Sparks. If she unfocused her eyes and pretended they were sparks of light from Christmas twinkle lights, or something more calming than the endless red-blue flash of the emergency service vehicles, then maybe she would be able to bear this.

No.

This could never be bearable. Inca slid her eyes over to the sheet covering the body of her friend.

How can you be gone?

She kept hearing Scarlett’s laughter in her head, feeling the way her arms felt when she hugged Inca. The smell of her perfume. Kept seeing the blood. Scarlett’s eyes open and staring.

Inca whirled around and threw up. She had refused to go inside, out of the ice storm, and now she was soaked through and shivering. She closed her eyes and felt a blanket being wrapped around her, someone pulling her close.

“I’m so sorry, honey.”

Nancy. Knox—poor, shocked, Knox—must have called her. When Inca had found Scarlett shot to death, her screams had brought people running, and now her throat felt raw and desiccated. Inca leaned against her mother and let her guide her inside.

“I don’t want to leave her alone,” she whispered in a voice cracked with grief. Nancy kissed her head.

“They’re taking her away now, sweetheart; they’ll look after her.”

Inca nodded. God, why was she so tired? Was it the shock? “Where’s Dad?”

“He went to get Tommaso. He thought it would be better for Tommaso to hear it from him, rather than let him find out via the police.”

Inca felt a rush of gratitude. “That’s good. Thank you.”

“He’ll be here soon.”

“Mom?”

“Yes, baby?”

“Why is all this happening? All of it, the other murders, the weird stuff that’s being going on. And now this … who would kill Scarlett? Why?”

Nancy hugged her daughter harder. “I don’t know, my darling. I wish I could tell you why. Bad stuff happens—it just seems we’re on a run of it. God, that doesn’t even cover it, does it? But I don’t have the answers you want. I’m sorry.”

Inca nodded, sighing. Her eyes felt like they had sand in them. “Mom … about Tommaso and me …”

Nancy smoothed the hair away from her face. “What is it?”

It had been on the tip of Inca’s tongue to tell her about Raffaelo and how she felt about Tommaso’s brother, but then she faltered. Even she didn’t understand what was going on between them or how she now felt about Tommaso. She did love him; she had no doubt, but could you really love two people with this much ferocity?

She was saved by the arrival of her father and Tommaso, whose stricken face told her everything she needed to know about how he felt about her. She went into his arms. He kissed the top of her head.

“Thank God you’re okay, mio Dio, grazie a Dio, stai bene.”

Inca sank into his embrace, breathing in his comforting scent. “Someone killed Scarlett, Tommaso.”

“I’m so sorry, mio caro, so very sorry.”

Inca saw Tyler and Nancy exchange worried looks, but she couldn’t process what they meant. Just then, Knox, pale, sickened, and grief-stricken came in. “Hey.”

“Man, sit down before you fall down.” Tyler steered him into a chair and Nancy went to put some coffee on. Knox shook his head.

“I don’t believe this is happening.” Inca pulled away from Tommaso and went to sit by the shaken cop. She took his hands in hers.

“I’m so sorry, Knox. Where’s Olly? He should be handling this, not you.”

Knox shook his head. “Look, I need to tell you something, all of you.” He looked meaningfully at Inca. “Olly’s been suspended. For breaking the terms of the restraining order.”

Inca gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Tommaso looked grim-faced and cursed softly in Italian. Inca looked at him—an unspoken communication passed between them, and Tommaso pulled out his phone.

“I’ll rescind the order,” he said shortly, and stepped away from them to speak to his lawyer.

Knox nodded gratefully.

“It still might take some time to get him back, but thank you. I just cannot believe this; I was just with Scarlett.”

Inca hugged him tightly. “I know … she came over to the Sakura after you got called out; I was just finishing up.”

Knox nodded, his gaze fixed unseeing on a distant point for a moment. Then he looked at Inca. “Why was she wearing your coat?”

Inca blinked. “She was taking the trash out for me.”

“Okay.” Knox looked like he was about to say something else, but then a bunch of the crime scene investigators came in. The medical examiner shook hands with them, and Nancy fixed hot drinks for everyone. Outside, the ice storm was worsening.

