* * *

Now…Upper East Side, Manhattan

Lila stepped out of the dress, smiling as the assistant gathered the fabric up and stood, her eyes questioning. Lila nodded. ‘It’s perfect, thank you. I’m sorry you had to make those alterations, but Richard’s mother is a lot slimmer than I am.’

The assistant, Tess – they’d become good friends in the months since they’d met – rolled her eyes. ‘Oh stop. I’d kill for your curves.’

Lila flushed and thanked her as Tess turned to go. Lila looked in the long mirror at her reflection. This was really happening. Lila Tierney, artist, orphan, native of Seattle, Washington was marrying into one of the oldest, wealthiest of New York families. She who had spent many a night sleeping in her car because she couldn’t make rent or making a bag of rice last for a week. Stealing apples from neighbor’s trees with her best friend Charlie when they were kids in the children’s home.

Eighteen months since Richard’s proposal and she couldn’t quite believe the whirlwind that had overtaken her life. Now here she was, in the most exclusive bridal boutique in Seattle – one that was by invitation only – trying on dresses for their wedding. Thankfully Delphine – Richard’s effortlessly chic mother – had offered her own wedding dress, and although Lila had been skeptical, it was perfect, simple, light, comfortable but classic.

Lila shook her head. Jeez, what on Earth had happened to her? She wasn’t the type for tradition – or even marriage – but the joy she had seen in Richard’s eyes when she had agreed to marry him…his happiness made her glad. And his family – far from the Upper East Side snobs she’d expected – were welcoming, warm, especially Delphine who had taken the shy Lila under her wing and made her feel a part of their family. Delphine, the mother to five, didn’t play favorites with her children but did with their partners; Lila was her buddy, her pal and Lila was very fond of the older woman.

Her cell phone beeped. A text from her best friend, Charlie. How’s it going?

She called him back, her chest warming when she heard his deep, loving voice. ‘Delphine’s dress…it’s perfect, not over the top, but just…me.’

‘I’m glad to hear you’re not going too Upper East Side for me.’

She smiled down the phone at her old friend. ‘Hey, West Coast, Best Coast, always.’

‘Glad to hear it. Look, I might come and meet you, take you for lunch. I could be there in five minutes.’

She gave him the address. ‘I’m starving, so hurry.’

‘When are you not hungry, Fatty?’

She blew a raspberry down the phone and hung up, grinning to herself.

She dressed hurriedly, snagging her hairbrush and dragging it through her tangled, shoulder-length dark hair. Her simple cotton dress was pink and made her golden skin glow, her big violet eyes wide and shining. She smiled at her reflection. Lately, her face always seemed flushed and excited, and Lila decided it suited her.

She finished tidying herself up, grabbed her purse and pushed the curtain of the dressing room aside. She started as she saw a man, a ski mask covering his face, standing directly outside the cubicle then as he clamped a hand over her mouth and pushed her against the wall of the fitting room, she saw it. His knife. Without hesitation, her attacker drove the blade into her belly again and again.

Pain. Unimaginable pain.

Even if she could have, Lila had no time to scream.

Now…

Blink.

Pain. Someone screaming. She could smell blood.

Blink.

Someone talking to her. Lila? Sweetheart, can you hear me? Charlie. Help me.

Blink.

She’s losing too much blood; we have to get her to the theater now. Urgent, urgent.

Blink.

Who would do this?

Blink. ‘We’re putting you under now, Lila, just relax.’

Who did do this?

Blink.

Who would?

Who?

Eyes closing now, darkness.

Who?

…and why?

Three years earlier…East Village, Manhattan

Lila wiped down the bar as Mikey, the bar owner, locked the doors. It was a Saturday night - actually, it was Sunday now, Lila thought, glancing at the clock. Three a.m. and she had one last chore to do and then her bed was calling her. Mikey smiled gratefully at her.

‘Seriously, Lila, if you hadn’t volunteered to stay and help me clean up, I’d be here until Tuesday. What a night.’

‘Well if you will offer half-price beer…’

‘Wait…what?’

She grinned at him. ‘Kidding. Dude, I have Machiavellian reasons…Charlie and I were thinking about going to Seattle for a week. See the old stomping ground. Any chance I could get a week off soon?’

Mikey considered. ‘As long as we arrange cover, I don’t see why not. I’ll even throw in a week’s vacation pay in advance.’

Lila goggled at him, her large violet eyes wide. ‘Seriously?’

Mikey grinned as he stacked chairs on tables. ‘Of course, you think I’m a tyrant?’

‘I do not; I think you’re the best, thank you.’

‘You’re welcome. So tell me again…why aren’t you and Charlie a thing? Apart from him being the scariest mofo this side of the Hudson.’

Lila rolled her eyes. Since she’d started here a year ago, juggling bar work with her studies at the School of Visual Arts, she’d fallen in love with New York and the constant activity of it. Her best friend Charlie, the boy to whom she’d grown up closest to in the children’s home, now a police detective sergeant, had transferred with her from Seattle, much to her surprise and gratitude. They’d shared an apartment for a few weeks before Lila decided she wanted to see if she could strike out alone. Charlie had been understanding, had even helped her move out, and she was glad that their friendship was as strong as ever.

Charlie, a few years older than her at thirty-four, was a hard read for anyone who didn’t know him as well as Lila did. A serious, intense man, he nevertheless had no lack of female attention with his brooding, almost dangerous looks. His last girlfriend had reluctantly broken up with him when she realized he was never going to propose to her and since then he was the king of the one-night stand. Most nights, though, he would hang out with Lila, happy to watch TV. while she studied; he even cooked for her.

Lila adored Charlie, had done so since they were young and lived at the children’s home in Seattle. He had been fourteen; she had been a toddler when he took her under his wing. When she was nineteen, she helped him celebrate his thirtieth birthday by drinking (illegally) way too much tequila – it was the one and only time their relationship had turned sexual. Lila lost her virginity to Charlie that night, and while it was a wonderful, sensual night, they had never repeated it. Too much history and Lila was afraid of souring their friendship.

So, now, as she smiled at her boss, she shook her head. ‘Friend zone 101. And he’s not scary, he just keeps to himself. Admittedly,’ she laughed to herself, ‘he is the king of Resting Bitch Face. But, Mikey, if you knew him…he’s the kindest, warmest person ever.’

Mikey harrumphed. ‘I’ll take your word for it.’

There was a knock at the door that surprised them both. Mikey glanced out of the window and chuckled. ‘Speak of the devil…’

Charlie nodded as Mikey opened the door for him. ‘Thanks, man.’ His face softened when he saw Lila. ‘Hey, Snooks. On a night shift so thought I’d come give you a ride home.’

‘She could do with one,’ Mikey muttered, with meaning and Lila, flushing swiped at him then went to hug Charlie. ‘You’re a lifesaver.’

Outside, Charlie’s partner, Riley Kinsayle, a cheerful blonde detective grinned at her. ‘Hey, gorgeous. Still single?’ Riley, who had an enormous crush on Lila, never let the chance to flirt with her go by. He was the absolute antithesis of Charlie – open, gregarious, cute as all hell, with his messy blonde beard and a wide grin. If he hadn’t been Charlie’s partner then, Lila told herself, I would absolutely date Riley, but it was that ‘you don’t date your best friend’s friends’ thing. Occasionally, alone at night, Riley would creep into her fantasies – and sometimes, she grinned to herself, Riley and his twin brother, Woods – who admittedly was gorgeous but a real piece of work as well.

She pushed that thought away now as she climbed into the back of the car. Riley turned around. ‘Hey, you wanna ride up here? On my lap?’

She laughed and kissed his cheek. ‘Raincheck?’

‘You better bet ‘raincheck.'’

Charlie got into the driver’s seat and grinned at them both. See? Not scary, Lila thought fondly.

‘You want me to book this guy for harassment?’ He said to Lila, his voice a deep, slightly flat tone.

She grinned. ‘No way. If he stops, then you can book him for non-harassment.’

Riley laughed and high-fived her as Charlie gave a grunt. ‘That’s not a thing, you know.’

He pulled the car out onto – for New York – a quiet street and turned the car towards the Brooklyn Bridge. They chatted casually until suddenly Charlie slammed the brakes on and was out of the car, weapon drawn. Riley opened the car door. ‘Stay here, beautiful.’

Lila sat up, alarmed. Charlie and Riley ran to an alleyway where she could see a group of men gathered around someone on the floor. She watched as the two detectives approached, then as the group hurriedly disbanded, Charlie giving chase while Riley helped whoever it was to their feet. As Riley brought the figure nearer, she saw it was a young man, covered in blood, barely able to stand up. Lila opened the door and got out.

‘Jesus…here, Riley, put him in the back seat, and I’ll take care of him. Go help Charlie.’

Riley, grim-faced, nodded, although clearly not happy about leaving her alone with the injured man. He slotted him into the back seat of the car and Lila got in next to him, pulling off her over-shirt and using it to wipe some of the blood from the man’s eyes. He was obviously dazed, blood pouring from wounds on his face and jawline. He winced as he gently touched his face.

‘I think you’ve broken your cheekbone,’ she said gently, ‘not that I’m an expert. We’ll get you to the hospital, I promise, as soon as the guys come back.

She dabbed the blood as best she could without hurting him. After a while, she saw he was staring at her and smiled at him.

‘You’re really beautiful,’ he said in a cracked voice, and she chuckled.

‘And we’ll get you checked for concussion too,’ she joked, although concussion was a very real possibility in this case.

He smiled. He was good-looking, even with a messed up face, dark wavy short hair, and deep chocolate brown eyes, so full of pain at this moment that she couldn’t help smiling back and her heart began to thump just a fraction faster. ‘What’s your name, angel?’ His voice, still broken, was rich and warm.

‘Lila,’ she said, ‘Lila Tierney. And who are you?’

The man raised his hand and gently cupped her cheek. ‘Lila…I’m very, very pleased to meet you…I’m Richard…’

Now…Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan

‘Lila? Lila, dear, I’d like you to wake up now…it’s okay, just open your eyes.’

The woman had a soothing voice, and Lila wanted to do as she asked, but she was afraid. What would she see? Was she dead or alive?

Pain. Oh god, there it was, the wracking, searing agony she’d first felt when that knife had sliced mercilessly into her flesh. Instantly, she was back in the dressing room, smiling as she pulled the curtain back, then the shock, the breath being wrenched from her body as she was stabbed. Her attacker – her killer? – grunting as he attacked her, vicious, cruel blows. Him. A man. God help me…

‘Lila, it’s okay, it’s Doctor Honeychurch, please open your eyes if you can.’

A doctor, not an angel. Lila opened her eyes, wincing from the light, waking to a new horror. A tube down her throat and strangers around her.

No. Not all strangers. Charlie’s face was even more serious than usual, wracked with worry and pain, and was standing at the end of her bed. She lifted her hand and reached for him. Charlie glanced at the doctor who smiled at him encouragingly.

‘Please, take her hand. This is really good progress…she’s been in a coma for a month; this means she recognizes you.’

A month. Oh Jesus, no… A tear rolled down her face and Charlie moved quickly then, taking her hand and bending down to kiss her cheek, kissing the tear away. It was such a loving, tender thing to do…but it felt so wrong. As much as she adored Charlie, it should be Richard here, holding her hand, kissing her tears away. She grabbed Charlie’s hand, opening it to his palm. The doctor hovered in her peripheral vision.

‘Lila, please don’t over exert yourself.’ But she ignored her and with her finger, traced letters on Charlie’s palm.

Why here?

Charlie’s eyes were haunted. ‘You were stabbed, sweetheart.’ So she was remembering it right. God.

Why?

Stunned, she saw his eyes fill with water, and he looked away. ‘We don’t know, Lila. Not yet.’

How long?

‘A month, baby.’

Where’s Richard?

She saw him glance at the doctor and hesitate. The doctor gave a little shake of her head. Charlie gave Lila a smile – a forced one. ‘He’ll be here later, sweetheart.’

Lila, exhausted, let her hand drop. The doctor stepped in then, checking her reflexes, shining a light in her eyes. ‘Are you in pain, Lila?’

She tried to nod and the doctor, an African American woman with a kind, soothing face smiled at her. ‘Alright, I’ll get you some morphine. Try not to do too much, we’ve had to operate a bunch of times so your wounds are still raw. You kept trying to leave us, Lila, honey, but every time you changed your mind and came back. That’s my girl.’

She smoothed a warm hand onto Lila’s forehead. ‘You’re a little warm, so we’ll try and get your temperature down before we take that tube out, okay?’

Lila sighed. She felt bound up, the heavy bandaging on her belly and, weirdly, on her chest too – she didn’t remember being stabbed in the chest, but maybe it had been after she passed out. The thought made her want to vomit. Who could hate her that much?

She felt fatigue flood over her, and she closed her eyes again. As she sank back into sleep, she heard another voice, familiar, warm. Delphine.

‘How is she?’

‘Still too early to tell,’ Lila heard the doctor tell her would-be-mother-in-law, her friend. ‘She woke up and recognized Mr. Sherman, so that’s positive.’

There was a pause.

‘Does she know? Did you tell her?’ Lila was shocked at the pain in Delphine’s voice, and then Charlie cleared his throat.

