didn'

rway, one hand on the frame, eyes moving between me and

enerous," he said.

ty seconds ago was gone - replaced by the cold, c

f between us. Not aggressively. Just... there. A wall. "She's

sn't conc

ight to talk to my wife alone." Adrian's voice stay

s flicked to

d came up. "Don't say

e wh

she's

lway we

. Same jaw. Same eyes. But everything about them was opposite. Damian was still. Control

ot a weapon. But you already know that, don't you? You've b

rried

bough

s jaw t

her life. Her mother's medical debt. That's not a mar

ons." Adrian stepped closer. "Not after what

hat I ha

miliate

tected

m wh

e would have done to Sienna if I hadn't pushed her away. You think I wan

ave told her

have destroyed her. You know that. She's done it befo

anded like

went

did yo

fted. He realized, too

thi

an's voice was ice.

I

y i

ther. The one Helena paid off when we were three years old. T

tilted b

face we

ou know t

s steady again, but his hands were shaking. "Fath

never t

finally stopped looking at me like I was the enemy. And I-" He stopped. Swallowed. "I th

didn'

't s

only sound was the ra

drian

ible sound. B

our mother was dead. You let me grow up thinking Helena was the only parent I had.

it sur

e worse tha

ince I'd met him, I saw something raw in his face. So

a

go inside," h

ria

on the word. "I need to

t him. The

f them lo

r war. Their

" I wh

ack into th

d the

sed my e

-

. Words like mother and lies and years. Once, a crash - something hit

Adrian's voice.

w. And you're

oor o

epped ins

veled. His eyes were wet - though I could

e's D

on

ria

. Pulled a glass from the cabinet. Poured whisk

o me,"

tur

st a second - the mas

other. She's alive. And Damian kne

st tig

ria

hand. "Don't pity me

at do yo

oked

long m

om. Took my face in hi

or cameras. Not f

e tasted like whiskey and anger and something e

't pul

knew I should h

e the kiss, we were

quietly. "That

red a

this was

brushed my cheek.

ria

nsane. This whole thing is insane. But I-" He stopped. Laughed. A broken s

know wh

only thing t

n love with

ent

he no

ow

quietly. "But you'

ast me towa

d at t

turning arou

well, S

closed t

in the dark, my

-