The medical examiner, Dr. Fielden, gave them the news. “She was shot three times: head, chest, and abdomen. I’m afraid she didn’t stand a chance, poor girl, but death would have been quick. I’ll obviously know more after the post-mortem.”

Inca could feel nausea rising in her chest again. The doctor looked at her. “I believe you found her, Ms. Sardee? Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “No. I just keep seeing her face.”

The doctor nodded sympathetically. “Understandable. Look, I’m sure the police will have plenty of questions for all of you, but for tonight, I suggest you go home and get some rest.” He glanced out of the window. “I hope we all get home safe in this.”

“It’s bad out there,” said Knox in a dead, flat voice and the doctor studied him.

“I think you shouldn’t be alone, Officer Westerwick. Not tonight.”

“Come home with us, Knox,” Nancy said kindly, and he nodded.

“Thank you, Nancy, Tyler. God … what the hell happened here tonight? How can she be gone?” And he broke down.

Tommaso took Inca home and ran her a hot bath. She couldn’t stop shivering and clung to him. “Come in with me.”

She lay back against him in the hot water, feeling the warmth seep into her bones. Tommaso’s big, muscled arms wrapped around her, his fingers tracing a pattern on her belly. Inca closed her eyes, trying to scrape the image of Scarlett’s broken body out of her mind. Her shirt had the tell-tale bullet holes in it, but it was the head wound that really got to her. So small, so insignificant, that tiny hole just above Scarlett’s left eyebrow. So small, and yet it made everything so final.

God.

Tears began to pour down Inca’s face then, and Tommaso let her cry softly, his hands stroking her skin to comfort her. After the tears stopped, he lifted her out of the bath and dried her, carrying her to bed. They needed no words, knowing that they would make love as a way of trying to ease some of the pain. Tommaso wound her legs gently around his waist as his cock slid into her. Inca clung to him, wanting him to cover her, dominate her, make her feel safe again. She couldn’t come though, and afterward Tommaso held her, kissing her gently, watching her eyes, waiting for her to start talking.

She stroked his face, feeling guilty for what they had all been through. “I’m sorry about … Raffaelo,” she whispered, but he shook his head.

“It’s okay. It really is, mio caro. We don’t have to talk about that now.”

She pressed her lips to his. “I do love you, Tommaso.”

“And I love you. But, bella, let’s be honest. You love Raff too.”

She nodded, feeling her eyes fill with tears. “I know it’s incredibly selfish, but I don’t know how to give either of you up.”

He drew his hand down her body. “I think tonight has shown us that if there is no need to give something up, then maybe we shouldn’t.”

Inca was confused. “What do you mean?”

Tommaso gave her a strange smile. “It doesn’t matter tonight, Inca. Sleep now.”

Inca didn’t think she could sleep, but with Tommaso’s gentle caresses, she soon fell into a nightmare-plagued slumber.

Tommaso slid from the bed and called Raffaelo in Italy. He told his brother what had happened and Raff was horrified. “Is Inca okay?”

Tommaso sighed. “No, Raff, she’s not. Come home. She needs you.”

Raffaelo hesitated. “I don’t know if I can.”

“You can.” Tommaso’s voice hardened. “You can, and you must. We have done this to our girl; we made her fall in love with us. We must be there for her now. Both of us.”

“Both?”

“Yes.”

There was a long pause before Tommaso heard Raffaelo’s sigh. “I’m on my way.”

Olly Rosenbaum was woken by a telephone call from his boss and told he was reinstated, effective immediately. He didn’t find out about Scarlett’s murder, though, until he flicked on the television as he ate his breakfast. He lost his appetite immediately. Rushing down to the Sakura, he found it surrounded with crime scene tape and deserted by everyone except journalists. At the rear, he saw blood frozen to the ground and felt sick. He felt confused, sickened, and lost. Not knowing what to do, he went to the police station, where he saw Knox.

He hugged his friend tight. “I’m so sorry, man.”

Knox gave a tight nod. “I just want to find who did this.”

“What have we got so far?”

He filled Olly in. “The thing I keep coming back to is … Scarlett was wearing Inca’s raincoat. What if the killer was targeting Inca and not Scarlett?”