‘No, we thought it wise not to upset her. We’ll tell her when she’s stronger.’

Tell me what? What the hell is going on? Who stabbed me?

And where the hell is Richard…?

Then… Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan

Lila stood at the elevator and hesitated. She had been determined to go visit Richard in the hospital after Charlie told her they were keeping him in with a head injury, but now, as she stood waiting, she felt dumb, awkward. He probably won’t even recognize me, she told herself, and I’ll make it uncomfortable. She hadn’t told Charlie her plan to visit the injured man, and now she didn’t know why. She just felt…something. A connection. She couldn’t get him out of her head. True, that night, after Richard had told her his name, he had collapsed into her arms, unconscious so by the time Charlie and Riley had returned to the car empty-handed, she was begging them to get to the hospital now and not wait for the paramedics. At the hospital, Richard had been borne away quickly into the labyrinth of the E.R. and Charlie had taken her home, still covered in Richard’s blood. The sudden silence of her tiny apartment seemed claustrophobic, and she’d been too keyed to sleep. Charlie had apologetically had to leave to file a report on the incident so Lila had simply decided to clean her whole apartment in a bid to exhaust herself into sleep. Luckily, Sunday was her one day off from all work and study commitments, so by the time nine o’clock came around, she showered then fell into bed and slept until three o’clock when Charlie knocked on her door with Chinese food.

The elevator doors opened, and before she could change her mind, she stepped onto it. To hell with it, she wanted to see if he was okay. Yeah, right, so nothing to do with his gorgeous brown eyes, then? ‘Shut up,’ she muttered to herself, ignoring the amused look a nurse gave her.

She found the floor he was on easily then again got cold feet. By the nurses’ station, she could see an elegant older woman with white hair, tall, talking to a doctor. She hovered near them, trying to hear if they mentioned anyone. Jackpot.

‘So Richard’s facilities remain as they were?’ The white-haired woman, spectacles pushed onto her nose, was ticking off items on a notepad. Lila saw the doctor repress a smile.

‘Mrs. Carnegie, as I said, Richard has a mild concussion and cuts and bruises. He was very lucky, given the severity of the injuries he might have received. Now I know he looks battered, and it’ll take some time for the swelling to go down but from the tests I’ve performed, there’s no brain damage. Your son’s ribs are understandably badly bruised but again, they'll heal just fine.’

The woman – Mrs. Carnegie – Richard’s mother – thanked the doctor who escaped with a look of relief. He nodded to Lila on the way past. Lila took a deep breath in and went up to the woman. ‘Excuse me?’

Mrs. Carnegie glanced at her over her glasses; severe at first then she smiled. ‘Yes, dear?’

Lila realized her own hands were sweating and wiped them on her jeans. ‘I couldn’t help but overhear – are you Richard’s mother?’

Her other woman smiled. ‘Yes, I am Delphine Carnegie…can I help you?’

‘Um…’ Lila got tongued-tied. ‘My name is Lila Tierney and I…’

‘Lila? You’re Lila?’ Suddenly the woman’s face changed, her eyes widened. ‘Oh, my dear!’

She threw her arms around an astonished Lila and burst into tears. Lila hugged her back awkwardly and then as Delphine’s sobs subsided, she took Lila’s face in her hands and kissed both cheeks. ‘Thank you, my dear, for looking after my son so well. He says you saved his life.’

Lila rocked back. ‘No, no, it wasn’t me it was the two cops with me – one is my friend, I wasn’t under arrest – they pulled the attackers off. I just…I just…’

Delphine wiped her eyes with a lace handkerchief and then tucked her arm under Lila’s. ‘Nonsense. You took care of him, in the car. He told me everything…now, when I last checked he was sleeping but let’s go see if he’s awake now.’

She was steering Lila inexorably towards a private room and Lila had no time to think before Delphine pushed the door open.

Richard Carnegie was reading, but as he looked up and saw her, a wide smile split his face – which made him wince as the movement pulled on some stitches. Still, his smile made Lila’s stomach warm.

‘Here she is,’ Delphine said, beaming at them both. ‘Look who’s here to see you.’

‘Lila…wow, it’s so good to see you, thank you for coming.’

Delphine maneuvered Lila into the chair next to his bed. ‘I’ll just go see where your father is,’ she said pointedly, with a grin and closed the door after her. Lila blushed furiously as Richard grinned at her.

‘I just wanted to see how you were,’ she said, hating that her voice trembled. The fact his face bruised and stitched didn’t detract from how handsome he was, how his eyes twinkled at her, his mouth seemingly set in a permanent smile.

‘I’m very well, actually, although I’m milking it a little for the Jello they keep bringing,’ he chuckled as she laughed.

‘I’m glad to hear it…unless it’s a disgusting flavor.’

‘It’s mostly orange, maybe a strawberry now and again.’

‘Nice. I like lime too.’

‘I had one once. They’re like gold dust apparently. We have to swap packs of cigarettes for those.’

She giggled. ‘Oh, you do?’

Richard nodded, looking comically smug. ‘I’m a favorite of Big Bernard’s.’

Lila snickered. ‘You mean you’re his bitch?’

‘Something like that,’ Richard laughed. He reached over and took her hand, winding his fingers between hers. ‘Seriously, though, Lila…thank you for coming. It gives me the chance to both say how much I appreciated your help that night…and to ask if I can see you again when they let me out of here?’

Her stomach flipped, and she flushed with pleasure. ‘I would like that…but I really didn’t do anything.’

He drew her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. ‘Yes, you did. If I had died that night, at least your lovely face would have been the last thing I ever saw. I’m okay with that.’

His compliment was lovely, but she couldn’t help the grin that crossed her face. ‘Dude…’

Richard laughed sheepishly. ‘Too cheeseball?’

‘A little but I’m okay with it.’

Richard leaned forward and tentatively brushed her lips with his. ‘So, can I see you again?’ God, he was a cheeseball but so, so adorable with it…

Lila leaned her forehead gently against his. ‘Yes, Richard Carnegie…you can…’

Then…Friedman’s Lunch on 9th, New York City

Charlie Sherman sat at his desk, staring into space. He didn’t hear when his partner Riley called him the first two times so when Riley threw a ball of paper at him, he looked up, annoyed. ‘What?’

Riley grinned easily at him. ‘I said, we going to this place for lunch or what? I’m starving over here.’

They walked the two blocks to the sandwich place. Riley ordered a Reuben’s while Charlie just stuck with black coffee. Riley smiled at his partner. ‘What’s with you? You’ve been quiet for days. Not that you’re not always quiet. But heck, you’re freaking me out. What gives?’

Charlie grinned suddenly at his friend. ‘Who needs to talk when you’re around, buddy?’

‘Fair point.’ Riley took a huge bite of his sandwich. ‘How’s my girlfriend?’

‘Lila?’ Charlie laughed and shook his head. ‘Dude, you wish. Anyway, she’s good. I think she’s gone to see Richard Carnegie today.’

Riley’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Really?’ Then he laughed. ‘Knowing Lila, she has no idea who the Carnegie’s are.’

Charlie looked confused, and Riley sighed. ‘If you hadn’t landed me with the paperwork, you would know that the Carnegies are old money – serious New York old money. Richard Carnegie Senior is Bill Gates times a million. Absolute genius. Richard Junior, same thing. Harvard grad, brilliant, loaded and good-looking. And right now, probably hitting on my girlfriend.’ Riley suddenly looked crestfallen, and Charlie chuckled.

‘Yep, try and compete with that, buddy.’

Riley studied him. ‘Can I ask you something?’

‘Go for it.’

‘I’m serious now…if I had the ‘in’ you have with a woman like Lila…there’s no way I’d let her go. Let some other schmuck graze on that pasture. No way.’

Charlie laughed. ‘’Graze on that pasture’? Dude, that’s gross.’

Riley shrugged. ‘I thought it was poetic.’

‘This,’ Charlie said, stealing a French fry and pointing at Riley, ‘this is why you’re single. Anyway, Lila has the hots for Woods, she told me.’

‘Oh ha ha,’ Riley scowled at his partner. ‘Don’t invoke the Evil W.’

Riley and Woods Kinsayle’s sibling rivalry was the stuff of legend. Riley blamed his overly competitive father, always pitting the twins against each other from birth but the glee with which Woods, his older brother by five minutes, carried on the ‘feud’ into adulthood was annoying. Woods, a sports agent, crowed over his ‘lowly’ cop brother all the time, and it didn’t help that his gung-ho father loved his college football more than life. Both of them dismissed Riley’s career as if it were nothing. Thankfully, Riley was old enough to ignore the petty childishness of it – and lately, Woods had seemed more supportive.

‘Yo, kids. ‘

Charlie looked up at the precinct’s desk sergeant, Joseph Deacon, a large dyed-in-the-wood New Yorker with the accent to prove it. ‘Hey, Joe, you want something to eat?’

Joe looked regretful. ‘Nah, Claudia’s got me on a diet.’

Riley snorted. ‘Bummer. Joe, you really are a character from those old cop shows, aren’t you?’

Joe grinned good-naturedly. ‘You got it, kid. Anyway, I was sent to find you. Deke pulled in one of the guys from that assault a few nights ago. The Carnegie kid.’

Charlie and Riley got up and went back to the station. Deke Holmes, a detective from another precinct, greeted them. ‘Thought you might want this one.’

They thanked him and soon they were facing the arrested man. Charlie studied him; dirty, edgy, continually sniffing. Stereotypical junkie, who he’d expect to find out on the streets at that time of night. They interviewed him, but he didn’t tell them anything they didn’t know.

Afterward, back at their desks, Charlie finally confessed to why he’d been distracted earlier, and Riley nodded along as Charlie said aloud what they’d both been thinking.

What the hell was a guy like Richard Carnegie doing on the mean streets of New York at three am.?

Now… Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan

Just five minutes, Lila thought, five minutes without pain, that’s all I ask. It was searing, agony shooting through her with every movement. He really sliced and diced me, she thought now, with a humorless snort of laughter. Whoever you are, I hope you rot in hell.

She’d woken up in the worst mood a few hours ago and couldn’t go back to sleep. The repetitive bleep-bleep of the machines keeping her alive was getting on her nerves as was the tube down her throat. With any luck, they'd take it out, now she was doing better.

Was she doing better? She didn’t know. The doctors and nurses talked in hushed tones, just outside her room – it made her paranoid. Not as much, however, as when Charlie and Delphine did the same thing. There were no words for how pissed she was at two of the people she loved most in the world. No-one was telling her anything.

And where the fuck was Richard? He was the person she was the angriest at. She knew she was wallowing in self-pity, but she’d been stabbed, for Christ’s sake. Shouldn’t he be here, holding her hand? She entertained a thought of him rending his clothes at the sorry sight of her…now you are being a drama queen, she thought. But it was breaking her heart not knowing where he was…oh God. The thought hit her like a sledgehammer.

Was Richard dead? Did whoever stab her almost to death kill Richard too? No, no…She couldn’t stop the hot tears then, and she started to sob, choking on the tube down her throat. Oh god…that’s why they weren’t telling her anything…now she couldn’t breathe, the panic attack overwhelming her. No oxygen, no oxygen…the machines beside went crazy, nurses rushing in, garbled voices, a prick as a needle pierced her arm and then…

Darkness.

‘We had to sedate her, I‘m afraid, she had a panic attack. When she woke, she was calmer. She indicated that she wanted the tube out so we’ve asked for Dr. Honeychurch to come see if we can do that for her. We think Lila’s suffering from depression…she’s very down. Why don’t you go sit with her?’

Charlie nodded, his face set. Delphine sighed, looking exhausted and patted his back. ‘You go in. I want to phone home, see if someone can come sit with her. Maybe Cora.’

‘I thought you said Cora was too fragile to see Lila like this?’

Delphine, suddenly looking every one of her seventy years, shrugged helplessly. ‘I think Lila’s need is more pressing. You should get some rest too, Charles, you’ve been here practically every day.’

‘I do what I need to do for her,’ he said gruffly, then impulsively kissed Delphine’s cheek. ‘I should check in at work, though, see if there’s…’ He trailed off, but Delphine understood.

‘I’m going to call Cora now.’

Charlie waited until the woman had moved away then knocked softly on Lila’s door. His friend was staring out of the window, dark shadows under her eyes, her cheekbones – never prominent before in her softly rounded face – were sticking out. Her whole demeanor screamed hopelessness.

‘Lila,’ he said softly, and she looked at him with dead, flat eyes. The startling violet had dimmed to a dingy purple, and the depths of pain in them were hard to look at. The hated tube down her throat was obviously uncomfortable. Lila pointed to the pad and pencil on the table next to her, and he handed them to her.

I hate this.

Charlie took her hand. ‘I know, sweetheart, I know. But, please, you have to get better. For me. For the people who love you.’

She stared at him, her expression was hard, and when she wrote again, she pressed down on the paper so hard the paper ripped slightly.

I’m so fucking pissed at whoever did this.

‘Me too, darling, believe me. I can’t believe anyone would do this to you, of all people.’ He stroked her cheek, and she leaned into his touch, her eyes filling with tears.

