The air is crackles with tension, laden with unspoken words. I feel her eyes on me as I weigh the option of retreating to my room for dinner, but I’m not ready to take the coward’s way out.Squaring my shoulders, I take a seat at the table. I sense her eyes on me as I serve my plate.“You thought you’d won? Well guess what. I’m here to reclaim what belongs to me.”My heart clenches, and I struggle to maintain a neutral expression.“What is it that you’re insinuating?”She raises an eyebrow, her gaze locking onto mine.“Nathan , of course. He’s mine.”My fingers tremble slightly, and I take a deep breath to regain my composure.“Nathan is his own person, Mildred. Besides, I don’t understand why you’re telling me this,”I say with a casual shrug. Her laughter grates against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard.“Oh, I understand that you have no business meddling in our affairs, which means you should leave.”My heart pounds in my chest, as I struggle to maintain my composure.“What exa
Mildred smirks, her gaze shifting from Nathan to me.“Oh, I was just having a chat with Natalia ,” she says.I manage a tight smile, trying to hide my discomfort.Mildred’s eyes gleam with satisfaction as she takes a step closer to Nathan .“Well, darling, I hope you haven’t forgotten what you promised me.”Nathan’s ’s jaw tenses, and he avoids making eye contact with her.“Mildred, can we please have dinner now?” he interjects.Mildred tilts her head, her tone falsely sweet.“Sure. Let’s have dinner and save dessert for later,” she says, her wards carrying a hidden sting. Nathan doesn’t reject her suggestion.Unable to bear their interaction any longer, the pain in my chest intensifies. The room feels suffocating, and I desperately need to escape this uncomfortable situation. Taking a shaky breath, I try to steady myself. I glare at Jeffrey, questioning why I ever believed we could rekindle our love.*Relief washesover me as I enter the dining room the next morning. I had made a poi
He looks at me, his gaze unwavering.“Nothing’s wrong.”But I can’t shake the feeling that he’s not being entirely honest. There’s a barrier between us, and I need to break it down before it’s too late. I take a deep breath and decide to pour my heart to him, confessing everything I’ve been holding back.I rise to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. Before I turn to face him, I hesitate. Should I just leave without expressing everything I feel? I take a sharp breath, ready to confess my emotions and divulge everything, but before I can utter a word, he speaks, delivering words that shatter my world.“This is the best for both of our sakes.”His words pierce my heart like a dagger. Confusion and pain overwhelm me, and I struggle to hold back tears. I try to find right words to express how much he means to me, how deeply I love him, how I never stopped. I glance at him, my eyes brimming with tears, wondering what has come over him.As his words sink in, my world crumbles. The pain i
“Oh, are you surprised? It was bound to happen. Maybe next time you will learn not to steal someone else’s men,” she sneers. I remain silent, my mind drifting back to those weeks at the beach house. Did they truly mean nothing to Nathan ? The last remaining fragment of my heart shatters. “You’ve delivered your message. Now, please leave,” I manage to say with a trembling voice. She scoffs before finally departing. I hastily retreat inside and shut the door. Everything crumbles within me. I don’t know how long I sit there crying before I drag myself to the phone. I need to talk to someone before I lose it. Amidst my tears, I grab my phone and dial Bekah ’s number. “Mabel,” my voice breaks as she answers the call. “Oh, my goodness, Natalia , what happened?” She asks, alarmed. I can’t hold it together any longer as I break down completely “Natalia , take a deep breath. I’m here for you,” she reassures me. Her words offer some solace, but I can’t stop tears. “Bekah’s I love him,” I s
“I’m sure Goerge will give you nothing but his support. He loves you,” she says.“And I love him, too,” I say.“And I love you both,” Bekah l says, causing me to giggle.“Now, that’s more like it. Don’t worry, everything will be fine,” she says. Her words feel like a soothing balm to my aching heart. Maybe, just maybe, I can do this after all “What doyou mean you want to leave Sausalito?” Aunt Maryann asks as she looks at me with concern. After three days of thinking about what to do with my life, I feel leaving is the best option.“Natalia , dear, you look troubled. Is something bothering you?” Aunt Mary Ann’s voice is gentle, the lines of worry etched on her face.I take a deep breath, struggling to find the words to express my inner turmoil.“Leaving? But, why, my dear?”Aunt Mary Ann’s distress is evident in her eyes.Tears well up in my own eyes as I try to gather my thoughts.“Please, talk to me. I’ve noticed your recent struggles. Your Uncle mentioned how you’ve been isolating
“Take it easy, dear. Don’t worry, everything will be fine. And if what you said about your love is true, then he’ll come back. Love like that doesn’t fade,” she says, wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace. Despite wanting to believe her words, deep down, I know it won’t happen. Nathan has sealed his fate with another woman.Nathan Istand before the canvas, my thoughts consumed by Natalia ’s words, my world shattered at that moment. I thought finishing the job quickly would make her, but her surprising reaction left me confused. Uncertain what to think now, I hold the paintbrush over the canvas while conflicting emotions consume me. love for remains in my heart, whether I admit it or not. The possibility that she may not feel the same way breaks heart break. It’s been unbearable since my return to Sausalito. I should have run when I had the chance but now my heart refuses to heal.I dip the brush into the paint and stroke it across the canvas, each stroke reflecting the turmoi
“And you are?” the doctor asks.“He is family. Please, tell me what’s happening with my niece,” Mary Ann says. The doctor’s expression turns somber as he takes a moment before responding.“She’s in critical condition. The surgery went well, but she’s still at risk.”The words hit me with a forceful impact. The room spins around me, and I struggle to stay upright. The reality of the situation crashes over me like a tidal wave. A lump forms in my throat as I grapple with the weight of the doctor’s words.As of the world isn’t already spinning, the doctor’s next words send me reeling.“We were able to save the baby too.”My mind struggles to process this unexpected news.“Baby?” I whisper in disbelief.“Yes, she is pregnant. A few weeks along,” the doctor explains. Natalia ... pregnant? The pieces of the puzzle suddenly fit together, a mix of shock, disbelief, and a glimmer of hope washes over me. But before I can fully comprehend it, the young man speaks, confusion evident in his voice.
