's excessive.""Elena has already proven she can infiltrate my security. I'm not taking chances."Margaret's voice came from the doorway. "Breakfast is ready, sir. I've brought it to the safe room as you requested.""Thank you, Margaret."Footsteps. The smell of coffee and toast. My stomach growled despite everything."You had Margaret bring food here?" I asked. "We can't go to the kitchen?""Not until we leave for the bank. I want you where I can see you.""You can't see me, Derrick. I'm blind, remember? We'r

The Choice Lana's POVThe police left an hour later, but the damage was done. I could hear the protestors outside. Their chants had turned angrier. More demanding."Arrest Derrick Cole! Justice for Lana!"I sat on the couch in the main living room, my hands twisted in my lap. Derrick was across the room with his lawyers. They'd been talking in low voices for the past twenty minutes.Finally, footsteps approached. The lawyers were leaving."We'll be in touch, Mr. Cole. Don't make any statements to the press. Don't go anywhere without security. And for God's sake, don't let anyone else film you."The door closed. Silence fell."They're gone," Derrick said."I know."His wheelchair moved closer. Stopped beside me. "Thank you. For what you told the detective. You could have ended this. Ended me. But you didn't.""I told the truth.""The truth could have destroyed me. You chose not to let it."I turned toward his voice. "Did you think I'd betray you?""I thought you'd protect yourself. Wh

Race Against TimeLana's POV"She's alive. Margaret's alive."The doctor's voice cut through my panic. I grabbed Derrick's hand."What? But you said she died.""I said she coded in the ambulance," the doctor corrected. "We got her back. She's in critical condition, but she's breathing. We're pumping her stomach now. Running toxicology. Whatever she ingested, we need to identify it fast.""Can we see her?" Derrick asked."Not yet. She's unconscious. Intubated. The next few hours will tell us if she makes it.""Do whatever it takes," Derrick said. "Money is no object. Get specialists. The best you have.""We're already on it, Mr. Cole."The doctor left. I sank into a chair in the waiting room, my whole body shaking."She's alive," I whispered. "Oh God, she's alive.""For now." Derrick's voice was tight. "But Elena meant for her to die. Meant for all of us to die.""The poison. How long has she been doing this?""I don't know. But we're going to find out." He was on his phone. "Get me th

Return to AshesLana's POV"Welcome home, Lana."Elena's voice cut through the darkness. Smooth. Almost friendly. It made my skin crawl."Where's Margaret?" Derrick demanded. "Let me see her.""She's right here. Alive. For now. Come closer. Don't be shy."We moved forward. My feet crunched on debris. Broken glass. Charred wood. The remnants of my childhood."Close enough," Elena said. "Stop there."We stopped. I could hear Margaret breathing. Ragged. Struggling."Margaret, are you okay?" I called out.A muffled sound. She was still gagged."She's fine," Elena said. "Uncomfortable. Scared. But fine. The question is, will she stay that way? That depends entirely on you.""What do you want?" Derrick asked."What I've always wanted. Justice. Revenge. Call it what you will.""Revenge for what? What did my family do to you?"Elena laughed. Sharp. Bitter. "What didn't they do? But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me paint you a picture. Twenty-seven years ago, I was nobody. A brilliant nobod