She hesitated before writing again and when she did, her tears splashed on the paper.

Is Richard dead?

Charlie read the note and looked up in shock. ‘No, no, God, no he’s fine, he’s…Jesus…’ He looked away from her. Lila scratched out another note and tapped him furiously on the arm until he looked at it.

Then why the FUCK isn’t he here?! What the hell is going on, Charlie, and don’t fob me off, or I’ll rip this tube out of my own throat and stick it down yours!

Charlie half-smiled. ‘Don’t do that…just, breathe deep and I’ll tell you. Promise?’

She nodded, never taking her eyes from him. Charlie blew out his cheeks.

‘Okay…Lila, sweetheart, Richard isn’t here because he’s not allowed to come. He can’t come. He’s in jail.

Her eyes nearly boggled out of her head. Why? Does he know who tried to kill me? Did he go after them?

Charlie shook his head slowly and met her gaze. For a second they just stared at each other then he saw realization dawn on her face. She shook her head.

No. No. I won’t believe it.

Charlie took her hand again, but she shook him away.

Say it, Charlie. Say the words out loud or I won’t believe it.

Charlie reached over to cup her cheek. ‘I’m so sorry, baby…Richard has been arraigned. He’s been charged with soliciting your murder. Honey…Richard was the one who tried to have you killed…’

Lila’s breath was coming in short gasps, and she was trembling violently and even with the tube in her throat, the scream that came from the very core of her was a keening, howling sound of unutterable grief.

Charlie would never forget it.

Then…Diner, East Village, Manhattan

‘I cannot believe you’re a grown man, and you still like PB&J. Are you five? And with French fries and pickle? So gross.’ Lila grinned at Richard as they sat in the midnight diner. Richard laughed.

‘Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. You must have a weird food thing, everyone does,’ he waved a French fry in front of her until she snapped at it, clenching it between her teeth and he chuckled.

‘Oh, okay, let me think…while stealing more of your French fries…’ Lila shoved another one in her mouth and chewed. ‘Okay…how about pretzels dipped in Nutella?’

‘That’s not weird. Come on, you’re not even trying…’

‘Pineapple on pizza.’

‘That’s gross but pretty mainstream. Ante up, Tierney.’

She grinned at him. This was their third date since he had gotten out of the hospital and she had to admit, every single one of them had been fun, playful teasing and getting to know each other. Tonight, he’d come to meet her after work, surprising her but she had felt such joy when she saw his boyish grin, that she forgot all her rules about not mixing work and pleasure and introduced him to her friends there. Tinsley, the new girl from Australia, had nudged her when Richard was talking to Mikey.

‘Girl, you get on that as soon as you can.’

Lila had flushed. Although she hated to admit it, she couldn’t think of anything but his hands on her when they were together. So far, he’d kissed her cheek, brushed her lips lightly with his but hadn’t tried anything and God, she wanted him. She looked at him now in his t-shirt and blue jeans and wondered what it would be like to slide her hands under that shirt and…

‘Lila?’

She shook herself and grinned ruefully. ‘Sorry, miles away. Um…I really can’t think of anything.

Richard - Rich, he said, Richard is my father – shook his head, disappointed. ‘You failed me.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘You’ll have to make it up to me.’ And there it was, the look he’d given her that first night, the one that could burn her clothes from her body, inflame the desire deep inside her. Lila couldn’t look away from those dark, dark eyes…

‘I can certainly try,’ she said in a quiet voice. Without looking away from her, Richard raised his hand. ‘Check, please,’ he said calmly.

In his car, he took her hand but made no other move to touch her. Lila’s heart was beating out of her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Even in the elevator, he didn’t touch her, prolonging the agony although she could see his erection pressing hard against the denim of his jeans. His eyes ranged slowly all over her body until, as the elevator, stopped, he met her gaze again. He held out his hand to her, and she took it, feeling the jolt as his skin touched hers.

He led her into his penthouse, but she barely registered her surroundings. They moved straight to his bedroom and when she stepped into the room, he turned and took her in his arms, his mouth on hers. God, that kiss…she felt it in every cell of her body. His hands slid gently under her t-shirt, and she raised her arms so he could slide it from her, dropping it to the floor.

As if the fabric hitting the floor was a starter gun, suddenly they were tearing each other’s clothes off, gasping, breathless in their desperation and when they fell onto the bed, naked, Lila knew this was right, this was what she wanted. She curled her legs around his waist as he kissed her, his cock hard against her thigh and Jesus, but she wanted him inside her, urged him to hurry. Richard groped in his nightstand for a condom, and she rolled it onto his quivering, hard cock as he smiled down at her.

‘So beautiful,’ he said and gathered her to him. His cock teased her sex sliding up and down in her slick crevice before at last, he thrust deep into her cunt. Lila gasped as he filled her, rocking against him, spreading her legs wider to accommodate his size. Richard’s pace quickened as he slammed into her harder and harder, his hands locked either side of her head, his eyes on hers. Lila arched her back, her belly touching his and he groaned. ‘God, yes...Lila…’

Her fingernails dug into his back, clawing at him, wanting him deeper and deeper, his sac hard against her butt as his cock drilled into her. She bit down on his shoulder and heard him give a short laugh. ‘I’m going to rip you in half, little girl,’ he growled, and she came as he drove himself into her. Richard’s orgasm came in a rush then, shuddering and moaning, and they collapsed together, still connected. She loved the feel of his cock inside her, even as his erection faded and Richard made no move to pull away. He lay on top of her, smoothing the damp hair away from her face. ‘I never want to be anywhere but buried in your delicious cunt,’ he murmured, and she grinned, thrilled by his coarseness, her sex again beginning to swell around his cock. Her clit felt like it might explode when his fingers found it, and she moaned softly, and he began to rub and tease it. His lips were at her ear. ‘Sweet, sweet Lila, I’m going to fuck that sweetness out of you, keep you all to myself, take you in every way you’ve ever dreamed of.’ He moved down the bed and caught each of her nipples in his mouth, sucking and teasing then biting gently down on the nub, looking up at her with those soulful, wicked brown eyes of his. ‘I could eat you whole,’ he whispered and ran his tongue down her stomach until it dipped into the hollow of her navel. She shivered as he moved down and then his mouth was on her, his tongue lashing around the hyper-sensitive clit.

Lila moaned as waves and waves of pleasure crashed over her as Richard went down on her, his fingers clamped onto her hips, his tongue lapping and driving her towards an unbelievable orgasm. No sooner had she come, crying his name, then he launched his diamond-hard cock back into her, and Lila thought she might lose her mind. Richard, above her, looked victorious, and he made her come over and over.

Finally spent, they wrapped their arms around each other, studying the other’s face as they caught their breath. Richard rubbed his nose gently against hers, his dark eyes shining.

‘That was incredible,’ Lila was still breathless, her whole body on fire, every nerve-ending vibrating with pleasure.

‘You are incredible,’ Richard said, running his hand down the length of her body. ‘So sexy, so soft…Lila Tierney, you make my brain go to mush…’

She grinned. ‘So, no change there then.’

Richard laughed. ‘And you bust my balls…so to speak.’ They both laughed, and Lila sighed happily.

‘If only a beat down wasn’t the reason we met.’

Richard kissed her gently. ‘Totally worth it.’

Lila cupped his cheek in her palm. ‘You never did tell me what happened that night. Charlie told me you weren’t pressing charges.’

Richard looked uncomfortable. ‘Do we have to talk about it now? It was a just a mugging. I’d rather it wasn’t made public, is all.’

Lila shrugged. ‘That’s fair, I was just wondering. Charlie’s been…’

‘Charlie’s been what?’ His response was snapped at her, and she rocked back.

‘Nothing.’

Richard looked immediately contrite. ‘Sorry, baby, I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just that guy pushes my buttons.’

‘Who, Charlie?’ It was Lila’s turn to look uncomfortable. ‘He can be too serious, sometimes. It’s just his way; he doesn’t mean anything by it.’

Richard looked at her, half-smiling. ‘He’s around you too much, and he’s just too darn tall plus he’s got that Neanderthal like machismo going on.’

Lila chuckled. ‘He does come across like that, I’ll admit. You jealous?’

Richard looked as if he was about to protest then grinned good-naturedly. ‘A little. I hate that you’re around him all the time.’

‘He’s my family,’ she said quietly, and he kissed.

‘I know. Ignore my pathetic male ego. Anyway, I really don’t want to talk about Charlie Sherman when you’re lying naked in my bed.’ He pulled her on top of him and kissed her. ‘How about we forget about everyone else and just do this all night?’

She grinned down at him. ‘Now that, Mr. Carnegie, is a very good idea…’

Now…

Every time he closed his eyes, he relived that moment. The moment his knife plunged deep into Lila’s abdomen, her wide, shocked eyes, the slight catch of the fabric of her dress as the knife cleaved it then sank all the way into her soft belly. God, the feeling. He had stabbed her quickly, but he recalled every second, ripping the blade out then plunging it back into her body. And God, at that moment, she was more beautiful than ever.

The first six blows then she passed out, and he lowered her to the floor, crouching to stab her again, her blood soaking the thin cotton, making it stick to her skin. He stabbed the knife into the deep hollow of her navel again and again as his cock stiffened, blood-lust in his veins. He finally stopped, breathless, and stood, not able to tear his eyes away from her. Her dark red blood was pooling around her, her breathing labored.

I love you so much, he thought, so very much, my beautiful Lila… He gripped the knife and knelt to slide it between her ribs into her heart, to finish it, but then he stopped, froze.

He heard the saleswoman’s voice and regretfully – and with a last look back at the dying woman on the floor, darted out of the fire exit door through which he had made his entrance. As he made his getaway, he heard the scream of the saleswoman as she found Lila’s body and smiled to himself.

There was no way she would survive that attack. No way.

Except now he knew – she had. Was lying in a hospital bed, alive. Which meant that once again, he would have to plan things carefully. It wouldn’t be so easy this time; she would be protected, cared for, on the look-out for danger. So, he would be careful, vigilant, organized.

Because when he stabbed her the next time, he would make certain she was dead…

Now…Lenox Hill Hospital

Lila took the cup of ice chips the nurse held out and scarfed some down gratefully.

‘Pace yourself,’ the nurse chided. ‘Just because you’ve had that damn tube out doesn’t mean you’re not still very sick. Your temp’s up and the doc won’t be happy about that. You still in pain, hun?’

Her mouth full of ice, Lila nodded. She wasn’t making it up either; the hated tube was out, but her whole torso felt like it was on fire. The doctor told her it was to be expected. ‘The knife shredded your intestines, Lila; it’s a miracle you haven’t had a major infection up to now. Plus your muscles, your damaged liver…it’s going to take time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.’

Worse than the belly pain, though, was the fact she could barely feel her legs. She could wiggle her toes, but the pins and needle would not abate, and more than once she had woken up screaming from the cramp.

Lila tried to stay positive, but it was difficult. Worse now she knew the police thought Richard was involved. No way, she thought, there’s no way. As soon as the tube had come out, she wanted to ask for a telephone but knew they wouldn’t let her speak to him. Charlie would be furious. He and Richard had never seen eye-to-eye, but this was beyond a jealous spat. Delphine, in tears, had told her that Charlie had apologized to her for arresting Richard but the only lead they had was him and that Charlie told her he couldn’t tell her why. Apparently, Richard had gone with the police without protest, telling his mother in a dead voice. ‘I knew they were going to come for me, Mom. I didn’t do this, but I know why they think I did. Tell Lila I love her, please.’

And Delphine kept her word, and Lila had squeezed the distressed woman’s hand, trying to comfort her the best she could. She wrote ‘I believe him, Delphine. No way was it, Richard.’

Delphine had smiled at her through her tears. We all love you so much, Lila Belle,’ she used the nickname that she had given Lila almost as soon as she met her, ‘we all do but no-one more than Richard. You are his life.’

I know. I know I am.. A small part of her spoke up. If Richard wants me dead, then maybe I should be…but she pushed that thought away. Stop wallowing in self-pity. Get better. Do what the doctors say. Go fight for Richard.

But suddenly being dead didn’t seem the worst thing in the world. I will save you, Richard Carnegie, if it’s the last thing I do.

There was a small tap on the door, and a small red-haired girl peeked around it. Lila felt herself relax and smile. ‘Cora, darling…’

Richard’s youngest sister, Cora, slid into the room and over to her side. Her large green eyes were wide and wary. ‘Can I hug you?’ Her voice wavered.

Lila reached out her arms, and Cora went into them. Lila hid a wince of pain as Cora hugged her tightly. ‘I’ve been so worried, L-Belle,’ the younger woman said finally, dragging a chair over to Lila’s side.

‘Don’t be scared, C-Belle,’ Lila grinned. Almost as soon as they had met, she and Cora had connected, a deep, binding connection almost as strong as her relationship with Richard. Cora – ‘Cora Belle’ to her Mom hence the nicknames – was nineteen now, a slim, petite redhead with a thousand watt smile and an adorable lisp when she talked. Fragile physically and mentally, she hero-worshipped Lila as her sister. Her two older half-sisters were neither warm nor loving – Delphine, the mother of them all, called her two eldest children ‘The Foundlings’ behind their backs. ‘I cannot fathom how two such cold creatures came from my womb,’ she would often say about Judith and Flora, ‘they must take after their father.’

