g against her collarbone. It had been her mother's. The only thi

expression shifted, contorting in

the deliberate precision of a man who knew exactly what he wanted. His fingers clo

His voice was

e said. "That w

ed the worn engraving on the s

athed. "Julian. It

friend. The boy who had taught her to climb tree

-not yet. He placed one hand flat against the wall beside her head, caging her without making

per, "when I was in a hospital bed in London after the crash

pen. The non-disclosure agreement. The catastrophic mess she had c

don too, weren't

ian,

. It got quieter. That was worse

y binding, to never speak of what she had done. It sat in her throat like a cork, choking every word before i

sabelle had said, her smile sof

e. The words she wa

nce was

yes died. He pushed off the wall and st

s

s flat. A fi

convenient way to stay close to your real lover. The o

exhausted disgust. "Daphne Stanton, you are the

out. The NDA held her voice prisoner,

nt door clicked shut behind him-n

ne. Empty. The locket was still in

ket. The only th

t given