“Did she threaten you?” Logan asked. “She kept touching the handle to this drawer of the end table. I didn’t think much of it, really. I thought maybe it was just a nervous habit. But when you came and distracted her, I got it in my head that I should check.” “So you did,” he said. “I did,” I
Aria’s POV “I’ll call the police,” the woman on the other end of the phone said. “We’ll check the tapes.” “Okay,” I said, my voice trembling. My whole body was shaking. “Okay…” She’d hung up, but I still kept the phone to my ear, unwilling for this phone conversation to be over. If it was over
Liam’s POV I knew the park Logan meant, so I headed there first. After parking sideways, taking up three or four different spots, I didn’t care, I rushed to the playground and searched everywhere I could. Midmorning, the place was practically deserted. Only a few older folks were walking along the
With her wild eyes, she must have seen that I was awake, but she didn’t acknowledge me. I hated waiting. “Where’s Joe?” I asked. She nodded her head toward a nearby door. It could have been a closet or another room. I wished I could have had confirmation that he was alive, but knowing he was in
Liam’s POV I had been listening from behind the door to the pool house. I had heard Sophia threaten Aria. I’d heard Aria’s confession. I’d heard it all, but had no time to reflect on those words. Now, I only had time for action. Or I was certain to lose Aria forever. Not because she chose to
Aria’s POV While William and Joe headed upstairs to play, Liam and I moved into the living room to talk. Well, we had said we were going to talk, but now that we were here, neither of us were saying anything. We also didn’t look at each other. At least, not at the same time. Not for long, anyway
That seemed suspicious, but I wouldn’t deny the kids their fun. Maybe they were playing a prank on us or something. Sighing, I stepped into the room, walking toward the window. I felt more than saw Liam following me. As soon as Liam had cleared the door, it slammed closed. “Hey!” I said. Lia
Aria’s POV The next day, Liam arrived early to help Joe and me with our packing. We’d already discussed the details. Liam, William, Joe, and I would move into the mansion that Liam and I had once shared together. Joe was excited because that house was so much bigger and had a pool. It hadn’t bee
Joe remembered all the lessons about stranger danger. He knew they shouldn’t accept things from people that they didn’t know or trust.Even accepting this pie was probably a bad idea, though Joe thought that so long as they stayed in the diner, it would be okay.He kept glancing at the door.William
Aria’s POVIn our search for the children, we traveled along the roads to the park. There, I searched the kids’ favorite play areas: behind the slide, around the swings, near the seesaws and the jungle gym.William and Joe were nowhere to be found. Likewise, I saw no evidence that they had been here
Joe’s POVWhen William told Joe he was leaving, Joe knew he couldn’t let William go alone. The world was a dangerous place, and William was far too confident about things. Plus, with how William was talking, he sounded like he wasn’t planning on coming back.Joe hoped to convince him differently.So
Aria’s POVFor most of the day, I did my best to avoid Liam, but it was difficult. He seemed to be doing the same, giving me the space I requested, yet every once in a while, we’d find ourselves entering the same room or hallway, or going the same way toward the stairs.There was an awkward moment o
Aria’s POVBitter thoughts of Markus made me feel sick, but I pushed those dark feelings away and turned off the television again. With Markus gone, he could never hurt anyone ever again. He couldn’t haunt or stalk us.Liam might have already made his choice, but at least the children and I would be
Liam’s POV“Isabelle, I just need to talk to Aria,” I said, pleadingly. “If you just tell me where she is –”“Then you’ll continue to bother her.” Isabelle, arms crossed, glared at me in open disgust and distain. “She told me what she saw. And it makes me feel a thousand times worse, for having told
Liam’s POVI took my own car to Mr. Peters’ office. Several times on the route, I nearly turned and drove home instead, desperate to talk to Aria. Once, I stopped so long at a red light that Joanna called me on the phone.“Your father is dead, Liam. You have an obligation to him now. Aria will still
“I’m so sorry,” Isabelle said, her face downtrodden, her own make staining streaks down her face. We must have looked like quite the pair. It’d be laughable if my heart wasn’t so very heavy. “I totally misread the entire situation. When I saw that ring…”“How could you think anything but what you di
Liam’s POV“I don’t care what you think, Joanna,” I said coldly. With everything going on, now she wanted to threaten me? Didn’t she realize that without Aria, I had nothing left to lose? “With Markus gone, I have no reason to stay in this relationship.”“We had an agreement,” Joanna said. Her anger