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최신 업데이트:
2025-04-22 06:41:59
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Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 33
I stood for a long time, the rain soaking me to the bone, as I grappled with the reality that had been laid bare. Then, with a deep breath, I pushed away from the tree and made my way back to the house, each step feeling heavier than the last.The house was still as I entered, the grand entrance hall seeming to loom over me like a judgmental sentinel. But as I climbed the stairs to my old bedroom, the memories of laughter and love began to outweigh the pain.In the quiet of my room, I stripped off my soaked clothes, the fabric clinging to my body like a second skin. I pulled on an old t-shirt and curled up in the bed that had once been my sanctuary, feeling the ghosts of the past whisper around me.I lay there for hours, listening to the rain tap against the window, my mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. But eventually, exhaustion claimed me, and I drifted into a fitful sleep, plagued by dreams of shadows and secrets.When I awoke, the house was eerily quiet, the rain having
최신 업데이트 : 2025-04-24Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 34
The house was so quiet that my footsteps echoed through the hallways, a haunting reminder of my solitude. The walls whispered secrets of the past, but it was the silence that screamed the loudest. It was a cacophony of unspoken words, of things left unsaid, of love and betrayal.As I moved into the kitchen, the room that had once been the heart of the house, now felt cold and empty. The warmth of my mother's cooking was replaced by the starkness of stainless steel appliances and the glow of the moon through the windows. I stared at the spot where she had once stood, her hands flour-covered, her laughter filling the room.But even as I sought comfort in the ghosts of the past, I knew I couldn't escape the present. I needed to figure out what I was going to do about the baby, about my future, about the love that had been torn apart by secrets and lies.The fridge hummed in the background, a reminder of the real world waiting outside the cocoon of the house.Taking a deep breath, I made
최신 업데이트 : 2025-04-24Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 35
The room seemed to shrink around us, the walls closing in as I processed the monstrous words that had just been spoken. My hand clutched the gun with white-knuckled force, the only thing keeping me from falling apart."How can you be so cold?" I managed to choke out.He shrugged, the movement so nonchalant it was almost comical. "It's simple, really. You're in my way. And if I have to eliminate you to get what I want, I will."The silence was a living, breathing entity that I could almost feel as my eyes, never leaving Cameron's, searched for any glimmer of the brother I had once known and loved; but all I found was a void, a black hole where his soul should have been."What do you want from me?" I asked, the words dragging themselves out of my throat.He leaned back into the couch, his expression one of smug satisfaction. "Ah, now we're getting somewhere. I need you to help me cover my tracks, sis---in return, I'll let you live."The words were a punch to the gut, but I knew better t
최신 업데이트 : 2025-04-24Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 36
As the wail of the sirens grew louder, red and blue lights began painting the exterior of my home like a macabre disco. At the sight, I felt sick to my stomach, the gravity of the situation pressing down on me like a lead weight. My future, at my own hand, was now uncertain.Nathan's arm remained firmly around my shoulders as he gazed at the approaching vehicles. "We need to tell them everything, Bri. The truth," he said, his voice tinged with urgency.I nodded, unable to form words. The truth—how could I possibly explain the tangle of emotions and events that had led to this moment?The first officers to arrive were met by a scene of chaos. They found us on the porch, me in a daze, and Nathan with a look of grim determination etched into his features. He took charge, explaining the situation as succinctly as he could. The words "self-defense" and "fugitive" were thrown around like hot potatoes no one wanted to hold.As the night grew darker, more officers arrived, along with a medica
최신 업데이트 : 2025-04-24Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 37
The simplicity of Nathan’s words was almost heartbreaking. It was a promise that we would navigate this treacherous path side by side, but it didn't erase the fear of what that path might hold.We ate in silence, the only sounds the clinking of silverware against the plates. The food was tasteless, a mere formality to keep my strength up. Afterward, I washed the dishes, the rhythmic motion of the water and soap acting as a balm to my frayed nerves.When I finished, I turned to face him. "I'm going to take a shower," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Would you stay?"He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'll be here."With trembling legs, I made my way to the bathroom. Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the shower, the hot water a cocoon of false comfort.As I let the water cascade over me, the tears started again, mixing with the water and flowing down the drain. I didn't know how long I stood there, but it was long enough for the water to turn cold. Stepping out, I
최신 업데이트 : 2025-04-24Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 38
At my words, Arizona's eyes snapped to mine, the color draining from his face. "You what?""I had to," I said, my voice shaking. "He was going to..." I couldn't finish the sentence, the memory too raw, too painful.Nathan stepped closer to me, his hand landing on my shoulder. "It was self-defense," he said firmly. "And we've already spoken to the local authorities."Arizona's gaze jumped from me to Nathan and then back to me, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Bri, why the fuck didn't you call me?""Because..." I trailed off, not knowing how to explain the tangled web of emotions and fear that had led me to pull that trigger.↜↜ 🖤🖤↝↝I took a deep breath, my eyes pleading with Arizona to understand. "I can't really explain, I just need you to understand that, okay?"He studied me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he nodded. "Alright. But you're going to have to fill me in eventually."With a slow nod, I began to talk. As I recounted t
최신 업데이트 : 2025-04-24Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 39
Chief Peters’ expression was grim as he stepped inside, his eyes scanning over the two of us before settling on me. "Brianna, I need to talk to you. Is there some place we can talk...alone?"My heart stopped for a second, then thundered in my chest.Nathan nodded, giving me a look filled with reassurance, then disappeared into the other room.Peters closed the door behind him, and the weight of his gaze bore into me as I took a seat at the kitchen table."Brianna," he began, his tone firm but not unkind, "I've reviewed the evidence, and I believe your account of what happened with Cameron."Relief flooded through me, so intense it was almost painful. "Thank you, Chief," I whispered, my voice hoarse from holding back the tears."However," he continued, "this doesn't mean it's over. The investigation will continue, and we'll have to be prepared for any questions that may arise. The press will be all over this, and we need to keep our story straight."I nodded, my eyes never leaving his.