I can’t bring myself to leave her side, afraid that I might miss any sign of her awakening. My gaze remains fixed on her face, observing the slow rise and fall of her chest. Each shallow breath she takes feels like a lifeline. I can’t help but hold onto hope for a second chance, an opportunity to make things right and become the man she truly deserves. I’m ready to fight for her love if need be. “Hi, Nathan . Why don’t you go home and change, or at least grab something to eat?” Goerge suggests, his voice surprisingly steady. “I’m okay staying here,” I tell him. “My mom’s a fighter. She’ll make it through. You’ll see,” he says with a small smile, his words carrying a quiet confidence. I glance back at Natalia before looking back at Goerge. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be back soon,” he says, and I nod. I watch him leave quietly. He’s only gone for a few minutes when Mary Ann breaks the silence. "Nathan Natalia spoke to me before the accident," Mary Ann says with a bitterswee
“You’re here!” I say, heading toward it but stop when it’s Katy who appears.“You!” she hisses. “I knew something was off. He didn’t kill you!”Before I can answer, she’s on me like a rabid cat. She claws at me, slapping every part of me she can make contact with.Startled, I raise my hands protectively over my face, afraid to hit her back and severely hurt her. As it is, Nathan already hates me for any part I might have played in the death of his father.The woman may be older and weaker, but her strikes are impactful. She shoves against me, slapping her palms against my shoulders and chest, driving me toward the rear of the deck. It all happens so fast that I don’t realize I’m so close to the glass rail until it hits my lower back.“You have to calm down!” I plead.“Why did he have to want you? You look nothing like me! But Leo always liked them younger. Tell me, did you like how he fucked you?”“What? You think I slept with your husb—” Another whack, this time right across the chin
But he saved my life. He risked himself to keep me alive. And fuck it all, I love him! I can’t just sit back and let him die.A chair is pushed and the sound of footsteps come my way. Before they reach the doors, I bolt out the entrance and am already across the street when I hear, “Natalia !”But I don’t stop. Don’t look back. My mission now is to save Nathan Natalia Irun like the Devil is at my heels, not bothering to glance back over my shoulder, because even that simple action could cost me precious seconds.For blocks, I maintain that speed, my lungs burning and the stitch on my side threatening to bring me down.When I’m far enough that I feel anyone following would have lost sight of me, I tuck myself into an alley and wait. After several minutes, I tug my cell phone out and dial Nathan , but it goes straight to voicemail.“Pick up, dammit!” I dial again, but like before, it goes to his mail.“Nathan . You have to leave your house. A man named Steven Kroos is coming. He’s bri
“The hell it is. Do you have any idea the worry you put me through? No calls or texts the last couple of—” His eyes bulge from his skull as he takes in the blood on my shirt. “You’re hurt.” “No, Dad. It’s not my blood. I’m not hurt.” He digs his fingertips into the corners of his eyes as if he’s trying to keep from crying. “I thought I would lose my mind when I found out exactly who you were with. His name isn’t Nathan Manguire . It’s Nathan Carlos .” I rear back in shock that he knows. “What?” “My gut was right, Em. He’s a fucking criminal. The worst kind.” “How do you know that?” From the study, the handsome man who visited the gallery to meet with Dad steps out. Steven Kroos . His icy-blue stare roves over me, and he smiles. “I’m glad to see you’re home safe. Especially after being in the Robertson den.” “Mr. Kroos is the one who tracked down information on Carlos . Nathan is their new godfather.” His eyes narrow on me. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?” Looking betwee
He tilts his head, his eyes raking over my face, searching. “What makes you think that?” “It was in the way he looked at me,” I say. “It’s the same wayyoulook at me. I know you said he loved your stepmother, but I swear it’s true.” “I saidsheloved him. I never said he loved her back.” He glances out the windshield, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “Is that why you killed him? You didn’t appreciate his attentions?” “He came to the house when my father wasn’t there. I’m not even sure how he got in. But he followed me from room to room and begged me to give him a chance. I asked him to leave, told him that he was scaring me. He decided to grab me and try to kiss me. “I got out of his hold and ran to the desk drawer my father keeps his Glock in and threatened him. He still refused to leave. The moment he took a step toward me, I shot. It was meant to scare him, nothing more. I could never kill anyone. The bullet grazed his arm, but he was alive.” “You didn’t follow him out?
