Nico’s face stays grave, but Frankie’s mouth twists in a smirk as he clearly works to hold back laughter. Christian just sighs, beginning to slowly wave the metal detector along the length of my left arm, starting at my finger tips and moving inwards. “Check her hair,” Nico directs. “Could have
I study Christian as I undo the clasp at my back, pulling my bikini top away and tossing it on the bed. God, I think, studying Christian as his back is turned, he got tall, and so broad. I bend my knees, dipping down to undo the clasps of my shoes as I think that his size is not the only change. I
“What?” I ask, looking as well. “Oh,” I say, a little surprised to see a bruise starting there, just above the crease. “Well, that’s new…” “Those assholes,” Christian grumbles, dropping my arm and raising his eyes to mine. “Bonetti’s men are always so needlessly brutal. I’m sorry, we’ll get you so
I don’t get much sleep after that, though I do finish my whole sandwich, hungrier than I thought I’d be. But when I push the empty plate away I stare at the ceiling in the dark for a long time, feeling disheartened. Honestly, what has my life become? I’m a little glad, really, that Christian nev
Christian groans, glaring at his cousin and then storming into the kitchen, pulling a phone out of his sweatpants pocket on the way. He leans against the counter with his back to me, murmuring furiously to whoever is on the other line. “What’s up!” Frankie’s voice calls out from behind me, and I s
Frankie and Nico move quickly around the kitchen, assessing the supplies as I just stand here, looking down at my feet, trying to put the pieces of my reality back together. Apparently, I stand there for a long time, because before I know it Frankie’s pressing a hot mug of coffee into my hand. “Cr
“How much do you need?” he asks, his words quick. “What?” I ask, tilting my head. “How much?” Christian pushes, narrowing his eyes at me. “My people found out your address, Iris. I know where you’ve been living, what your rent is. I also know how much money a girl like you pulls in at a club lik
“Christian,” I say, pressing my hands to my chest and willing him to see the truth in every ounce of me, “I swear to you, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am not intentionally keeping something back – if there’s something I’m missing? I don’t know what it is.” “Think hard, Iris,” Christ
A small smile creeps on Leo’s lips. “Yeah, okay,” he says, relaxing back against our chair. “Our secret.” I grin at my baby, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek, because my boy can’t resist a secret.“What’s all this?”I turn to see Christian standing at the open door, peering into the dining
The danger. It’s…it’s far too poignant.My heart breaking, I open a private browsing tab on the web browser and quickly search for Craigslist in both this city and Athens, Greece. As I do my memory goes back to a conversation I had with Frankie, when he told me that this is the best way he knows for
I stand frozen, staring down at the letter as it sits on the little hall desk, my breath coming in fluttery little gasps.The words are very simple.There are vineyards in Greece as well. I’ll take you there.I read it again and again as my heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing with a mix of h
“You don’t know anything about my life,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, turning my eyes back down to the dishes. “I had no choice.”“You think you’re the only one who suffered?” Lucy whispers. “You think I wanted to be in this position? We were friends once, Iris. We were good to each other. Bu
“Mommyyyy,” Leo says, looking anxiously towards the kitchen door, shifting from foot to floor. “Hurry up! Aunt Bianca says we have to go!”I laugh, glancing down at my little boy, who looks so adorable in the private school uniform he wears to Kindergarten – crisp white shirt, navy blazer, his dark
But…was it? Was it me, missing Chris? Wanting to have yet another piece of him, even if I long denied wanting any ties to my past life?I look down, my heart heavy, not truly understanding what I think or what I feel.“I mean it, Iris,” Chris says, his voice steady and cool. “I’ll be a father to her
My heart sinks as I look Christian in the eyes – because beyond all hope, I had been praying that he hadn’t noticed that Leo is his son. But how could I have been so naïve? Leo looks just like him - dark hair, striking grey-blue eyes. The resemblance is unmistakable. I feel a wave of guilt crashing
“Yes,” he answers, a growl in his voice. “That should suit just fine.”I laugh at the irony in this and shake my head, looking away. “So now you want me to come back, to pretend as if nothing ever happened? You expect me to just accept this, the way things are now?”Christian opens his mouth to resp
Disappointment floods my chest, a sense of disbelief washing over me. “You think I would trust you again after everything? After how you treated me? You expect me to just come back and forget?”His eyes narrow, disappointment etched into his features. “You were faithless. I thought you’d be loyal. I