Delphine’s first husband had died three years after they were married, a sudden heart attack. ‘Brought on by sheer bile,’ Delphine would mutter, almost gleefully.

Judith and Flora barely tolerated their younger siblings: Richard, another son Harry who lived in Australia, and then the surprise baby of the family, Cora, who had been born when Delphine was fifty.

Cora and Lila had become like sisters almost straight away – Judith, and especially Flora couldn’t stand Lila, her artistic skills, her rebellious nature, her independence all at odds with their Victorian attitudes. On the few occasions she had met them – and caught them bullying Cora – she’d called them out to their faces, not standing on ceremony at all. She apologized afterward to Delphine, but Delphine had cackled wildly. ‘Don’t apologize, it was almost regal.’

This, this was why she loved the Carnegies. Richard Carnegie Sr. was the most serene, calm, intelligent man she’d ever met and she, like his children, doted on him.

‘When I look at you and Richard,’ Lila told Delphine, ‘that’s what I want. A partnership, a great friendship as well as passion.’

And she had that with Richard… used to have it, she amended with a pang. Lately…not so much. She smiled at Cora now.

‘You look good, birdie. How’s college?’

Cora smiled. Like Lila, she was a passionate artist and was enrolled at the same art college as Lila. ‘Everyone asks after you,’ she said now, ‘they all send their love. I miss you, L-Belle, at home, we all do. I…’ She trailed off and looked away. Lila guessed what she was thinking.

‘I miss you too. And Richard…I miss him terribly. He didn’t do this, you know. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t. As soon as I get out of here, I’ll be making sure they know that.’

Cora was chewing her lip. ‘Are you sure?’

Lila squeezed her hand. ‘You bet,’ she smiled to try and alleviate the tension. ‘I’ll be Erin Brockovich until they let him out.’

‘No,’ Cora hesitated, and her lip wobbled, ‘…are you sure it wasn’t Richard who did this?’

Lila stared at her in shock. Cora was Richard’s biggest fan; her adored infallible older brother. No…no, this wasn’t right.

‘Cora, you must never say that again, do you understand? To anyone! Of course, I’m sure…Richard would never do this to me, not ever – ‘

‘He was screwing somebody else.’

It was like a wrecking ball to the chest hearing it said out loud, and Lila had to gasp for air. Tears poured from Cora’s face. ‘I’m so sorry, Lila, I couldn’t not tell you after all of this. I only found out a few days ago, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head.’

‘He wouldn’t…’ You know he was, you know it, don’t deny it… Lila squeezed her eyes shut, felt a wave of dizziness, of nausea and pressed her hand to her chest. Another panic attack on its way…breathe…breathe...

Cora stood and grabbed the call button, and instantly a nurse came through the door. Lila could hear her saying something and Cora saying ‘She can’t breathe…’ She heard a deeper voice…Charlie?

I’m alright, I’m okay, she wanted to scream at them, but nothing would come out, and now her lungs were burning, but all she could think about was how she used to believe that Richard would never, ever cheat on her…

…and how, now, she knew without a doubt that he had.

Now…Lenox Hill Hospital

Charlie took Cora by the upper arm as he caught her at the door of the hospital and steered her to a quiet place. ‘Why the hell did you tell her that?’ He kept his voice low, but Cora could see how angry he was.

‘I’m sorry, Charlie…she was just sitting there defending him, all those tubes stuck in her arm and I couldn’t bear it.’

Charlie’s face softened as he looked down at the young woman, so broken-hearted and vulnerable. He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I’m sorry, Cora…I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just…I care about her, you know, I hate seeing her like this.’

Cora nodded. ‘I know. God, Charlie, every night I go to bed and lay there awake trying to figure out who would do this. And the only answer, the only motive belongs to my brother.’ She looked at Charlie’s set face. ‘I know you are on both sides of this, wanting to find who did it and having to arrest my brother. I’m so sorry, Charlie. I want you to know none of us blame you for Rich’s arrest.’

‘I want to know who did this Lila. That’s all.’

Cora sighed. ‘Look, you go back in, I’m going to go home and talk to my mom. I want to be there for Lila…especially after all she’s done for me.’

Charlie nodded. ‘Okay, pickle.’

Cora gave him a smile. ‘You know you’re the only person who calls me that. Lila says you never call anyone by a nickname except me.’

Charlie smiled back at her. ‘Can’t help feeling like you’re my little sister too.’

Cora drove home to the vast family mansion in Westchester. Once a home of love and laughter, now it rang with sadness and hurt. Her father had disappeared into his work; her mother had canceled all of her committees and social events. Cora knew everyone in their circle was talking about them. The prodigal son in jail for the brutal stabbing of his beautiful bride-to-be. It was unthinkable. She had tried going back to school – had lasted a day before the whispers and loaded glances got too much. She’d almost broken her sobriety, found someone who had connections in the college dorms… she had resisted. Just. The thought that kept her going wasn’t that she would spiral down immediately had she taken something but the hell and the pain her family – and Lila - would go through if she did.

Because Lila and Richard were the ones who had gotten her straight in the first place. Both of them had risked their reputations, their position, and their lives to help her get free of that life and she would not betray them by falling back into addiction.

Never again…

Then… Mickey’s Bar, Manhattan

Late night, Friday night, Mickey’s Bar was busy. Lila, not working for once, was sitting in a booth with Charlie watching Richard and Riley, Charlie’s partner, howling with laughter at the bar with Mickey. Tinsley, the Australian waitress who’d been there for a month and was already Lila’s good friend, winked at them as she moved around the bar. Lila noticed she colored a little as she looked at Charlie then looked away when she saw his set face. Lila nudged Charlie, sitting stone-faced next to her. ‘You are scaring people again. Quit scowling.’

He shrugged. ‘Wasn’t aware I was, sorry. Just thinking about work.’

‘Bullshit,’ Lila hissed under her breath, and he turned to her, his full attention on her now.

‘Huh?’

She looked at him, her violet eyes flashing with annoyance. ‘You hate Richard. Just be honest about it, Charlie, you hate him and always have.’ She grabbed her glass and got up, intending to go over to her boyfriend and Riley, who were playing pool. Charlie reached out and grabbed her wrist.

‘No, don’t go, I’m sorry.’

Lila sat back down with a sigh. ‘At least, tell me why you don’t like him.’

Charlie rolled his shoulders. ‘I don’t dislike him…I just don’t trust him.’

Lila looked at him coolly. ‘Because?’

‘Something’s hinky. What the hell was he doing on that street at three am.? Dude’s loaded, seriously loaded, and yet he’s on skid row getting a beat down by known junkies? Nah, hinky.’

Lila sighed and rubbed her eyes. ‘So what? I can tell you – he’s not on drugs. Even you can’t see any signs.’

Charlie nodded. ‘I admit that freely…he’s not using so the only explanation is that he was dealing.’

Lila slammed her glass down on the table and did get up that time and Charlie didn’t stop her, but she could feel him watching her as she crossed to the bar.

‘Another Grey Goose please, Michael. Straight up.’

Her boss squinted at her. ‘Not like you, Lila, but hey, it’s your night off and more profit for me so…’ He grinned as he poured her a drink then frowned as she downed it in one. ‘You’re pissed about something.’

‘Just…’ she sighed, ‘Don’t worry about it. Thanks, Mikey.’

She went over to Richard who was bemoaning his loss at the pool table to a gleeful Riley. She kissed Richard’s cheek. ‘Can we go?’

Richard didn’t hesitate. ‘Of course, baby.’ He stuck his hand out to Riley who, grinning, shook it. ‘Rematch, dude? You gotta let me try and win my money back.’

‘Absolutely, man, you just let me know when I can whip your ass again, and I’ll be there,’ Riley’s handsome face was split with the biggest grin and Lila was grateful that at least one of her friends liked Richard. They said goodbye to Riley and waved to Mikey. Richard stopped her as she reached the door.

‘Hey, you wanna say goodbye to Charlie?’

Lila hesitated and glanced over to her friend. He was deep in conversation with a blushing Tinsley. ‘No, it’s okay, don’t wanna be the third wheel.’

Outside the evening was cool, and as they got into Richard’s car, he looked over at her and smiled. ‘Want to go for a drive?’

She grinned back at him, her eyes soft. ‘Sure.’

‘We can go parking, like in yesteryear.’ He pulled a face.

She laughed. ‘Yep, the days of yore. I’ll probably do some modern day stuff to you, though.’

‘Such a dirty girl, I can’t wait.’

They drove around the city for a while trying to find somewhere they could park the car and as Richard put it, ‘make out like teenagers’ but in the end, they got so fed up and horny, they drove back to her place.

Lila loved that, in the month they had been dating, Richard had spent as much time here hanging out with her as they did in his penthouse apartment. He teased her about her books, piled high, some of them even serving as an improptu coffee table. He spent hours looking at her artwork and talking about art with her. They would turn all the lights off except the string of twinkle lights along her bookshelf, drink wine, listen to music.

He had no pretensions, none that she would have expected but then again, when she’d met Delphine and Richard Sr., she realized where his every-man charm came from.

Now, on her single bed, they stripped off, tumbling together onto the hard mattress (the only thing he complained about) and made love, completely absorbed in each other as they moved together.

Afterward, famished, they ordered pizza and ate it in bed, chatting about school and work and what to do the next night. There was never any question that they spend their free time together – they were still in that heady, love-struck phase.

‘So when do you finish school for the summer?’

‘A couple of months. I do love it, but I’m looking forward to a break. Why?’

Richard smiled, hooking a lock of her hair over her ear. ‘Because I thought we could take a trip together…Paris, London, wherever you want. My treat, of course.’

Lila picked at her pizza, feeling uncomfortable. ‘Rich…’

‘I know what you’re going to say. But it’s a gift from me to you; a thank you gift if you like.’

She shook her head, half-smiling. ‘You can’t get around it like that.’

Richard sighed. ‘Look, Lila, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Yes, I have money. I’ve been very lucky both with my family and in business. That’s just reality. But I’m also just a guy who wants to go on a vacation with his girlfriend. Do I not get to do that because I’m rich?’

She touched his face. ‘But I don’t want to be…kept.’

Richard laughed out loud. ‘You are nothing of the sort. Look, we can even do a budget, backpacking thing if you like, if that’s what makes you feel better.’

Lila was surprised. ‘Really? You’d do that?’

Richard stroked her cheek. ‘Of course. For you, anything.’

Lila wound her arms around his neck. ‘In that case…yes, I’d love to travel with you, Richard.’

He kissed her thoroughly then looked at her with a wicked look on his face. ‘Can I make one suggestion…as a compromise?’

She squinted at him in amusement. ‘What?’

‘Paris…that’s luxury and all on me.’ He studied her face and she shook her head, laughing.

‘Oh if you must…’

He grinned and pushed her down onto the bed, covering her body with his. ‘Thank you, Lila…now, let me show you just how thankful for you I am…’

Afterward, Rich slept as Lila lay awake, unable to sleep. She was chewing over the idea of Rich’s offer. She’d love nothing more than to travel with him – and she was touched by his understanding of her financial situation. She knew, if she let him, he would pay for…well, her entire life, really but she would not let that happen. They had to have some kind of parity.

Something else was bothering her too…Charlie. Despite her annoyance with him, she had to admit he had a point; what had Rich been doing on that street that night? She couldn’t believe he was dealing – why the hell would he need to? He was a billionaire, several times over. She turned on her side and gazed at him…she had no experience with drugs except the odd joint now and again so she didn’t know what a high-functioning junkie would look like. Was he using? He didn’t have track marks, that much was obvious, so whatever it was, it was going up his nose...

Stop it, don’t think like that. Charlie’s just being over-protective as usual.

She closed her eyes and willed sleep to come but couldn’t get the thought out of her mind. Just ask him. She sighed. Later, another time. After all, was it any of her business?

She had a lot to learn about Richard, she knew, it was just…she had already fallen hard for him, and Lila didn’t want anything to break this blissful bubble she was in…

Now…Lenox Hill Hospital

Dr. Honeychurch wrote down Lila’s latest vitals then frowned at her. ‘You’re not doing as well as I would hope by this point,’ she said gently. ‘We’ve handled the risk of infection, and your wounds are healing well. But I’m worried, Lila. I think we need to set up a session with a serious neuro specialist because your nerves are obviously badly damaged, and I’m concerned your spinal injuries will affect your range of movement.’

She moved to the foot of Lila’s bed and raised the covers. ‘Can you feel this?’ She drew her finger up both of Lila’s feet.

Lila nodded. ‘I can feel it, but the pins and needles are still there. I have been walking, but it’s like walking on someone else’s legs.’

‘Right. And how’s the pain?’

Lila sighed and shrugged. ‘Pretty bad but it is what it is.’

Dr. Honeychurch pursed her lips. ‘I think I’ll change up your meds. You really shouldn’t be in this much discomfort still.’

Lila looked at her. ‘Do you think it could be psychosomatic? I’m all for finding out.’

