جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

JULIANI didn’t know love could ruin everything I cared about.Which is funny to me because I grew up never knowing the true meaning of love.To me, it was just a word I heard everywhere, a word people used freely but I never understood.No one ever used it for me and I never thought to use it for anyone.I can’t really be blamed for it.My father and mother were never around long enough to teach me. They moved from country to country, chasing business deals, leaving me behind in a house that was too large and too empty. Even when they were present, they existed like we were nothing more than strangers sharing the same space.To be honest, I don’t think they have a true grasp of what the word means either.The first time I heard the word was in a movie when I was six. I remember being confused and turning to my nanny to ask what it meant. She said, “Love is what you feel for someone close to you. It’s wanting the best for that person, sometimes even at the expense of yourself. It’s a

NIKOLAIThe saws whir to life, drowning out the sound of anything else.The thick metallic smell of blood hangs in the air, almost overwhelming the rest of my senses.I focus on the process, not the body beneath my hands. I concentrate my attention on making clean lines, on making accurate, controlled movements.Precision always matters. That’s what Derek taught me.The blade catches for a second on a bone and I force it through, bone shards escaping everywhere.Thank God for the goggles, I think.Caleb and I could’ve done this ourselves but I’m not surprised Derek sent River to help.Let’s just say, if it was just the two of us, then nothing would get done.Besides, River’s the only person, other than Derek, that can get Caleb to listen. He’s the second-in-command for a reason.As we work, I think about my reputation at college as Caleb so nicely put it. The playboy act is just another part of the facade. No one would ever believe Nikolai Soren, the guy loved by everyone, is a murder

JULIANHe walks across the room like he owns it. Like everything around him bends to his will.People move out of his way wordlessly as he passes, as if under a spell, creating a space for him to walk freely.His eyes flick over my face as he approaches, slow and assessing, like he’s cataloguing something. Like he’s deciding if I’m worth his time.Then he stops in front of me.He’s way too close. Close enough that I can smell his woodsy cologne. Close enough that I have to tilt my head up to look at him. Close enough that my heart stutters at his face so close to mine.I’ve only ever seen him from a distance. And now, he’s here. Right in front of me.This close, I can see the sharp architecture of his face. The high cheekbones, the straight, uncompromising line of his nose, his full lips pressed into a tight line. He has the kind of features that border on beautiful but his hard expression ruins it.His eyes are a sharp, cold gray. They are watchful, assessing in a way that makes it l

JULIANI pop a pill inside my mouth and chase it down with water, rubbing my right temple with a wince.Just as I expected, I woke up this morning with a migraine.I’m just grateful one of our classes got canceled, giving me time to rest.And that Theo is with me. His presence just makes everything better.We’re sitting under our usual tree, tucked away from the main courtyard where people pass by in clusters, laughing and talking.This place is more quiet. Which is good because I definitely don’t need more loud noises after yesterday.But this place isn’t the only thing that is quiet. Theo is also unusually quiet.He’s been like that since this morning.He’s less smiley, less friendly. Less… him.I don’t like it.I glance at him from where I sit, watching the way his fingers tap absently against his thigh, restless, distracted.“What’s wrong?” I ask finally.I’ve been trying to give him space but I can’t resist asking any longer.He pauses. Then exhales.“There’s something I want to

NIKOLAISome would argue I shouldn't be doing this at all.But I've always been the master of doing things you shouldn't. The worse the action, the more fun it is.This could fall into that category. But I don’t care.I stare at the grid of pictures displayed on my screen.I lean back slightly on the couch as I take in the first picture.Bright blue eyes on a smiling face framed by dark blonde hair stare back at me.Julian Cross.That’s the name of the guy I spoke to at the party. The one that has since haunted my subconscious for some reason.Finding out about him wasn’t difficult at all. All I needed to do was approach the right people and ask the right questions.It also helps that I’m charming—if I do say so myself. When I want to be, that is.From the information I’ve gathered, I know he’s studying business management which is not surprising as he’s the only heir to Cross Industries.I know he doesn’t really have a lot of friends and keeps to himself a lot.I know he has an apar