Olly felt sick. “A possibility … but you and I both know that killers rarely change methods. The guy threatening Inca—if it wasn’t Kevin Harnett— always, always, stabbed his victims to death. So, if Inca was the intended target, then it was probably someone different, and more worryingly, it was someone who knew her well enough to know that it was her coat. It’s just a plain raincoat, right?”

Knox considered. “You might be right.”

“He’s not.”

They both turned to see Inca, flanked by Tommaso Winter, at the door of their office. Inca was pale as she stepped into the room, her phone in her hand. She looked down at it as she read out what was obviously a text message. “I thought she was you. That’s why I ended her pain with the headshot. If it had been you, like it was supposed to be, you would have gotten all six in your belly so that you would have suffered what you deserve, you bitch. You’re going to die soon, Inca, and no one can save you.”

She handed the phone to Olly then, who read it back, shaking his head. Inca looked at Knox, her eyes full of pain.

“It should have been me, Knox. I’m so sorry. I wish it had been me instead of Scarlett; I would give anything to change places with her.”

Tommaso gave a choked, distressed sound and she turned to him, putting a hand on his chest. Knox got up and put his hands on her shoulders. “It shouldn’t have been either of you, Inks. We’ll catch the son of a bitch who did this. I promise.”

Olly nodded, but Inca noticed he didn’t look at Tommaso once. It was as if he didn’t exist. “We’ll get him, Inca. Can you stay awhile? We’d like to ask you some questions.”

“Of course.”

Tommaso—who ignored Olly too—kissed her cheek. “Darling, Raff is flying in from Italy this morning—I’ll go pick him up. Stay here until we come for you, okay? To be safe?”

He looked at Knox, who nodded. “Don’t worry, Tommaso. She’ll be safe with me.”

Olly waited until Tommaso had left before speaking again. “So, why he’d drop the restraining order?”

Knox gave him a warning look, but Inca sighed. “He realized he’d overreacted and, given the situation last night, he thought you being suspended was not helpful.”

Olly rolled his eyes and Inca half-smiled at him. “He backed down, Olly. Now you have to do your bit.”

Olly held his hands up. “Fine. Now, let’s get some coffee and talk.”

Raffaelo hadn’t slept on the flight back to Seattle. All he could think of was Inca lying dead on the freezing ground, riddled with bullets. What was it about her that made men’s bloodlust flow so vehemently?

Lust. Desire. Jealousy.

Speaking of which … what had Tommaso meant?

She needs both of us.

Was he really suggesting they share Inca?

“That’s exactly what I mean,” Tommaso said an hour later as he turned the car towards the city and pulled away from the airport. “Obviously, it’s up to Inca, but if she wants both of us, I want to make sure she is given every chance of happiness.”

Raffaelo studied his brother. “Tommaso … have you been taking your medication?”

Tommaso half-smiled. “This is not that, Raff; I promise. Nor is it some kind of masochistic act of self-sabotage. We just need to think differently and not care about what society thinks. We are both in love with Inca; she is in love with both of us. Should she choose one of us over the other—we’ll deal with that later. Until then …”

“Are you talking about sleeping with her? Both of us?”

Tommaso nodded, looking faintly surprised. “Of course. It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?”

Raff turned away from his brother’s intense gaze. “So this is about Perdita.”

“No.” Tommaso’s voice softened. “It’s not. Come on, Raff. How many times have we taken women back to our bed?”

“Once or twice.”

“And those women meant nothing. Inca is everything.”

And Raffaelo could not argue with his brother.

Inca looked over to the Sakura. She could not imagine ever going back into the place she had spent the last few years trying to make a success. Not now. She felt desolate and empty. Suddenly she was grateful someone else had bought the apartment from under her. Knowing she was sleeping above the place where Scarlett was murdered …

No. I couldn’t.

Thank God for Tommaso insisting she move in with him and Raffaelo. She couldn’t help feeling a little excited that Raff was coming back from Italy. She felt like she was tumbling from a tightrope all the time now, and only Raff and Tommaso could hold her up. Someone—or someones—hated her enough to want to kill her, and if it hadn’t been for Tommaso and Raffaelo, she might have been tempted to give herself to her would-be killer to stop others dying. A part of her still wanted that.

