The Price Of Us

unded by wrought-iron gates and acres of perfectly manicured lawns that whispered secrets under the night's breeze. I'd heard

ounger brother needed his school fees paid, and the bakery job I'd worked since I was seventeen barely kept the l

learned was to

ng women who darted around the house as if trying to avoid being noticed. "Don't speak unless

but the house had a strange way

cavernous room filled with shelves that stretched to the ceiling. The scent of old books and leather lingered in the air, a

duster hovering ov

like velvet dipped in steel. It sent a shive

man replied. "We think it migh

opping to a low growl. "And if it's an

ldn't have been there. I knew that much. Just as

ed, with sharp cheekbones and a jawline that could have been chiseled from marble. He wore a blac

g here?" His voice

mmered, holding up the fe

n back to me. "And you just happene

unded in my ears as he took a step closer, his

ng?" he asked, his v

e word tumbling

a smile. It was sharp and cold, like a knife's e

throat too ti

dismissively. "And stay out

ing as I gripped the feather duster. But as I hurried down the hall

mind. His voice, his gaze, the way he seemed to see straight through me-it was all burned i

pered to me from th

ary, I noticed a drawer slightly ajar in one of the desks. Curiosity got

red in neat, coded writing. I didn't understand what I

d down the hall, growing lou

hut and hurried to grab my duster, pretending to

me, sharp and calc

art s

oom like a shadow I couldn't escape. I clutched the feather

oice to remain steady. "I was as

ainst the polished floor growing louder with each step. I resisted

you don't belong?" His voice was soft, bu

e thundering in my ears.

shadow over me. His dark eyes studied me with unnerving intens

ticism. He glanced around the room, his gaze ling

eft something out of place? Had

said, his sharp gaz

I blurted,

was gone as quickly as it had appeared. "You're

t to say to that,

the air around me grow heavy

is lips sent a shiver down my spine

said, forcing mysel

ilence stretched between us, thick and su

he walked toward the desk. "And remember what I

lief flooding through me a

threshold, his voice s

, his tone colder th

the closed drawer where I had found the ledger. His dark eyes m

e regret lett

ped out of the room before

ke by touching that ledger, and I knew it. Adrian Moretti was dangerous,

eyes seemed to see through me. The way he carried himself with the

he le

d? Why had it been hidd

like Maria had told me to. But something about Adrian and

he library with Adrian Moretti's dark eyes staring into

would change