Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 9

St. Clair Academy's senior prom was being held in the old gym. Hundreds of warm fairy lights hung from the rafters, a rented band tested its sound equipment on the temporary stage, and the air smelled like perfume, floor wax, and flowers that had already started to wilt.Nico walked in beside me while a black Cadillac Escalade idled at the curb. His driver stayed behind the wheel, and two members of the Moretti security team watched the school entrance through tinted windows. Everyone in Rose Harbor knew the Morettis controlled the north-shore docks, several clubs, and a number of businesses no one discussed in polite company. Nico was Vito Moretti's only son, which meant he was also the only heir to everything bearing that name.Inside St. Clair, though, he still had chemistry assignments and football practice like every other senior. Coach Ramirez made him run laps when he missed drills. Teachers marked him late when he strolled into class after the bell. For eleven years, I'd clung

A week after graduation, Megan organized a bonfire at Hawthorne Lake. She knew I would say no if she texted, so she pulled into my driveway and leaned on the horn until I came outside."We've got diplomas and about six weeks before everyone scatters across the country," she said through the open window. "You're not spending tonight alphabetizing your bookshelf. Get in."The party was held at a cedar cabin beside the lake. There was a grill on the patio, footballs and folding chairs scattered across the lawn, and half our class roasting marshmallows around a firepit. This was the version of senior year St. Clair students understood, with no Moretti guards at the gate and no adults lowering their voices over family business.Nico's Escalade occupied the closest spot to the porch. Celeste sat beside him near the fire with his black bomber jacket draped over her shoulders.Nico saw me the moment I crossed the lawn. His gaze followed me to the drink cooler, then shifted away when I noticed.

The recording ended, but Nico kept staring at Mark's phone as if Ivy might take back the last sentence."Play it again."Mark hesitated before pressing the screen. Ivy's voice filled the front drive for a second time, calm and final. Behind Nico, the quartet kept playing inside the ballroom while guests talked beneath the chandeliers, unaware that the only person he had been waiting for was already somewhere over the country.Nico took out his phone and called her. The call went straight to voicemail. He tried again, then grabbed Mark's phone and dialed from that number. It went to voicemail too."Find out which flight she took," he said. "Tell the crew to get the jet ready.""The jet stays where it is."Vito Moretti stood in the open doorway. His black dinner jacket was buttoned, and his expression hadn't shifted, but the two guards nearest the steps moved aside without being told.Nico closed his hand around the ring box. "She left without telling me.""She returned your ring, turned

Life in Seattle filled up faster than I expected.I took a campus job calibrating equipment, learned which dining hall stayed open late, and stopped getting lost between the engineering buildings. Our competition car failed three inspections, survived two crashes, and finally completed a full course without touching a barrier.Nico's messages changed over time.The first ones were orders sent from new numbers.[Come home.][We can still start Columbia in the fall.][Stop shutting me out and talk to me.]By winter, they became apologies that still asked for something.[I should have stopped Celeste at prom. Give me a chance to explain.][I know the hotel picture looked bad. Nothing happened.]Months later, one final email reached my student account.[I was cruel because I thought you would always forgive me. You don't owe me an answer. I hope you're happy, Ivy.]I read it once, archived it, and returned to the code on my screen. No new message came after that.At the end of freshman yea

I stepped between Nico and Ethan. "Don't use the Moretti family against him."Nico flinched. "You think I'd hurt him?""Two years ago, you would have done whatever it took to make me fall back in line, as long as you could tell yourself it wasn't crossing a line."The security men watched Nico, waiting.He closed the ring box. "Go back to the car."They left without an argument. Nico waited until they were across the street before looking at Ethan. "I need five minutes with her.""That's up to Ivy."Nico's attention returned to me. For the first time, there was no order in his voice. "Please."Ethan loosened his hand. "I'll be by the rink. You don't owe him five minutes, but the choice is yours."That was why I agreed.Nico led me to the covered walkway beside the warehouse. Snow slipped through the iron railing and melted into dark spots on his coat. He kept enough distance between us that I didn't have to step back."Celeste told me the truth after you left," he said. "About the orch