Dr. Honeychurch smiled. ‘I don’t know, but that’s the right attitude. How’s the counseling going?’

‘Good. Slow but good, although I just wish I knew…’ She trailed off as Delphine Carnegie knocked and poked her head around the door

‘Is this okay? I can come back.’

The doctor looked as if she was about to agree to that but Lila shook her head. ‘No, please, come in.’ She smiled at the doctor. ‘Delphine and I have no secrets; she was to be my mother-in-law after all.’

Delphine’s eyes widened, but she said nothing, sitting in the chair in the corner so not to get in the way.

‘Well, look, I’m going to go see if I can make an appointment with the neuro gods. Just happens we have a superstar attending neurosurgeon visiting for a week. He’s from your old haunt, actually,’ the doctor was scribbling on her notes, ‘Seattle-born boy. Nice fella too.’ She leaned in conspiratorially. ‘Has already won every surgical award going and he’s not even forty yet. That’s who you want on your case.’

With a smile, she left Lila and Delphine alone. It was the first time Delphine had been to see her since Charlie had told Lila about Richard’s arrest and Lila could see the upset, the wariness in the older woman’s eyes. She reached out a hand to Delphine, and she could see Delphine relax slightly. ‘Come sit with me,’ Lila said and when Delphine was settled, Lila fixed her with a steady look. ‘Richard did not do this. I believe that with everything I have, with every cell in my body. He did not do this, Delphine.’

Delphine promptly burst into tears. ‘Oh my little darling, I’m so sorry. Thank you for saying that…I’ve been so worried. I know my son, and he simply isn’t capable.’

Lila tried to smile through her own tears. ‘I know. He’s flawed, and spoilt,’ – she grinned playfully at Delphine at that – ‘and sometimes the biggest pain in the ass but a murderer he is not. I will not believe it until Richard himself tells me it’s true.’

Her smiled faded. ‘Delphine…Cora told me that…’ She couldn’t get the words out and choked a little, breathing deeply. ‘He cheated on me.’ She said the words in a rush to help soften the blow, but her own heart clenched with sadness. ‘Now that…sadly I can believe.’

Delphine was staring at her in horror. ‘Sweetheart…no. He loves you. Deeply.’

Lila nodded. ‘Oh, I know that, I do. But Delphine…he’s done it before.’

Delphine got up, shaking her head. ‘He wouldn’t, Lila. He just – ‘

‘He told me.’ Lila said in a small voice. ‘He confessed it to me. I just didn’t listen at the time, blocked it out. But hearing Cora say the words…I assume the police think that’s the motive for the stabbing. Which is why I know he didn’t do this – or rather – it’s another reason I know he wouldn’t do this. He confessed once – in a rather roundabout way – so why wouldn’t he just say, ‘Lila, I don’t want to marry you, I have someone else,’ rather than sticking a knife in my gut?’

Delphine flinched, her eyes dropping to the bandaging around Lila’s abdomen. ‘Do you remember anything about that day?’

Lila nodded. ‘Whoever stabbed me wanted me dead; he was merciless, brutal. The level of violence is something I’ll never forget. Richard isn’t capable of that kind of…’ She stopped as Delphine looked away from her. ‘What? What is it, Delphine?’

‘No, nothing,’ the older woman said hurriedly. ‘I agree with you.’ She was silent for a long time, then, in a voice broken by fear and distress, she looked at Lila and spoke quietly.

‘Would you go see him? When you’re well, I mean? Talk to him?’

Lila picked up her hand and squeezed it. ‘Of course. As soon as I’m able. I want to see him, see if we can’t sort this mess out.’

Delphine clutched her hand. ‘Whatever you decide, you will always be my family, Lila Belle.’

Lila smiled at her but couldn’t help feeling sorry for her. Caught in the middle.

‘Who would, then?’

Lila blinked. ‘Would what?’

‘Want you, of all people, dead? Everyone adores you.’

Lila laughed softly. ‘Not everyone. But, to answer your question, I really don’t know.’

She hoped to God that she wouldn’t be proved wrong.

Now…Lenox Hill Hospital

Noah Applebaum flicked through his notes from the surgery he’d just completed. Thanks to him, the seventeen-year-old being wheeled into recovery would play football at college next year. Noah knew he was good at his job – hell, that’s why Lenox Hill invited him to the table – but he would go through the surgery in his mind, noting anything that went wrong, felt wrong, anything new he’d learned from the other people in the room. Noah had always listened to his nurses, his anesthesiologists, every one of the theater staff because they were the people in the trenches, as he called it. His collaborative methods and lack of arrogance made him one of the most popular surgeons back home in Seattle and his reputation was known around the country.

Even though he’d deny it, it didn’t hurt that at six-five and built like an athlete, with a face carved by Greek Gods, his physical presence was like catnip to others.

They’d laugh if they knew how shy he really was, that his last girlfriend had been a few months ago. She, Lauren, had been fun at first until he realized she had found out about his family. His very wealthy, very private family. Not that she wasn’t rich in her own right – her father owned one of the biggest PR firms in the world. Then she’d been constantly on his back to get engaged and after one too many ‘false’ pregnancy scares, he’d simply shut her down. Her vitriol and spite when he had broken things off with her had made him wary of getting too involved with anyone since then, his sex life being a series of one night stands. To most of them, he hadn’t even given them his real name.

Work was his reason for getting up in the morning; he loved it more than anything except his family. Now as he made his way to the attending lounge to grab some coffee, he thought how nice it would be to have a break from Seattle – as much as he loved it. He’d been impressed by the staff here – more than impressed, inspired. One of his favorites, Delia Honeychurch, was in the lounge when he came in, and she grinned, raised her coffee mug in greeting.

‘Just who I wanted to see,’ she said, chuckling. Noah hid a smile, instead giving a moan.

‘God, what fresh hell is this?’ He winked at her and went to the coffee machine (not as good as the one in Seattle, but hey, he couldn’t have everything.)

Delia drained her own cup and held it out for a refill. ‘Actually, I think you might be interested. A young woman, mid-twenties, was admitted six weeks ago with multiple stab wounds to the abdomen. Really nasty.’

Noah frowned. ‘Yes, I heard about that…wasn’t she attacked in a wedding dress store?’

‘Like I said, real nasty. Anyway, her wounds are healing, internal organs are responding well, but she’s experiencing paraesthesia in both feet and lower legs, sciatica, inflammation of the joints in her legs.’

Noah nodded. ‘Not uncommon when the nerves have been damaged. How’s her spine?’

‘Structurally fine but like I said, it was a nasty, vicious stabbing – the knife nicked vertebrae, sliced through nerves. Lila’s young, like I said. Nice girl too. She was supposed to marry Richard Carnegie.’

His eyebrows shot up. ‘The Carnegies? Those Carnegies?’

‘Yup. Richard Carnegie Jr is – or was – her fiancé. He’s been charged with her attempted murder.’

‘Son-of-a-bitch.’ There was nothing, that got under Noah Applebaum’s skin more than violence against woman. Something to do with all the times his father whaled on his late, beloved mom…another reason he’d gone into medicine.

Delia Honeychurch waved her hand. ‘Don’t be too quick to judge,’ she said, taking the coffee mug he offered, ‘Lila swears blind Carnegie wouldn’t do that to her. And it does seem the evidence is flimsy at best.’ Delia’s tone lowered, turned gossipy. ‘Lila’s stunning, I mean, a real beauty. Her best friend is a cop, and he was the one who arrested Carnegie. Seriously, it’s like a soap opera around here.’ Her face changed, and she looked ashamed. ‘Ignore me. I’m getting jaded. But back to my original purpose – would you take a look at Lila?’

Noah sat down opposite her. ‘Of course. When…?’

Delia grinned. ‘How about after we finish this coffee?’

‘Slave driver.’

‘You bet your ass.’

Now…Lenox Hill Hospital

Lila lay down and tried to turn onto her side, to get comfortable, but nothing helped. Every time she moved, her stomach muscles screamed in protest, but she just hated sleeping on her back. Eventually, she managed to prop up her sore belly with a pillow and get a little comfortable. She closed her eyes, but her mind whirled.

She still remembered the day Richard had tried to confess his infidelity to her. He had picked her up from work, and at first, she hadn’t noticed how quiet he was. She had been getting excited all day because tomorrow, finally, they were getting on a plane to London. She was beyond excited and so, when Richard met her at college, she was hyperactive, grinning from ear-to-ear and babbling on.

It was only when they got back to his place, she noticed his blank expression, the flatness of his usually expressive eyes. ‘What is it, love?’ She asked softly, going to him as he sat on the couch. He pulled her onto his lap and buried his face in her neck, pressing his lips against her throat.

She smoothed his hair, frowned at his desolate expression. ‘Rich…tell me.’

He looked up at her with a deep sorrow in his eyes. ‘Why are you with me?’

The question shocked her. ‘Because I love you, silly.’

‘And I love you.’

‘Then why are you asking?’

He seemed to struggle to get his words out. ‘You deserve everything, Lila, everything. I’m not good enough for you.’

Lila’s heart began to beat faster. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

He looked away from her gaze. ‘You deserve better.’

Lila got up. ‘Whatever’s on your mind, Richard, just say it.’

He sighed and put his head in his hands. ‘I saw Camilla today.’

And she’d known exactly what he was trying to tell her. Camilla, his stunning society ex-girlfriend. Camilla of the debutante societies, Camilla who attended cotillions and flaunted her beauty at polo matches. The anti-Lila. Camilla, who’d been introduced to Lila by Delphine and who had immediately gone out of her way to make Lila feel like the outsider she was. That Camilla. Bitch.

Lila stared at Richard. ‘So?’

He looked up, not understanding. ‘What?’

‘So you saw your ex? So what? We both have past lovers, no big deal.’ She was being deliberately obtuse, but she was also damned if she’d let that bitch win. As long as she didn’t allow Richard to say the words out loud, she could cope with his…

Cheating. That’s what it was, plain and simple. But Lila, still only very young, was also wise to the world. Ex-sex was a thing, and Richard had made a mistake. It was okay, Lila told herself, trying to quell the pain in her heart. She turned away from him, gathering her thoughts, her feelings, getting up and going to the window.

‘Don’t worry about it, honestly, Rich. Let’s focus on the future.’

‘Lila…’

‘Rich, please,’ her voice cracked. ‘If you’re truly sorry, let me deal with this how I need to.’

He got up and came to her, and she let him take her in his arms. ‘Okay then,’ he whispered, ‘but just know, I love you so much, and I’m truly sorry.’

She leaned into him. ‘Don’t do it again.’

‘I swear.’

Whether Lila admitted it or not, it had marred the trip. Although they had great fun traveling – their adventures were fun and light-hearted – every time they would dissolve into laughter, Lila would be hit with a jolt of reality. He cheated. He cheated. This man in front of her, being silly with her, teasing her, loving her, also cheated on her.

Paris was at the end of their trip and true to his word; Richard had gone all out – a luxurious suite at the George V, a balcony looking out over Paris to the Eiffel Tower. Lila was overwhelmed by it all, and although she loved every minute she had to admit, it was so far out of her realm of experience, this opulent life, she felt out of place. It made her question whether she and Richard should really try to merge their vastly different lifestyles or whether, by being with him, everything she brought to the relationship was somehow diminished.

On their last night in Paris, she was sitting out on the terrace. Richard had taken a business call – with an apologetic look at her – and so she snagged a glass of wine and went out onto the balcony, propping up her legs on a spare chair. She had so many questions, so many things she wanted to talk to Richard about, but she wanted to get things straight in her own head first.

When he came out, phone call over, he pulled up a chair next to her and kissed her cheek.

‘Have you had a good time, my love?’

She smiled and nodded. ‘I have, Rich, it’s been so much fun.’

He studied her. ‘But?’ He smiled ruefully. ‘I know you’ve been thinking things over, it’s been obvious. So, look, let’s get our cards on the table, here, now. Then when we go home, we can start with a clean plate.’

She tapped her glass to his. ‘I’ll drink to that.’

They both sipped their wine then Rich nodded. ‘So, you first. Ask me anything. I assume you’ll want to know about why Camilla and – ‘

‘No,’ she said, cutting him off. ‘Not yet. I want to go back further than that. The night we met…’

She could see the shutters come down in his expression. ‘Rich…you said I could ask you anything. Why were you on that street, with those people? Are you using? There’s no judgment here, I just want the truth.’

Richard sighed. ‘No, I’m not using, I swear to God. But…god…Cora was. My sixteen-year-old sister was and hardcore stuff too. Cora’s always been vulnerable, easily depressed. She got hooked on cocaine and then graduated to heroin. I went there that night to pay off her dealer; he was threatening her. I also promised her that I would never tell anyone. We pretended she was going on vacation for a month before school started; instead, she went to rehab. She’s doing really well too but if the press were to get hold of it…’

‘Oh God…poor Cora,’ Lila was shocked – she’d had no idea that the tiny redhead, so bubbly and exuberant, had been on drugs. The few times she’d met Cora, she had liked her very much, and the feeling was mutual.

Lila looked at Richard with a new respect, a new fondness. ‘You did that for her? You’re the perfect big brother.’