최신 업데이트 : 2025-04-24Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 40
~NATHAN~Hearing Brianna say she was leaving had devastated me—her whispered words, “I love you,” had killed me.After she’d quit the call, I’d jumped in my pickup, and like a crazed man, I’d broken every goddamn speed limit law there was between her place and mine. I hadn’t given a flying fuck if a patrol car had pulled in behind me. They would have had to chase me to Brianna’s because I wasn’t slowing down for any motherfucker. Now, pulling in before her home, I gazed at it, shattered. It sat, silent and empty of her presence, echoing the bareness that now ripped through my soul. However, its solitude appearance didn’t stop me and shoving the pickup’s door open, I jumped out of the cab and ran up the steps of the porch. My feet never slowed until I stood before the front door. Grabbing the knob, I twisted, but it didn’t give beneath my fingers. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, its beat, erratic, broken. Raising a leg, I kicked at the door, the force behind the blow one
최신 업데이트 : 2025-04-24
최신 챕터
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 45
Turning, I took a step and heard a pop and crack. To my horror, I saw the ceiling coming down at me. With a scream, I threw myself down beside the couch, riding it out there until the shaking stopped. When everything stopped rocking, I began to shift; however, I couldn’t as my legs had become pinned beneath what I could only assume were large chunks of the ceiling and support beams. The quake must have knocked the power out of the whole neighborhood, for the house had settled into a shroud of darkness. Not even the moon penetrated the blackness that now surrounded me and prevented me from seeing how much debris I lay beneath. I tried pushing at the heavy material to remove it from my legs. However, I had to stop as another contraction tore through me. Panting, I worked my way through the pain. When it had subsided, I pushed again at the debris, which held me, prisoner, beneath it.As I pushed and shoved, I became frantic. Fear skittered up my spine and claimed my mind. This couldn’
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 44
After I had greeted him with a good to hear from you, Arizona had cleared his throat. “I’m not too sure you’ll feel that way after I tell you what I have to say.” From there, he’d launched into telling me how Nathan had come to see him the night I’d gone into witness protection. Demanding that he tell him where I was going. I groaned. “Oh, Jesus, tell me you didn’t.” Arizona gave a long sigh. “No, of course not. I didn’t know then. However, after the other night, he knows you’re in L.A.” “Arizona,” I wailed, “how could you? You promised you wouldn’t!” “Look here, Brianna, I ain’t said much, but dammit, this time I am, and you’re going to listen.”I remained silent but listening. After a few seconds Arizona continued, “He’s determined to find you, sweetheart. Do you remember what I told you about a man in love moving Heaven and Hell? Well, the earth has been under siege for a while now. And it seems he was a little confused. He thought you and I had been lovers. I set him straigh
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 43
ONE MONTH LATERThough I’d known it wasn’t wise, I’d been unable to cut all ties back in Texas, and had reached out to Minx once I’d settled in L.A., even reaching out to Arizona. Then came the dilemma of Nathan.After everything was over, I’d powered up my phone and found my voicemail practically filled with his messages. With each one he left, I’d fought myself not to listen, instead, before weakness could overtake me, I’d hit the delete button and blocked his number. The temptation not to call him was still a daily struggle. I’d managed to find a job as an assistant for a private investigator. It differed from the hectic activity I’d become accustomed to at the agency and was nothing more than answering the phone and setting up appointments—but it filled in the empty hours. As the days continued to pass, I found I liked my boss. Linda Spelling had turned out not only to be a wonderful employer but a great friend. We spent almost every morning before work drinking decaffeinated c
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 42
The silence that followed Zane’s announcement was filled with unspoken longing, a shared yearning for the simplicity of days gone by. But as the clock chimed the hour, reality crashed back in, and we both knew that we had to keep moving forward, no matter how much our hearts yearned for the comfort of the past."So, what's the plan?" I asked, breaking the silence.Zane took a swig of his iced tea before answering. "Well, we sit tight here for a bit. The feds are working on nailing the bastards that are after you. They're setting up a meeting, trying to draw them out.""How do they know where to look?" I questioned, fear gnawing at my stomach."They've got their ways," he said cryptically, his eyes holding a glint of something I couldn't quite decipher.I nodded, knowing better than to pry. "And what do we do in the meantime?""We wait," he said with a sigh. "But we won't be idle. We're going to use this time to get you ready, just in case things go sideways.""Ready for what?"He lean
