t me, every preference, every whim. He used these details like weapons, crafti

ch bite a reminder of the bitter lie

d my son. For that, I needed to stay inside this

ian said after dinner, his phone lighting up in his hand. I glimp

voice light. "Is

the mask of concern snapped back into place. "It's Jace. His scrape from the other day

so blatant,

come with you?" I a

emed so tired lately. I'll handle it." He leaned in and kissed my forehead, a

closed, I was on the

incoming photo. It was Christian's car, parked outside "Le Ciel," the most exclusive re

w. A third photo showed a waiter presenting Kassidy with a bottle of wine, the vintag

at the images. He was giving

ame th

on one knee. He was holding a small box. Inside was the diamond necklace I had seen in his d

. To Kassidy. In

surprised joy. She nodded, and he slipped the necklace around her nec

r, her hand tracing the line of his jaw. He smiled

k, "I'll stay wi

her expression a caricature of

rnight for observation," he said, his voice cas

y phone buzzed wi

ant to keep him overnight. Don't w

ce... was Jace with them? Was my... was th

ed Jace's number. He had a

the second ri

e are you?" I aske

aid cheerfully. "We'

on porcelain, the low murmur of restaurant chatter. And then, Christian's voice, m

e said quickly. "Dad say

ne wen

my numb fingers and c

raped knees I had kissed, the boy I loved with every fiber of

through my heart. One from the man I had devoted my life t

cold floor. The tears wouldn't come. There was on

re a team. And Jace was not an i

build in the emptiness. T

had they done to him? Was he safe? Was he loved?

ost in the darkness, unt