Shadows of the blackwood contract

pte

ly at Ethan, my che

still rang

ot

nig

ryt

s felt

one ste

os, Ethan?

e phone on the

eyes look

w tigh

e sit down. Le

voice c

rs with the ba

that night. Now Dan talks about photos.

and throug

ights made his face

pposed to hap

d I had an agreement. We shared everything - m

mach t

erent

o the party

g and dancing in

u the momen

knew

oth have you if we

lt s

ands

ght? What doe

looked

omething to

xed and open. You smiled at both of us

n down m

ged? That's not yes, Ethan!

ed back until my back hit th

s wrong," he

myself every

ight you got pre

let him because I though

r stopped watching you. N

ind

ly

t littl

about her bui

one?" I whispered. "While yo

you were safe. But yes...

ng with ang

d to sl

ed to

membered his fingers

made every

hotos," I said

face c

You don't nee

his phone, and held it out. "Unlo

d, then typ

was already there

efore Ethan c

photo hi

ounger, in that re

with dreamy eyes an

ssed m

e, hands on my waist

as worse. I was na

k. Both of them to

oom s

ak. I held the c

" The words c

" I whispered. "Whi

ale. "He said it was just for us. I tol

terly, but it

t them. Dan alway

lled f

ast mes

boss, her parents, and every news site that wil

d turne

i

out, my daughter wou

would

d shame h

life could

Ethan, tears bl

ike a toy. And now

me, but I pushe

night. I thought the feeling had left. But I st

. "This isn't lov

unded so ha

gave me earlier

o wash it

walked to the

twinkled far b

but inside every

ollowed

ll handle Dan. I will forget what happened between o

n aro

e is

ke. I hugged

n my neck s

l damp. Shame made m

pened with

e it was

teppe

oked

ca

wly from me to Eth

across his face, the kin

," he said sof

rror clawed at my throat, making it

hroat. I wanted to run,

like he owned

held a small

der the low light. The sight o

ly talk. Don't you?" His voice was smooth,

e, he pressed a bu

n the penthou

dows, everything turned black except

cary shadows ac

ooked far away now, like th

clearly saw his fac

pointed stra

rd I thought it would

sted ins

t just ang

danger. R

ce ice cold. "We're going to play a game.

art s

dn't b

d race

iting at home, not knowing

ld end tonight. Ethan and I stood

grew darker was Ethan stepping quickly

the gun, his finger r