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 41
Zane led me to a blacked-out SUV, and as we drove away from the airport, I watched the lights of the city stretch out before us like a never-ending sea of stars."You okay?" Zane's voice was gentle, his hand briefly touching my arm before retreating to the steering wheel.I nodded, not trusting my voice. The lump in my throat was too big for words."We've got a safe house set up for you. It's not much, but it's home for now."Home. The word was foreign on my tongue. I had left my real home behind, trading it for a life in the shadows. But as we pulled into the quiet, nondescript neighborhood, I knew that for now, this was where I had to be.For the sake of my baby, and the love I had for Nathan, I had to play this game. I had to be strong, and I had to survive.As we pulled into the driveway of the safe house, Zane turned to me. "You can trust me, Brianna. I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe."I nodded again, my eyes misty with unshed tears. "Thank you."He helped me insid
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 40
~NATHAN~Hearing Brianna say she was leaving had devastated me—her whispered words, “I love you,” had killed me.After she’d quit the call, I’d jumped in my pickup, and like a crazed man, I’d broken every goddamn speed limit law there was between her place and mine. I hadn’t given a flying fuck if a patrol car had pulled in behind me. They would have had to chase me to Brianna’s because I wasn’t slowing down for any motherfucker. Now, pulling in before her home, I gazed at it, shattered. It sat, silent and empty of her presence, echoing the bareness that now ripped through my soul. However, its solitude appearance didn’t stop me and shoving the pickup’s door open, I jumped out of the cab and ran up the steps of the porch. My feet never slowed until I stood before the front door. Grabbing the knob, I twisted, but it didn’t give beneath my fingers. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, its beat, erratic, broken. Raising a leg, I kicked at the door, the force behind the blow one
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 39
Chief Peters’ expression was grim as he stepped inside, his eyes scanning over the two of us before settling on me. "Brianna, I need to talk to you. Is there some place we can talk...alone?"My heart stopped for a second, then thundered in my chest.Nathan nodded, giving me a look filled with reassurance, then disappeared into the other room.Peters closed the door behind him, and the weight of his gaze bore into me as I took a seat at the kitchen table."Brianna," he began, his tone firm but not unkind, "I've reviewed the evidence, and I believe your account of what happened with Cameron."Relief flooded through me, so intense it was almost painful. "Thank you, Chief," I whispered, my voice hoarse from holding back the tears."However," he continued, "this doesn't mean it's over. The investigation will continue, and we'll have to be prepared for any questions that may arise. The press will be all over this, and we need to keep our story straight."I nodded, my eyes never leaving his.
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 38
At my words, Arizona's eyes snapped to mine, the color draining from his face. "You what?""I had to," I said, my voice shaking. "He was going to..." I couldn't finish the sentence, the memory too raw, too painful.Nathan stepped closer to me, his hand landing on my shoulder. "It was self-defense," he said firmly. "And we've already spoken to the local authorities."Arizona's gaze jumped from me to Nathan and then back to me, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Bri, why the fuck didn't you call me?""Because..." I trailed off, not knowing how to explain the tangled web of emotions and fear that had led me to pull that trigger.↜↜ 🖤🖤↝↝I took a deep breath, my eyes pleading with Arizona to understand. "I can't really explain, I just need you to understand that, okay?"He studied me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he nodded. "Alright. But you're going to have to fill me in eventually."With a slow nod, I began to talk. As I recounted t
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 37
The simplicity of Nathan’s words was almost heartbreaking. It was a promise that we would navigate this treacherous path side by side, but it didn't erase the fear of what that path might hold.We ate in silence, the only sounds the clinking of silverware against the plates. The food was tasteless, a mere formality to keep my strength up. Afterward, I washed the dishes, the rhythmic motion of the water and soap acting as a balm to my frayed nerves.When I finished, I turned to face him. "I'm going to take a shower," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Would you stay?"He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'll be here."With trembling legs, I made my way to the bathroom. Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the shower, the hot water a cocoon of false comfort.As I let the water cascade over me, the tears started again, mixing with the water and flowing down the drain. I didn't know how long I stood there, but it was long enough for the water to turn cold. Stepping out, I