He laughed and rolled his eyes. ‘Lila, I am far from perfect but what else could I do? Mom and Dad don’t know; they would for sure blame themselves.’

She took his hand and kissed his palm. ‘You have a wonderful family.’

‘Thank you.’ He sighed and cupped her cheek with his hand. ‘As for the other thing, God, Lila, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. I know we’ve only been dating for a few months, but there’s no excuse for my behavior. I don’t know what I was thinking.’

Lila just nodded, a lump in her throat. Richard studied her. ‘Are you mad?’

She nodded but smiled, and he stroked his thumb across her face.

‘I’m mad at me too. What a douchebag.’ He grinned then and she chuckled, despite herself.

‘Complete tool.’

‘Numbnuts.’

‘Dill-hole.’

Both of them laughed then. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said again, and she leaned her forehead against his.

‘You’re forgiven.’

He smiled gratefully then moved onto his knees before her, his fingers on the buttons of her dress. He undid them all slowly then moved the fabric apart to reveal her breasts, her belly, and her underwear. He pulled one of the lacy cups of her bra down and took her nipple into his mouth. Lila sighed and relaxed back as he worked, his tongue flicking, teasing, and the gentle sucking of his mouth making her nipple hard and sensitive. As he tongued both breasts, his fingers slid into her underwear and began to massage her clit before his long forefinger slipped inside of her, finding the g-spot and rubbing it until she was gasping and shuddering.

‘I’m going to fuck you senseless, beautiful girl,’ he murmured, his mouth against hers and Lila moaned. He tugged down her underwear then pulled her towards him. His mouth found her sex and with an expert tongue, he brought her to a shattering orgasm that made her body buck and writhe. He gave her no time to recover before sweeping her down to the balcony floor and launched his cock into her. He was so hard that when he thrust inside her, it was almost painful, but Lila wrapped her legs around his hips and urged him on, deeper, harder, please…

They fucked late into the night, moving from room to room in the suite, taking each other harder each time. Lila barely had time to catch her breath before Rich was pressing her against the wall and thrusting his cock deep into her cunt from behind or pinning her to the bed, ramming his hips against hers then coming in great, thick white spurts onto her belly.

Dawn was beginning to break over Paris before they finally fell asleep in each other’s arms and Lila began to finally believe that everything would be okay…

Now…Lenox Hill Hospital

Noah Applebaum knocked once at Lila Tierney’s door and went in. ‘Hey there,’ he said cheerfully then stopped. God…she was beautiful, even with tubes sticking out of her arms and dark shadows under her violet eyes. She smiled at him, and Noah felt something shift inside him – a yearning, a need. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

‘I’m Dr. Applebaum, you’re Miss Tierney?’

‘Lila, please.’ Her voice was low, slightly gruff as if her throat was dry. He automatically got up to pour her some fresh water, and she took the glass with a smile. ‘Thank you. So, Dr. Applebaum, you’re the neuro god Dr. Honeychurch tells me about?’

‘Ha,’ he grinned, ‘She exaggerates – well, I pay her to exaggerate my abilities. But, seriously, Lila, yes I’m here to see if we can’t help you with some of the issues from your, um, stabbing.’ Who the fuck would want to kill this gorgeous woman? He tried not to run his eyes over her body; even in a hospital gown, he could see she had killer curves…ouch, probably not the best description, he said to himself. He felt like a teenager with a crush. Get a grip, man.

‘So, I just wanted to come see you, introduce myself and do a couple of quick tests. Then we can come up with a treatment plan. How does that sound?’

‘Sounds great, doc. What do you need to me to do?’

‘Let’s do a quick exam…do you want me to get a nurse to chaperone?’

She shook her head. ‘No, it’s fine.’

He checked her neck, sliding his fingers around to the back of her neck and asking her to move her head from side to side. Being so close wasn’t helping his composure; he could smell her shampoo, her soap. ‘Could you lay on your stomach if it’s not too painful; I need to check your spine.’

His fingers moved over the bumps of her spine, checking each vertebra. Her skin was so soft, he wanted to stroke it. Finally, he pressed two fingers against her sacrum. ‘Does this hurt?’

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘Quite a lot.’

‘Okay, I’m sorry, let me help you up. ‘

Awkwardly he helped her into a sitting position, noticing her wincing. ‘I’m sorry to cause you pain, Lila.’

‘It’s okay,’ she gasped slightly, holding her belly. ‘I think my muscles are just getting used to moving again.’

He studied her. ‘Do you think you could try walking with me? I’ll hold onto you, of course.’

‘Okay.’

He held her hands as she stood, gingerly, then guiding her, she managed to walk across the room. ‘How does that feel?’

‘Okay,’ she said, wobbling slightly, ‘Except my feet feel like they belong to someone else. Pins and needles.’

‘Gotcha. Okay, well, you’re doing really well – ‘

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Lila stumbled, and he caught her in his arms. She looked up at him to smile sheepishly, and their eyes met and held. A beat, then she laughed softly, and the mood was broken.

‘Doc, I should tell you, I’m an artist so am prone to attacks of the ‘vapors’ like that.’

He laughed and helped her back into bed. ‘You did well, Lila, really. But I do think you would vastly benefit from a program designed specifically for your injuries. It’ll be tough, and there will be times when you’ll want to give up, or pound on me for making you do it but, I promise, it’ll be worth it. What do you say?’

‘I say, let’s go for it.’

‘Good girl,’ he smiled at her, noticing the way her dark hair tumbled in soft curls around her face. Adorable. His eyes dropped to her mouth, dark red, full lips. He swallowed. ‘Well, if you’re willing, and Doc Honeychurch gives the go-ahead, I say we start soon.’

‘Aren’t you supposed to go back to Seattle soon?’ she asked the flushed Doctor. ‘Dr. Honeychurch told me about you. I come from Seattle too.’

‘You do? Which part?’

‘Puget Ridge. You?’

‘Medina.’

‘Nice,’ she grinned, ‘you’re obviously from the same kind of family as my fiancé.’

Oh yeah, the fiancé. Currently sitting in jail for this gorgeous girl’s attempted murder. Noah tried to smile. ‘So just general questions…how’re you feeling? Physically and emotionally?’

‘Physically better, although I wish the pain would abate.’

He frowned. ‘Do you mind if I take a look at your wounds? You shouldn’t be in this much pain still.’

Lila shook her head and pulled her gown up. Noah lifted her dressings, noting some blood on them. He tried not to look shocked when he saw the pattern of scars on her belly. Nasty, vicious, brutal slices across her olive skin. Noah cursed whoever had done this; he couldn’t imagine the pain, the terror she must have felt. He touched her skin gently, pressing lightly, asking her where it hurt. When he pressed against the worst of her scars, the one that bisected her navel, she winced. He gently replaced her dressing. ‘You might have a little infection going on. It’s still very bruised and I’m concerned you may have a small internal bleed too. We’ll get that checked out. We’re going to do anything we can to help, Lila, I promise.’

He found Delia Honeychurch updating charts at the nurses’ station and told her what they’d decided. ‘I’m going to stay on for a few more weeks to help Miss Tierney through the worst of it.’

Delia looked impressed. ‘Wow, that’s great…weren’t you supposed to be on sabbatical after your visit here, though?’

‘Which is why I can stay…look, that young woman could use all the help we can give her.’

Delia smiled at him knowingly. ‘Noah Applebaum, are you crushing on my patient?’

He grinned. ‘Now that wouldn’t be professional, would it?’

She laughed, nudging him. ‘Whatever, thanks for doing this. She’s a sweet girl.’

Later, Noah swung round to see Lila again, but she was asleep. Feeling intrusive, he nevertheless stood at the door for a few seconds, studying her. She really was something else. Who would hurt you? He shook his head and then walked away. Whoever it was, Lila Tierney, I promise you, he won’t hurt you again…

Then…Greenwich Village, Manhattan

Charlie Sherman sat back in his chair and stared at her. ‘Huh.’ Lila scowled at him.

‘This is to go no further than you two,’ she said to him and his partner, Riley, who was sitting beside him. ‘It’s to protect Cora, and I won’t see her hurt because you two have got sticks up your asses about Richard.’

‘Hey,’ Riley held his hands up, ‘Sounds legit to me. You have my word, funny face.’

Lila smiled at him gratefully then looked at Charlie. ‘Chuckles?’

A small smile spread across his face. ‘You know I hate that.’

She grinned. ‘Yes, yes I do. Seriously, though, we good? Can we all get along now?’

‘Can I reserve judgment?’

‘No.’

Charlie shrugged. ‘Okay then, if that’s his story.’

‘Argh!’ Lila threw her hands and Charlie chuckled.

‘Kidding, you sap. I’m with Riley; that does make sense, and his blood came back clean, so…’

Lila was startled, and Riley rolled his eyes. ‘So much for keeping that a secret, dude.’

‘You did a drug test on him?’

Charlie sat forward. ‘He volunteered one.’

‘When?’

‘A few weeks ago.’

‘And none of you thought to tell me?’

‘You’re not the only one with secrets, Lila. He didn’t want you to be mad at me, so he decided to prove he wasn’t a junkie. Never mentioned the sister, though.’

Lila sighed and put her head in her hands. ‘You boys drive me crazy.’

Riley squeezed her arm. ‘We’re all good now, though, Lila, right?’

Lila looked away from Charlie’s gaze. ‘Right.’

Later, Charlie gave Lila a ride home. Richard was in Washington at a conference, and so Lila invited Charlie in to hang out.

She handed him a cold beer from the fridge. ‘What’s been happening with you?’

Charlie grinned. ‘Nice of you to ask. I’ve been seeing someone.’

The bottle stopped halfway to Lila’s mouth. ‘No way, really? Who?’

Charlie made a big deal of taking a drink before he answered her. ‘Tinsley.’

Lila smiled. ‘Oh, Charlie, that’s great, how long?’

‘Couple of weeks. She’s a good girl.’

‘And drop dead gorgeous. Oh, I’m so happy for you.’ She clinked her glass against his. ‘To love.’

‘To really great and long overdue sex,’ Charlie shot back, and Lila laughed.

‘Definitely.’

She felt so much better now; for the last couple of months, Charlie, and their friendship seemed to be slipping, his distrust of Richard marring their time together. She sighed happily now.

‘Chuck, my old friend, I have this feeling things are going to be great for both of us.’

Then…Woods, Carnegie Compound, Westchester

It didn’t last, of course. A few months later, just as Richard and Lila were celebrating a year of being together, Cora, to whom Lila had been growing closer, had a meltdown and smoked a joint at a local music festival. A paparazzo bored out of his brain at the gathering, got a few shots of her, and that was that. Front page news. The daughter of tech scion, Richard Carnegie Sr. was a junkie – they managed to find out everything, even confidential files from the place she had attended rehab.

Cora was destroyed, and Richard was losing his mind from worry. Lila, at first, didn’t know how to help, but then, when she was alone with Cora one day, Cora asked her a simple question.

‘How did you…I mean, what was it like growing up without a family?’

Lila looked surprised. They were walking in the woods near the Carnegie mansion in Westchester, with Richard Sr.’s beloved spaniels racing ahead of them. The day was warm for fall, and Cora was throwing tennis balls for the dogs to chase. Lila considered her question.

‘It’s strange; I never knew family life at all so it’s hard for me to say or make a comparison. I can tell you what it was like being in a children’s home; sometimes fun, sometimes awful.’

Cora nodded. ‘Same with family. Sometimes I love them all to distraction; other times…I wish I were alone, without all the weight of expectation, responsibility. Without being judged.’ She looked away from Lila’s gaze.

Lila suddenly understood. ‘Is it Judith again?’

Cora nodded. ‘She won’t leave me alone. Keeps telling me I’m destroying Mom, that I’m reckless and selfish – and I know I am but it’s almost a daily thing now. Texts, phone calls.’

Lila stopped her with a hand on her arm. ‘You mean, she’s waging a campaign? Seriously, C-Belle, that isn’t right. What’s her problem?’

Cora smiled sadly. ‘I’m an easy target. She hates Richard too, but she knows he’ll fight back. I’m not good at that.’

Lila shook her head. ‘I don’t understand what she gets out of behaving like that.’

‘She hates us, plain and simple, and by bullying me, she gets a cheap thrill. She hates that she’s not in Daddy’s will – why would she be? Mom told them when she married him that his money was his money. Mom’s not even in his will – at her own insistence. He doesn’t like it, but that’s what she wanted. She’s not exactly poor herself, and they agreed that she would provide for Judith and Flora out of her own money. But then the crash happened, and Mom lost a lot of money. Judith doesn’t earn her own money – she believes she can gad around, doing her ‘self-improvement’ and Mom will keep on funding it.’

‘I do hope one of her self-improvement courses deals with how not to be an absolute fucking bitch,’ Lila was angry now. She hugged Cora. ‘Cora Belle, I will deal with Judith, I promise you that. You just concentrate on recovery.’

Cora hugged her tightly. ‘You’ve been more like a sister to me than they’ve ever been, Lila Belle.’

Lila kept her promise. So incensed was she, she didn’t tell Richard, or Delphine what she was going to do. She confronted Judith at her holistic spa – a front for Judith’s catty friends to gather and bitch about how unfulfilled and empty their lives were and how their husbands didn’t understand them.

