Page 20 of Bound

A tightening of the mouth. A slight pause in breathing. A shift of weight.

Does he remember me in a white dress, standing by that fountain? Laughing as I told them to get closer. Asking why men always stand so far apart in a photo.

The Lucian I knew would have resented being steadied where men could see.

“Where did he get this?” Lucian asks.

“Marina had copies,” I say. “Of everything.”

His gaze cuts to me. For one second, the room disappears. History. A hallway neither of us wants to walk down, but both of us know by fear.

Then Erin shifts beside him. The woman he chooses now. He grabs her hand, and she brings him back into himself.

She calms him.

I never did that.

“Marina kept everything,” I say. “Favors. Photographs. Names. Old access. She used to say memory was safest with proof.”

Blaze mutters, “Charming.”

Ignoring him, I tell the others. “This message is too clean.”

“A distraction,” Erin says quietly. “Only to make us think Marina is alive.”

I nod. “Yes.”

Her eyes stay on mine. Not soft. Not forgiving. But steady.

She is the solid thing in his world. I can see why.

“Why use Marina’s account?” she asks.

“He wants you to chase the wrong ghost,” I tell her.

Lucian steps closer to the table. “And the right one? Marina?”

My throat feels raw. “The right one is probably dead.”

The room goes silent. This time, even Blaze has nothing to say.

Erin looks at me, and something in her expression shifts.

Not pity. Thank God. I can’t tolerate pity from the girl Lucian bought.

Who now stands beside him and holds him together.

“Marina may be alive,” Rafe says.

“No,” I say with a quick certainty too bold for him to disagree with.

Everyone hears it.

I force my fingers to release the chair. “Carlos wouldn’t need to use her mark if she were alive.”

“He killed her,” Erin finishes.

The words land like stones. I feel like a wound feels the moment before it starts to bleed.