“You have to eat,” I say, shrugging. “I fed the kids. They’re working their way through a gallon of ice cream now.” She laughs a little, genuinely, and then raises a hand to her mouth in surprise – like…like that’s the first time she’s done that since she found out that he’s dead. And she wasn’t a
“I’m not a monster, Iris,” Christian repeats, a little frustration coming into his voice as well. “I’m just doing what I need to in order to keep us safe.” “And do you seriously think that Giana is the threat?” I snap, turning towards him with a frown. “A woman who just lost her husband, her life,
“Where are Nico and Frankie?” I ask quietly. “They’re doing their jobs,” he replies, his slightly raised eyebrow letting me know that I don’t need to know any more than that and shouldn’t ask. But it has the opposite effect. “Christian,” I groan, leaning hard against the counter as I shake my he
“A woman who betrayed me, who tried to get me to marry a girl who would spill my secrets to her my entire life.” I shake my head, not giving in to it. “Not a sin worth losing her home.” “You have to get tougher,” Christian says, his voice hard. I just purse my lips and take a long sip of my wine
About an hour later, after making Lucy and Bianca their plates and cleaning up the kitchen, I’m doing as instructed. Laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, a full glass of wine on the bedside table. The television is on – but honestly, I have no idea what is even playing. I have no real interest in
It takes a moment before I decide what I need. “Tell me,” I whisper. “What’s coming next.” Christian stays still for a moment before he nods, shifting and opening his arms to me before he begins. I accept the invitation, moving eagerly to press myself against his chest. He folds those arms warm
I wake up far earlier than Christian does. Or, well. Perhaps “wake up” is a loose term here, as I’m not sure that I actually ever fell asleep. But there comes a point when the windows shift from black to the dark, eerie blue of dawn and I know that sleep has eluded me for the entire night. So I
He smiles again, though I can see him fighting it, as he gives me a grateful nod. “Well, if it would be no trouble, ma’am, then sure. A cup of coffee would do me good.” I smile back at him, pleased at the idea of doing something good, and start down the stairs into the dark kitchen. I turn on so
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