Lila walked straight past reception, ignoring the woman who called to her and marched straight to Judith’s office. She didn’t bother to knock. Judith looked up shocked as the door slammed open. The woman sitting opposite her looked vaguely scared. Lila pointed at her. ‘You. Out. Now.’

The woman cast a quick look at Judith and fled, Lila slamming the door behind her and leaning back against it. She stared Judith down.

‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Lila?’ Judith’s voice was pure ice, and she stood up and walked around the other side of her desk to show Lila she wasn’t scared of her. Judith was a tall woman, dwarfing Lila, but the smaller woman didn’t back down.

‘I’ve come to tell you, Judith, that you will stop your harassment of Cora this minute. That if you ever, ever try to bully her again, I will personally see to it that you are punished.’

Judith threw her head back and laughed. ‘This is about the little junkie? Oh, for goodness sake, what has she told you? Are you so stupid you don’t realize you can’t trust a drug addict?’

Lila stepped towards her and to her satisfaction; a flicker of fear came into Judith’s eyes. ‘I’ve been in situations you wouldn’t dream of, Judith. Unlike you, I grew up in children’s homes and when I was sixteen, on the streets. You have no idea who you’re dealing with, or what I know, and I’m telling you, leave Cora alone. Do you understand?’

‘Who the hell do you think you are? Just because you’re fucking Richard does not mean you are a part of this family. The Carnegie’s don’t need a whoring little gold-digger like you, Tierney.’

Lila’s smile was cold. ‘Like I said, you don’t know who you’re dealing with, and you forget Judith, you’re not a Carnegie.’

‘Get the fuck out of my office, you little tramp, or I’ll have security throw you out.’

Lila snorted. ‘I’d like to see you try. Anyway, I’ve said what I came to say. Leave Cora alone.’

She walked out of Judith’s office, slamming the door behind her, and smiled grimly to herself. She knew she had gotten to Judith, she had seen it in her eyes.

She walked to the nearest subway station and rode the rail back to the Village. Her cellphone rang. Delphine. Well, Judith had run to Mommy fast. Steeling herself, she answered the call.

At first, she thought the older woman was crying, all she could hear was gasps and squeaks but then, she realized, Delphine was laughing. ‘Oh, Lila Belle, I just keep thinking of you and your tiny fists waving in Judith’s face.’

Lila chuckled. ‘I’m sorry, Delphine, I had to do something.’

‘Oh don’t apologize…how stupid of Judith to tell me…now, of course, I know the whole story. I hope you don’t mind, Lila, but I double-downed on your threat. If Judith doesn’t leave Cora alone, then she’s going to find her life very difficult. Honestly, I think the thought of having to get a job frightens her more than anything.’

‘I’m glad. Bullying doesn’t sit well with me.’

Delphine sighed. ‘Cora doesn’t really have any girlfriends, so I am so grateful you and she have bonded. Come over for dinner tonight, you and Richard, and we’ll thank you properly.’

The dinner was a riot, and Cora really did seem better. Judith had sent her a huge bunch of flowers with a simple note apologizing – in a roundabout way. Lila had rolled her eyes, but Cora laughed. ‘For Judith, that’s practically rubbing gravel in her hair.’

Richard had taken Lila in his arms when he heard. ‘I can’t thank you enough, but I think I may have come up with a way. Tell you about it later.’

She laughed, thinking he meant sex. ‘If that’s what you’re offering, I’ll take it.’

He just grinned, and when they were at dinner, he tapped his wine glass for his attention. ‘Hey folks, I have a couple of things I want to say. First off, I’d like to propose a toast to my sister, Cora – Cora Belle, I love you so much, we all do, and I can’t tell you how proud we are that you’re battling your demons and winning. Everyone falls sometimes, but not everyone has the courage to pick themselves up.’

‘Hear, hear!’ Lila said, and they all raised their glasses to the blushing Cora.

‘Thank you,’ she said and smiled gratefully at her brother. A look passed between then, and he gave her a small nod that the others couldn’t decipher. She grinned excitedly.

Richard cleared his throat. ‘And to my Lila…my little warrior woman. To have stood in front of my sister like that, to go up against Judith, who, quite frankly, terrifies four-star generals…Lila, you amaze me. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You might not think it was much because I know you, but to us, to Cora, it proved one thing. You are our family and we, yours.’

It was Lila’s turn to color, and she waved their thanks away. ‘My pleasure, really, it was nothing.’

Richard hadn’t finished. He walked around to Lila and offered her his hand. She took it and stood, slightly confused about what was happening. Next moment, no more confusion.

Richard dropped to one knee, and Lila wobbled. He grinned up at her. ‘Lila, you are the love of my life. I know I’m not worthy of you…yet. But I want to spend my life trying to be. Lila…would you, please marry me?’

Now…Lenox Hill Hospital

‘Okay, two more minutes and then rest. I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard.’ Noah fixed her with a look that meant business. ‘Lila Belle, I mean it.’ He’d picked up Delphine’s nickname for her; it suited her.

Lila grumbled but grinned at him. During the six weeks of her rehabilitation, she and Noah Applebaum had become good friends; their friendship flirtatious and teasing. The doctor was thorough, he pushed her, but lately, as she had improved, she had been eager to push herself…and he was worried that she might hurt herself.

‘Make your mind up, Noah,’ she chided him now, somewhat breathlessly, as she pounded on the treadmill. Her leg movement had improved, the pain diminishing as her muscle tone got better. She had admitted to him that she ached after their sessions but that it was ‘a good ache, rather than a searing ache.’

He admired her commitment, never questioning his methods. ‘Right, now, as you slow, I want you to concentrate on your abdominal muscles, feel for any pain.’ He put his splayed hand on her belly as she ran, trying not to think of her warm skin under his fingers. ‘Move my hand to where you feel the most pain.’

Lila was flushed but seemed to color an even darker scarlet when he touched her. He couldn’t take his eyes off her mouth, her pink, bee-stung lips. She slowed her pace then tentatively moved his hand to where she felt the most pain – her right side. Noah swallowed as he felt the muscles contracting under his skin. ‘The good news is that it’s more than likely a side-stitch from cramping.’

He went to move his hand away, but Lila grabbed it and held it against her belly again. ‘I’m getting better…can you feel?’ Her voice was soft and their gazes held and locked. One beat. Two. He couldn’t help but let his fingers stroke her soft skin and Lila gave a little gasp of pleasure, closing her eyes.

You are a professional…Noah reluctantly took his hand away and went to his notes, willing his erection to go down. God, he wanted her so badly, but she was his patient…and she was engaged to be married.

‘Noah?’

‘Yes?’

‘They’re discharging me on Monday.’

He nodded. ‘I know. That’s good news, right?’

‘Right.’ A silence where they couldn’t take their eyes from each other then Lila gave a small smile.

‘I’ll miss you.’

Oh god. ‘Lila, I will miss you too…but if I don’t get back to Seattle, they’ll get rid of me. You’re doing great, the aftercare service is phenomenal.’ No, no, stop it, stop pretending that the last six weeks with her haven’t been the best of your life, that she isn’t the first person you think of in the morning when you wake, the last at night.

Lila wiped down her arms with a towel and stepped from the treadmill. She went to the door and locked it, pulling down the shade.

‘Richard cheated on me,’ she said, ‘A few times.’

‘He’s a fool.’

She nodded. ‘I’m telling you this because I finally know how he felt when he was with those other women. The love I have for him has changed, become friendly rather than romantic and I believe with all my heart that he wasn’t the one who tried to kill me. But these last six weeks…I can’t get you out of my head, Noah. Every time you touch me, my entire body screams out for you…I hate that I feel this way, and I know what you’re going to say, that it’s not uncommon for patients to get crushes on their doctors. This isn’t that.’

So many thoughts ran through Noah’s head at that moment but instead he went to her and took her face in his hands. ‘I’ve tried so hard to be professional about you,’ he murmured, ‘but you drive me crazy, Lila. I can’t get involved with a patient…but…’

‘You’re going back to Seattle,’ she said, softly, ‘and I’m engaged to Richard. And I truly am not a slut. But right here, right now…’

She didn’t get to finish as Noah pulled her lips to his and kissed her thoroughly, his hands tangling in her hair, his mouth hard against hers. Lila kissed him back, moaning with excitement as he slid his hands under her t-shirt. Soon they were pulling each other’s clothes off, desperate to get at each other. Noah stroked her naked body, marveling over the soft, lush curves of her. ‘If you feel any pain…’

She grinned up at him. ‘Stop being a doctor, Noah…’

He laughed and gathered her to him, kissing her passionately as he lowered her to the floor. He kissed her full breasts, down her stomach and kissed each one of her still bright pink scars. ‘No-one sane would do this to you,’ he murmured as he lifted her leg and buried his face in her sex. Lila moaned softly as he licked and tasted her, as his tongue teased and made her clit harden. As he climbed on her body to kiss her mouth again, she could feel his huge, rock-hard cock against her thigh and reached down to guide it into her. Noah thrust into her, still careful, but she urged him on, wrapping her legs around his waist.

They moved together as if their bodies had always been made for each other, their gazes locked. ‘Noah…,’ she whispered, looking up at him in wonder. Noah felt his heart burst as he saw the love, the tenderness in her eyes. You are all I have ever wanted, he wanted to tell her, but he said nothing.

After they’d come, Noah’s cock shooting deep into her leaving them both shuddering and gasping, they dressed, stopping to kiss every minute. She placed her hand against Noah’s cheek. ‘You’re wonderful,’ she said softly, ‘I will never, ever forget you. You gave me back my life…in so many ways.’

As soon as she had left the room, Noah Applebaum knew he was in big trouble. Not from the hospital – there was no way they could find out unless either of them said anything and he trusted Lila with his life -, not from Richard Carnegie, or his family but from his own heart. They might have had a silent agreement that this was a one-time thing but his emotions right now…

Calm. Breathe. Relish the moment…and let her go…

Then…Upper East Side, Manhattan

Lila looked down at the ring on her finger. At her request, it wasn’t the huge bauble Richard at first had suggested, more a simple, classic solitaire diamond, but it still felt wrong on her hand. It was a symbol of ownership to her mind. At work and college, she had a good excuse not to wear it, but everywhere else, she had none.

The night he had proposed, Lila had been shocked – and more disconcerted than delighted. Her heart had warmed at his words and the love in his eyes, but the way the rest of his family had looked at her – she had felt obliged to say yes and perform the role of a delighted fiancé.

And the thing was…she loved Richard, with all her heart, she loved him, but something still didn’t fit right. She couldn’t pinpoint it either. They liked the same music, books, their intellect was pretty much on a level, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was waiting around the corner, something that would hit them full-force, that they wouldn’t recover from.

She tried to talk to him about it, but Richard would think she was referring to his infidelity and shut the subject down - pleasantly but with finality.

It was Delphine who noticed she was quieter than normal and the older woman, taking Lila out to lunch in a high-end restaurant in Manhattan, asked her directly.

‘Lila, do you want to marry Richard? No recriminations, just the truth, please.’

Lila sighed. ‘I do, truly, Delphine. It’s just I feel…that we don’t know each well enough yet, and I’m still only twenty-six. I haven’t had time to do my own thing yet, you know?’

Delphine nodded and sipped her wine. ‘Darling, I do know. I made the mistake of marrying before I did my own thing – the first time. Thankfully, Richard Sr. was a completely different man to my first husband; we spend as much time apart as we do together, without recrimination and in perfect trust. I get the best of both worlds with him.’

Lila chewed over her words. ‘I’m not sure Rich would be up for that. And to be honest…it’s the trust part I have a problem with for now.’

She really didn’t want to tell Delphine about Camilla, but she realized, now, that it was a big part of her hesitation. ‘I’ve always had trust issues with men,’ she confided, trying to deflect attention from Richard, ‘so, it’s my problem rather than Rich’s and something I’m working on.’

‘There’s no reason you have to get married soon…take your time, make my son wait.’ Delphine grinned wickedly. ‘I’m sure every bride goes through this. But sometimes, marriage doesn’t have to be a prison, sometimes it’s the open door. Do you know how many more opportunities you’ll have as Richard’s wife?’

Lila paled. ‘Delphine, I do not want his or your money, I’ve always made that clear. I’m not a gold-digger.’

‘Oh, bless you child I know that. Do you think we’d be so welcoming if you were? That damned Camilla was, ugh. Loathsome creature. You are worth a million of her. But let’s be practical; once you’re married, you will be rich too. It just goes with the territory. And don’t immediately assume that’s a bad thing; look what you could do with it. Build better children’s homes, work for charities, or pay for further education in your chosen field.’

Lila’s eyebrows shot up. ‘I had never thought of it that way.’

‘Well, do. Money isn’t evil, people who spend it selfishly are. And you are not one of those people.’

Lila had to admit she felt better after talking to Delphine, but when she went home that night, she found Richard in a foul mood.

‘What’s the matter, baby?’

Richard, his tie pulled down and a heavy glass of scotch in his hand, threw a copy of the National Enquirer at her. ‘Want to tell me about this?’