Inca looked around the quiet police office. Olly had gone to speak to the cops working the homicide, and now she sat alone with Knox. Her friend looked shattered, and she realized he could not have slept at all.

“I’m sorry, Knox,” she said in a soft voice, and he half-smiled at her.

“Stop saying that, Inks. It’s not your fault.” He reached over and took her hand. “We’ve gotten in touch with Scarlett’s parents; they’re coming down from Everett now.”

Inca shook her head. “God. I can’t imagine.”

“Yes, you can. We can all imagine what they’re going through.”

“Yeah.”

Knox was studying her. “Did you get checked out at the hospital, Inks?”

“I wasn’t hurt.”

“Not physically, but …”

He was interrupted by the arrival of Tommaso and Raffaelo. Inca felt her face burn when she saw Raff, and his eyes fixed on hers, soft, concerned. Tommaso had heard what Knox said.

“We’ll ask our doctor to take a look at her.”

Inca felt irritated. “I am here, you know.”

Tommaso half-smiled. “Sorry. Look, are you free to go? We need to talk to you. Both of us.”

Knox nodded. “Inca’s been very helpful.”

Inca hugged him.

“Knox, go to Nancy’s and get some rest.”

“I will. Thanks, Inks.”

The fires were lit when they reached the Winter mansion, and Inca was glad of the warmth. Outside, the snow had begun to fall heavily, with blizzards predicted, so the house had been preparing for possible isolation. All the staff had been sent home to their families. Raff poured them all a glass of warming scotch and Inca pulled her legs up under her as she watched the two brothers silently move around the room.

“You said you wanted to talk to me?”

Tommaso glanced at Raff, who gave the smallest nod. “We do. After everything that has happened, this may not seem the time to talk about the three of us, but I think we need to.”

Inca looked at Raff, her heart pounding a little. “You think so too?”

“I do.”

She sat forward, still nursing the glass of scotch, feeling her skin burning. She hesitated a moment before saying in a quiet voice, “Don’t ask me to choose between you. Please. Anything but that.”

“We’re not. We’re saying—We’re both saying … it could be the three of us. No one need know—personally, I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks, but I know you might. But this thing could stay between us.”

Inca looked at Tommaso, trying to tell if this was a test or not. Somehow, she didn’t think so. Her heart was banging hard against her ribs. She looked at Raffaelo. “How would this even work?”

Raff hesitated, then gently placed his glass down on the table and held out his hand. “Why don’t we show you?”

Inca felt as if she were in a dream as the brothers both moved toward her. Was she really going to do this? The fire crackled in the grate as Raffaelo bent his head to kiss her mouth and she felt Tommaso’s fingers at the zipper of her dress. Then as he pulled it down, his lips against her spine. She closed her eyes, breathless, tangling one hand in Raffaelo’s hair, the other reaching back to cup Tommaso’s cock through his jeans. Raffaelo pulled her dress from her shoulders and lifted a breast from its lacy cup to take the nipple into her mouth.

“Oh God,” she whispered as they took her over, losing herself in the sensations shivering through her body.

Raffaelo’s fingers slid into her panties and caressed her clit as Tommaso’s cock, diamond-hard and huge, entered her from behind, thrusting hard into her wet and pulsing cunt. Raffaelo buried his face in her belly, his tongue stabbing at her navel in rhythm with Tommaso’s thrusts, Raff’s fingers rough on her clit. Tommaso reached around and caressed her breasts, his thumbs strumming a relentless beat across her nipples. His mouth was on Inca’s neck, hot, and his teeth grazed her skin as he took her. She came quickly, feeling Tommaso withdraw before he came, then his hot sticky cum pumping on her ass. Raff growled his desire, and before she could recover, he had laid her on the desk in the room, tugging her legs around him and plunging his equally enormous cock deep inside her.

Inca was lost in a world of delirious pleasure. Tommaso offered her his cock, and she took him in her mouth hungrily as Raffaelo fucked her, licking the salty cum on Tommaso’s cock, tasting them both. Raff’s thrusts got harder, and she opened her legs further, wanting him deeper inside her, his cock stretching her wider and wider. She came again and again, drinking down Tommaso’s cum as he reached climax, feeling Raff pull out and ejaculate on her belly.

