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Chapter 8 SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Word Count: 1390    |    Released on: 03/02/2025

ed'

Kate's apartment, the image of her standing by the doorway lingered in my mind. Her smile had been

do to some extent- to recognize when she was sh

t in muted shades of gray and amber-coffee shops buzzing with early risers, couples strolling hand in hand, red and pink

happened befor

was, she didn't

tle panic in her eyes when Sophia nearly flung the door open. The way she had been too ea

't caught the last flicker of flames

w cle

I hadn't notice

old me to let it go. If it was important, she would tell me. But the other part-the part that had l

t afford any

er ever

still lurking

ead. No. Kate wouldn't lie to m

ld

at me like an itch

one snapped me ou

ng cal

on on the steering

ea

e was edged with something that made my spin

at the red light. The screen gl

od ran

red envelope. The same kind I had seen in Kate'

rd, typed in an all-too

rpr

vi

my veins. My fingers curled around

been prot

from

gotten to her first? How

I was up before dawn, it took me less than a few minutes to freshen up, I s

my bones. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I got back to Kate's apartment-an explanation

engine and stepped out. The winter air bit at my skin, the s

dy, pounding rhythm in my ears. When I reached her door

ans

gain, this

l no

see the faint glow of light

g against the wood one last time. "Kate." My

le

a beat, the

to see her face. Her wide, brown eyes loc

going to

scent of lavender and coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the faint scent of burning paper.

ally had

oversized sweater, her bare legs peeking out beneath the hem. She

d, my voice even, but edg

her head.

closer, and she instinctively t

her throat bobb

"You burned something the second I walke

ayed s

rough my hair. "Kate, I need you to be

e body we

the confirmat

in had always been a problem lurking in the shadows, waiting for

e what

y, she walked past me, grabbing a glass of water from the co

." Her voice was qu

hat much, but I

of the counter. "And that his next one would be for my 'clueless fake

ched m

as taun

ice was measured, but there

t directly. But it's Ke

nd under her chin and tilting her face up to mine. "Yo

tically. "I don't know, I found only the card at my doorstep

ghter to her sweater fabric

e, we need to be more careful keepin

arms around herself. "I just

t your cal

r than I intended, and I

at the fireplace where the ashe

e normal," she whispered.

ftened, jus

hands resting on he

for just a moment before straigh

ve an answe

thing wa

done playin

him lay a hand on the dams

guess I'd be heading to the office now" I

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Contents

Chapter 1 A STRANGER'S DEAL Chapter 2 A GLIMPSE OF HIS WORLD Chapter 3 LINES BLURRING Chapter 4 DANGEROUS TERRITORY Chapter 5 UNRAVELING Chapter 6 NEMESIS Chapter 7 A FEELING OF UNEASE Chapter 8 SMOKE AND MIRRORS Chapter 9 EN-GARDE Chapter 10 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE- AS THE CASE MAY BE
Chapter 11 ROYAL RECEPTION AND A DREAM IN REALITY
Chapter 12 THE NIGHTMARE
Chapter 13 COLLISION COURSE
Chapter 14 DOWN THE RABBIT'S HOLE
Chapter 15 SEEDS OF DOUBT
Chapter 16 ENTANGLEMENTS
Chapter 17 COLD AND DISTANT
Chapter 18 GLORIA
Chapter 19 KATE'S PUNISHMENT
Chapter 20 RECONCILIATIONS
Chapter 21 UNRAVELING THE PAST AND SOMETHING MORE
Chapter 22 A ROOM FOR TWO
Chapter 23 THE VISIT
Chapter 24 THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Chapter 25 UNSPOKEN TRUTHS
Chapter 26 HEAVY BURDENS
Chapter 27 THE WEIGHT OF DECISIONS
Chapter 28 SPEAK TO ME
Chapter 29 THE TRIP
Chapter 30 ALICE'S WONDERLAND
Chapter 31 JUST THE TWO OF US
Chapter 32 RED ALERT
Chapter 33 IN KATE I TRUST
Chapter 34 MASTERMIND
Chapter 35 THE STRENGTH WITHIN
Chapter 36 NO MORE WHAT IFS
Chapter 37 STEPPING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Chapter 38 CHAPERONE
Chapter 39 A QUEEN-SIZED TREAT
Chapter 40 THE FIRST DAY ON SET
Chapter 41 A MUCH NEEDED DISTRACTION
Chapter 42 SWEET MOTHER
Chapter 43 THE WOMAN SHE WAS
Chapter 44 THE UNTHINKABLE
Chapter 45 PRETENDING TO BE FINE
Chapter 46 MY STALKER FROM A DISTANCE
Chapter 47 THE FUN TRAIN IS BACK
Chapter 48 THE PERFECT WEAPON
Chapter 49 THE NEXT MOVE
Chapter 50 FIGHT FOR ME
Chapter 51 WALKING AWAY
Chapter 52 THE RECKONING
Chapter 53 THE BREAKING POINT
Chapter 54 THE QUIET THAT FOLLOWED
Chapter 55 CALL FROM THE DEVIL
Chapter 56 JUST ME AS KATE
Chapter 57 CAT OUT OF THE BAG
Chapter 58 FIRST BLOOD
Chapter 59 SAINT OR DEMON
Chapter 60 STILL US
Chapter 61 COMING HOME
Chapter 62 THE WOLF'S TEETH
Chapter 63 MY FAVOURITE PERSON
Chapter 64 KEVIN'S POISONS
Chapter 65 ENOUGH- FOR NOW
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