She picked it up, seeing her own face staring back at her. She frowned then paled as she saw the headline. Beauty hits the jackpot with Billionaire #2.

Oh, fuck…

Now…Upper East Side, Manhattan

‘How do you feel?’

Cora and Delphine exchanged worried glances as Lila looked around the apartment as if she couldn’t remember being here. She’d lived here with Richard for the last year, out of convenience for school more than anything, but she had never felt at home here. Her home was the little house they were building out of the city. It was the one place she really felt she belonged with him because she had put in as much work and as much money as she could afford into it.

She smiled at the other women. ‘I’m fine. A little overwhelmed is all. I guess I’ll just take my case into the bedroom for a minute.’

Cora darted forward before she could grab her bag. ‘Don’t you dare,’ she chided Lila, ‘You need to take it easy.’

Lila sighed but smiled at her. ‘Sorry. Of course.’ She wondered what Cora would think if she knew about the extra-athletic fuck she’d had a few days ago. Lila bit back a grin. Noah Applebaum…I wish I could stop thinking about you.

She loved them both but wanted to be alone – ha, alone. That was a thing of the past; Delphine had arranged twenty-four-hour security for her. No-one could get close.

Delphine fussed around her, making her tea, plumping pillows until Lila begged her to sit down. ‘You’re making me dizzy.’

Delphine sat down as Cora reappeared. ‘I’ve unpacked everything so you don’t need to,’ the young redhead smiled shyly at her.

‘You didn’t need to do that,’ Lila held out her hand to her, ‘but thank you.’

For a few minutes, Lila sipped her tea while the others waited. She grinned at their expectant faces.

‘Guys, relax, please. I’m good.’

Delphine shared another glance with Cora. ‘Sweetheart…do you know what you want to do next?’

Lila nodded. ‘Absolutely. I want to see Richard.’

Then…Upper East Side, Manhattan

Carnegie’s new fiancée, twenty-five year old Lila Tierney, is an up and coming artist studying at the Big Apple’s School of Visual Arts. The couple’s engagement announcement hit the society pages just as it’s been revealed that Carnegie is not the first billionaire to have crossed paths with the raven-haired beauty. Six years ago, billionaire art dealer Carter Delano was rumored to have dated the young artist for a few weeks before breaking things off. Tierney was said to be devastated, but six years later, she’s finally got her rich young man…

‘I honestly don’t know whether to laugh or lose my shit,’ Lila said, tossing the rag aside. ‘That’s so far away from the truth I can’t even tell you.’

Richard was still glowering. ‘But you didn’t ever mention it.’

Lila shrugged. ‘Why would I? Have we ever discussed our exes?’ Except for Camilla, she wanted to add but didn’t want to be spiteful. ‘And I don’t even count Carter as an ex. I was doing a friend a favor by double dating with him and his brother. Carter and I got along as friends but we never even slept together. It was nothing.’ She looked at his angry face. ‘What are you really angry about, Rich? Because I can’t believe it’s over this shit.’

Richard’s body slumped. ‘It’s not…I’m sorry, I’m sorry, baby, forgive me.’ He dropped into a chair. Lila pulled up a chair and sat next to him.

She took his hand. ‘What is it?’

Rich sighed. ‘Judith. She was the one who planted the story about you.’

Lila rolled her eyes. ‘So what? At least she’s staying away from Cora. I can take anything Judith throws at me, I have no skeletons.’

Rich smiled sadly. ‘I’m sorry she’s doing this to you, darling. And I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. I guess I…’

He stopped and shook his head. Lila touched his face. ‘What?’

‘I guess I almost wanted it to be true, that you had some secrets so I could feel some sort of parity. God, I don’t know, I just can’t get past my…indiscretion.’

Lila sat back and sighed. ‘God, Rich…I thought this was done with months ago. Look, it happened, you apologized, I accepted that apology. Let it go.’

She got up, clearly annoyed. Why did he have to keep bringing this up? It was almost like he wanted to feel bad, feel sorry for himself. She went to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of beers from the refrigerator. Closing the door, she looked at the calendar. The wedding was fifteen months away.

Fifteen months. Lila closed her eyes. What’s the matter with you, woman? Why does the thought of being married scare the crap out of you? You love him, don’t you?

I don’t know. Oh god…I don’t know…

Now…Riker’s Island, New York City

Her heart was thumping hard against her ribs as she walked through to the visitors’ room. As she sat down in front of the glass partition, she felt vomit rise in the back of her throat and tried not to gag.

‘Breathe through your mouth, honey, it gets easier to bear,’ said a kind faced woman to her right. Lila smiled weakly then, as the door to the prisoner’s side opened, her stomach dropped.

Rich had aged in the months he’d been incarcerated, his face covered with a thick beard. He sat down and looked at her, placing his hand flat against the glass for moment. Lila tried to smile, put her hand against the glass to mirror him. It was a shock to see him so broken.

He picked up the phone. As she put the receiver to her ear, she heard his shaky breathing.

‘Lila…oh god, Lila…’ He started to sob and her heart fractured. She wanted to put her arms around him and tell him it was okay.

‘I didn’t do this, Lila…I swear on everything I am, that I did not do this.’

‘I know, Rich, I know…don’t you think I know that?’

‘I would never, ever hurt you, my love, never…’

He hadn’t heard her, she realized. ‘Richard. Richard, look at me.’

His sobs became gasps and he looked up, eyes streaming. ‘God, I had forgotten how beautiful you are.’

She ignored the compliment. ‘Richard, listen. I know you didn’t do this. I know with every fiber of my being that you would never hurt me, let alone stab me.’

Rich flinched. ‘God…they showed me pictures, Lila, of you, of your injuries, of how they found you…baby, I’m so sorry.’

Lila shook her head. ‘Don’t think about that. We need to concentrate on getting you out of here.’ She stopped, looked away for a second. ‘Rich…I know you were…with someone else. It’s okay, it really is so don’t keep anything from me. I need to know everything so I can help you.’

Richard’s face crumpled again and he began to sob and Lila let him cry himself out. ‘Rich,’ she said softly, ‘It’s okay. We both have our…mistakes.’ She felt strangely disloyal to Noah saying that. ‘Please, take a deep breath and tell me everything.’

So he did. To her great relief, it wasn’t Camilla he had strayed with this time, but his new assistant, Molly. The affair had only begun three months before Lila’s stabbing but she could tell that Molly had been more than a fling. She felt strangely relieved.

After he’d finished, they stared at each other. ‘I love you, you know?’ he said and she nodded.

‘I know. I love you too but Rich, we’re not in love anymore, are we?’

He shook his head sadly. ‘No, I don’t think we are. And I hate saying that. I thought we’d be together forever. I hope you find someone who truly deserves you, Lila, I do. And please, whatever happens to me, to us, please don’t abandon my family. They love you as one of their own.’

It was Lila’s turn to cry now, tears dripping down her cheeks. ‘I would never do that, I love them too.’

He put his hand against the glass again. ‘Lila…will you come visit me again?’

‘Of course. Every day. Every day, Rich, as long as you’re in here.’

She was still thinking about him on the ride home. As the town car sped through the city, she felt a peace settle inside her. Her cell phone rang. Charlie.

‘Hey little one, how did it go?’

Lila sighed. ‘Good. Really good. Charlie, I need your help…we have to start trying to free Rich – ‘

‘Are you serious?’

Lila pulled the phone away from her ear for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was strained with anger. ‘Charlie, enough. I know Richard didn’t try and kill me. I know it.’

‘Because of your years of detective training? Or a hunch?’

‘You weren’t in that dressing room, Charlie, you didn’t have a knife stuck repeatedly in your belly, and you didn’t hear him, feel him, and smell him. Don’t you think I would have recognized my own fucking fiancé?’ She was mad now, mad at Charlie for his antagonism, his negativity.

There was a silence on the other end of the phone then… ‘You’re right. I’m sorry, boo. I’m just frustrated that we haven’t found whoever did it. I’m scared I’ll lose you…but, forgive me, the guy cheated on you if nothing else.’

Lila sighed. ‘That’s not anything you have to worry about now. We agreed to break our engagement. But that will not stop me from fighting for his freedom.’

Another silence then a soft laugh. ‘Sweetheart…I hope that guy knows what he's lost. I’ll come by after work and we’ll talk.’

‘I’d like that.’

When she got home, she showered and then got into bed for a nap. The day had exhausted her; her body ached, her mind fatigued and sad. Her head pounded and she felt nauseous.

She awoke to the sound of someone pounding on the door. She staggered out of bed in her shorts and t-shirt to see her security guard coming in the door.

‘I’m sorry to disturb you, Miss Tierney, but there’s a police officer here to see you, says it’s urgent.’

Lila sighed. ‘It’s just Charlie, let him in.’

Charlie was grim-faced when he came in but Lila rolled her eyes at him. ‘What’s with the drama? I was sleeping.’

‘Lila…’

Something in his tone made her stop. ‘What is it, Boo?’

‘Lila…sweetheart, I have something to tell you and it’s not going to be easy.’ Charlie took her hands, his expression grim but his eyes were sad. He led her to the couch and made her sit down.

Lila looked at him, ice flowing through her veins. ‘What?’

Charlie cleared his throat and when he spoke his voice was soft. ‘Lila, there was an incident at the prison. In the exercise yard. Some guys were whaling on a new guy and Richard tried to stop it. Lila, he got stabbed, in the back. They called the emergency services straight away and he was rushed here, to the emergency room a little over an hour ago.’

Lila was shaking her head from side-to-side. She wanted to scream, wanted to hit Charlie for what he was about to tell her. ‘No…no…’

‘Darling…he died forty minutes ago.’

She stared at him in horror. No…no, this isn’t happening…

Richard was dead.

Upper East Side, Manhattan

There was a quiet sadness in the apartment as Lila dressed for the funeral. She still couldn’t believe it; Richard was dead. Her love for so long, the man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with until that terrible day all those months ago. The day she was brutally stabbed and left for dead. Somehow, even though she had loved Richard, she knew that day marked the end of one life and the beginning of another.

She looked around the apartment. It rang with loneliness. This was never my home, she thought now. I may have spent every night here, with Rich, but it was never really my home. It was too opulent for her simple tastes, too designed, too neat. She preferred her space to be cluttered and cozy.

She had already told Delphine, Richard’s mother, that she wanted to move, that being in the penthouse apartment was too painful. Delphine had understood. ‘You can go anywhere you want now,’ she had told Lila, ‘everything Richard had is now yours, with our blessing.’

God. Lila Tierney, the girl from the children’s home, the girl who from sixteen to eighteen had lived in an old car, was a millionaire. She would give every penny away to have Richard back in their lives, even though before he’d died, they’d agreed to break up. She still wanted her friend, for herself, for his family.

‘I miss you, Boo,’ she said aloud to the empty apartment. A knock on the door made her start, chuckle softly to herself. If this was a movie, she thought as she went to get the door, then Richard would be standing on the other side, a big grin on his face.

Instead, her oldest, most trusted friend, Charlie, half-smiled at her. ‘Hey, you. Ready?’

She tried to smile back but just nodded. ‘Ready.’

He offered her his arm as they walked to the elevator, his big warm hand covering hers. It wasn’t until they were settled in the town car, that it hit Lila. Richard’s funeral. Richard was gone. That funny, erudite, adventurous live-wire of a man was dead. How could that be? Her breath hitched and caught in her chest and she felt her composure slip.

Charlie took one look at her and wrapped his arms around her and let her sob out her heartbreak.

Westchester

Harrison ‘Harry’ Carnegie felt utterly out of place in the home he had grown up in. Having lived in Australia for the last fifteen years, he’d forgotten how organized and structured Westchester gatherings could be. More than that, he hated to see his parents, his sister Cora, so utterly devastated.

Delphine had introduced him to Lila at dinner last night and he’d chatted to the petite brunette, seeing exactly what his brother had in her. What she’d been through this last year…poor girl. And the devastation on the faces of his family was echoed in her lovely, heartbroken eyes. He’d liked her very much.

Now though, circulating through the gathered mourners, Harry felt discombobulated, as if the person they were burying hadn’t been his own brother. He and Richard had been close growing up but as their lives moved in different directions, the inevitable distance grew.

And he just couldn’t get his head around the fact that not only was Rich murdered, but was in prison at the time. In prison! Harry shook his head – what the hell had happened to his family? His sister Cora was a wreck and, according to his mother, only thirty days sober. He looked across at her now, fragile and sparrow-like in her black dress, and his heart pounded with sadness.

‘Hey kiddo,’ he said moving to her side and wrapping a big arm around her. ‘This is a shitstorm, isn’t it?’

Cora smiled up at him through bloodshot eyes. ‘This last year, really, Harry.’

‘Sorry I wasn’t around for it, punkin.’

She wrapped her tiny arms around his waist. ‘Don’t apologize. I’m glad you were spared at least some of it.’ She sighed. ‘Lila looks so sick, don’t you think?’

Harry glanced over at his brother’s ex-fiancée. ‘I don’t know her well enough to say but yeah, she looks tired. I don’t know who half these people are, Cora. Richard’s friends? And who’s that dude over there that looks like he might go postal at any minute?’