Damien never left

his voice, or his chaos wrapped around it. But every note she played reminded her

n't rea

er di

estless. It m

rd day, Ar

use something inside her needed answers. Or maybe she just neede

to the space, a shive

empty-but n

piano, a single page sat with deliberate placement-an unfinished composition. No titl

ed the paper. One

nd something else-like old perfume, musky and

eath h

adows, Dami

u'd come back," he

eplied. "You left

heet in her hands. "You s

asked. "W

shadows on the floor. "It's the piece

he one that drov

d. "That's wh

she said softly.

n murmured, stepping even closer.

her hear

h," she whispered. "About that n

"Because once you know everything... you m

like a storm, r

possession. This kiss was a confession-a

ding, breath tangled, hands frantic. She clawed at

mouth. "You drive

mind," she whisp

her like he

him-something fragile, something dark. He pulled away abrup

d, confused

his hair. His chest rose and fell with a heavine

spered. "I can't

ightened. "

n the last. "I'm not who you think I am, Aria. I've lived through things

im, but he flinched, like

oftly. "Tell me what

ment, there was only silence. When he

someone b

t stuttered

an. My

aught. "You

"Her name was Elise. We were... complicated. Passionate, but volatile. She was an artist-b

g into her chest, but she st

re were pills... too many. I called for help, but by the

turned away, as if reliving the

ors started. People whispered. The police... they tho

sted. "They though

person with her. For weeks, I was interrogated, held as a suspect. They dug into my life, my past, every

close to desperation. "I didn't kill her, Aria. But I couldn't

't just a man with a dark past. This was a man who had lost everything,

said, voice tight. "But if you knew everything..

n't quite name. Despite everything he'd just revealed, all she felt was a pull-stronger

g anywhere,"

lickered with d

I'm not your past. But if you want me in your

ear in his eyes. "You don't unders

e but firm. "Because the only thing that w

He reached for her, fingers brushing her cheek in a touch that w

erve you," h

eart aching for him. "Maybe t

look that could have shattered him, Damien stood a

ld've wa

he ha

ed him more t

red at the unfinished composition. The notes blurred. T

er perfume-jasmine and madness-lingered like a trap. And then,

past from his skin,

w if he was r

lay on her bed

th a man I know nothing

said through the phone. "The same Aria who on

ow, it's insane. I don't do

for a beat. "Te

eaviness in his eyes, like he's seen too much. But when he looks at me... I f

ed. "Sounds

o feels... right. Like I've been wai

be careful. Passion like that can ei

id. "But I'm alre

udio, Damien o

out a seal

g-his face in grainy black and

rrested After Wife's

, jaw clenched,

ys rewrote itself. It was the last piece of Elise left in h

the only secre

etters. A hi

t had never seen

s and bruised, holding Elise close-her ey

, locked the drawer, and lea

ore than he ever intended.

y... it would mean giving her every piece of

if she could ca

ow if he cou

thing wa

way, he wouldn't sur