Neither brother was going to let her catch her breath. Tommaso flipped her onto her stomach and pushed into her ass as she took Raff’s cock into her mouth. Tommaso slid two fingers into her cunt as his cock moved slowly but rhythmically inside her ass, and Inca could have happily died at that moment, feeling so utterly loved.

They moved to the bedroom where Inca straddled Raffaelo, impaling herself on his cock as Tommaso entered her from behind. Being fucked at the same time by these gorgeous, sensual men was like nothing she had ever experienced. Tommaso fondled her breasts as he fucked her. Raffaelo stroked her belly and fingered her navel, looking up at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world.

Hours passed, and when, finally, they all collapsed, utterly spent but still wrapped around her, Inca knew she would do anything with and for these two men. How on earth could it hurt anyone when it felt this good?

“I don’t believe it.” Luna Rosenbaum’s voice was little more than a whisper as Olly told her the news. Her entire body was trembling, and she had to sit down. Her ice-blue eyes were red, and she wouldn’t look at her brother. Olly reached over to hug her, but she moved away and slumped into her sofa. “God.”

He sat down next to her. “I know. Homicide is going to be all over this, but me and Knox will be working it too. We’ll get the bastard.”

Luna dropped her head into her hands for a long moment. “It’s her again,” she said in a muffled voice, “getting people killed.”

Olly frowned. “Who?”

“Inca! Who else?”

Olly let his sister rant on for a little while before putting his hand on her arm. “Enough now. You know as well as me that none of this is Inca’s fault. I don’t want to hear it anymore, Luna, I’m serious. Right now, you’re hurting—we all are, Inca included. And that girl loves you, Luna; don’t forget that.”

Luna stopped and looked at him with an unreadable expression. Then she sighed. “I know. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, just … don’t lash out. Inca’s got enough going on. And I don’t need to remind you that she’s saved your life on more than one occasion.”

“Okay, okay.” Luna waved her hands in the air to stop him talking. “I’m sorry. I’m just … God, poor Scarlett.”

“I know. Look, I’m bushed, so I’m going home. Can I trust you enough that you won’t go looking for Inca to start a fight?”

Luna gave her brother an annoyed look. “Of course not. Look, it’s a blizzard out there. Why don’t you stay?”

Olly shook his head. “I’ll be fine.”

Luna lay down on the couch and closed her eyes. Sleep evaded her, the pain in her chest overwhelming. Luna Rosenbaum rarely cried and rarely let her guard down but tonight she let the tears come, sobbing quietly into the pillow until she was exhausted. She got up and, walking into her little galley kitchen, splashed water on her face. She glanced out of the window, over to the police station. She knew Knox was working tonight. Luna grabbed her phone and tapped out a text. Seconds later her phone beeped.

Come on over.

She smiled, tossed a coat over her pajamas, pulled rubber boots on, and scooted down the stairs, out into the storm. As she pushed open the door of the police station, she could feel the tears start again.

Inside, Knox took one look at her face and held out his arms.

In the morning, the snow was five feet deep. Raffaelo and Tommaso lit fires to keep the big house warm, and they sat in the kitchen, the three of them cooking and eating and talking.

Inca felt as if she should be … she didn’t know—embarrassed? Ashamed? But she didn’t feel that at all. It was so natural to be with the two of them, laughing and talking. It was as if the storm had come at just the right time, and looking out of the window now at the whiteout, she imagined the rest of the world had gone away.

Maybe in this world, Scarlett is still alive, she thought, and tears sprang into her eyes.

“What is it, mio caro?”

Raffaelo had seen her tears, and as they spilled down her cheek, he swept them away with his warm fingers. They were alone. Tommaso had gone to take a shower after breakfast. Raffaelo pulled her into his arms, and she tilted her head back for his kiss.

“I love you,” she whispered to him, and he smiled, his gaze intense on her face.

“Ti amo, Inca.” His lips were firm against hers, his hands sliding into the robe she wore. He was shirtless, just in his jeans, and Inca slid her hands down to cup his cock, feeling the hot length against her hand.