“You cut yourself,” I say. “It wouldn’t have been believable otherwise.” “Why did you do it, Nathan ? Why did you spare my life?” He pulls over several blocks from my house. We sit there in silence for what seems like forever, the only sound the pitter-patter of scattered rain against the windshield. “Why did you save me?” I repeat the question that’s been burning in my mind. “Your mother wants me dead, but you saved me.” Without turning to me, he replies, “Iwanted you dead.” His response is another blow to my already battered heart. But he deserves the truth. “I didn’t kill your father, Nathan . It wasn’t me.” Now he does turn to me and I almost wish he hadn’t. The shadows I’ve wondered about from the start have emerged and they’re darker and more terrifying than I could have imagined. They’re blackened with Nathan ’s fury, hate, grief, and confusion. They tear at my chest, splaying it open. Raw pain fills me at the sight of those beautiful golden eyes looking so tortured, spa
My gaze flicks from her to the elevator and to the rooftop access door, wondering if I could somehow reach either of them. And if I did, are they unlocked? As if from out of thin air, Nathan produces a piece of rope. When he tries to take one of my wrists, I make to get up again, but I’m slammed into the damned chair again. It doesn’t matter how much I fight, he easily pulls my hands behind me and ties them. “You wanted her, there she is,” he says to her, and I notice with at least a bit of satisfaction that he’s panting. I guess I wasn’t that easy to subdue. Nathan ’s stepmother comes toward me, her hips swaying. She sips her wine as she studies me. “You killed my husband.” I don’t bother to respond to her comment. She doesn’t care what I have to say. If she did, she would have asked me if I did it. And if so, why. All she cares about is revenge. The who, what, and why of it doesn’t matter to her. Turning to Nathan , I realize he’s not once asked me either. They’re the same. Part
“Mmm. Is it that or that you have Natalia Kane in your bed?”I stiffen, feeling my heart leap into my throat. She knows my name?“Who I have in my bed is none of your concern,” Nathan says.“It is when that whore killed your father! That’s right,” she adds, “I know it was her.”My heart isn’t just in my throat anymore. It seems to have stopped. Suddenly, my blood pressure drops and every pore in my body releases sweat.“John ” I hear Nathan murmur just as I pull away.There’s walking, the sound of heels clacking against the wood floors. “John was loyal to Gustavo and Leo . Of course he would be loyal to me as well.”“Then he’s useless to me,” he says.“You’ve known it was her for days and have done nothing about it!” she shouts.“It is at my discretion to decide what and when I will do something, Katy .”“The godfather only has power so long as the men respect him. How do you think they will react when they find out that instead of killing her, you’ve been fucking her?”My mind racin
Or maybe I’ll just fuck you until we both die.” Her eyes fly open, and for a moment, there are no walls between us. The pain, betrayal, and lust are bared fully. “Then fuck me,” she finally says. “And maybe we’ll die together.” My mouth is on hers then. I slide my fingers from her cunt and we both work savagely at getting rid of my clothes. All the while, we kiss with a passion that only the dying know. The instant I’m naked, I’m inside her, thrusting, burying my dick all the way to the balls, pulling back out, and slamming home again. Natalia is wrapped around me, arms and legs holding me tightly against her as she lifts her hips up, meeting each of my thrusts. We fuck like we’re drowning and these are our last gasping breaths. Deep and desperate. She fits me like a fucking glove, her pussy tight around my dick, her body molding to mine perfectly. The way she tastes, smells, feels… It all fits me like no one else ever has, and for the briefest of moments, I almost wish I’d neve
I flip it open and freeze, focused intensely on the drawing of a pair of eyes.Myeyes. Only, they’re not the way I’m accustomed to seeing them. They have the same shape, same dark spots on the irises. There’s a deep crease between them. But in the drawing, they’re slightly upturned and crinkled at the edges, and there’s a slight gleam to them, as if I’m smiling.Because I was.Several times, she called my name, grinning so widely when I looked at her that I couldn’t help but smile. She captured those moments.Does light penetrate shadows, or do the shadows drown out the light?I asked that question not long ago. The answer is both. She’s managed to light up my eyes while I’ve filled hers with darkness.Blowing out a breath full of exhaustion, I set the sketch aside. Tired, I shut my lids and must drift off instantly, because a bolt of lightning that rumbles even through the sound barriers I’ve erected around the loft wakes me. Instantly, I glance at the door.Though she has access to w