“I want you inside me, Raffaelo.”

With a groan, he let her free him from his pants, then guided him inside her, his cock filling her entirely, her gasp of excitement all he needed to thrust hard. Coupled, they tumbled to the floor, Raffaelo pushing her legs up to her chest, sliding a pillow under her hips so he could sink balls deep inside her.

So immersed in their fucking were they that neither saw Tommaso as he came back into the room. In his hand there was a small video camera. “Keep going, my loves. I want to watch you …”

Why did this feel okay? Inca wondered if she had crossed a line here of decency, but then neither of the brothers looked at her with anything but absolute love and respect. Tommaso lay on the floor, aiming the camera at the sight of Raffaelo’s cock plunging in and out of Inca’s cunt.

“We can watch it together while we fuck,” Tommaso said. He lowered his head to Inca’s breast and began to suck on her nipple, teasing the small bud until she cried out, coming violently, bucking and jerking as the two brothers tended to her. Raffaelo came inside of her then, his moans like honey to her ears.

Tommaso, his huge erection obvious in his jeans, smiled at her. “Mio caro, shall we let Raffaelo in on our secret? Our casket of little pleasures?”

The thought of being tied up and fucked by both of them made Inca squirm with pleasure, and she nodded. Tommaso kissed her lips as Raffaelo smiled in confusion.

“What is this?”

Tommaso got to his feet. “You’ll see. Raff, get Inca seated in one of those wooden chairs.”

He disappeared, and Raff helped Inca, her legs still shaking, to her feet. God, he was beautiful, his sweat-flushed skin, his green eyes soft with love, his dark curls wild and messy.

Inca sat in the chair, and he drew the back of his hand down his cheek. “Tu sei il motivo che respiro,” he said softly. You are the reason I breathe.

Inca felt her heart swell with love.

She stroked his cock, still sticky with cum and her juice, then ran the tip of her tongue from the root to the tip, her fingertips tracing a delicate pattern up and down the shaft. Raffaelo groaned, and his cock thickened and lengthened again.

Tommaso came back in with his wooden box of treats. He smiled when he saw them. “Good.” He drew the supple leather strips from the box.

“Here’s what we’ll do ... Inca, I’m going to tie you to the chair; Raff, you will do to her what I tell you ... if I decide you both need punishing ...”

Raff laughed. “I’m game ... Inca?”

She nodded, sighing happily as Tommaso crisscrossed her body with the leather strap and tied her hands behind her back.

“Raff ... spread her legs and kneel between them.”

Raff dropped to his knees and pressed her legs far apart.

“Further.”

Inca felt her hips burn. Tommaso stopped and stared at her glistening, swollen cunt. “God, look how beautiful you are. Taste her, Raff.”

Raff licked along her slit, savoring the taste of her, flicking his tongue around her clit then plunging it deep inside her.

Tommaso walked behind her and pulled Inca’s head back and kissed her roughly. “Inca, mio caro, do you trust us?”

She nodded, hungrily kissing him as Raff continued his ministrations to her pulsating sex. Tommaso smiled. “You know the safe word,” he whispered. “If you want us to stop, just say it. I’m going to try a few things ... if you don’t like any of it, say so immediately.”

“I will.” She moaned as Raff brought her to orgasm with his tongue and she squirmed against the restraints.

Raff looked up, smiling at her, then at Tommaso. “What now, brother?”

“Stand and offer the lady a taste ...”

Inca took Raff’s aching cock into her mouth and sucked him until he came, pumping hot creamy cum into her throat. She swallowed him down and gasped as Tommaso reached around and thrust a dildo into her cunt.

“You like?”

She nodded as he fucked her with the rubber toy, grinding her hips against his hands as he plunged it deeper and deeper into her until she came.

Exhausted, Tommaso freed her from her bonds, and the brothers stroked her body as she caught her breath.

Afterward, she started to laugh, and they looked at her curiously. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but this is like some kind of weird fantasy palace.”

Raffaelo grinned. “But very real, my love.”

She put a hand on both of their faces. “I love you, both of you. You have changed my life. I’m just scared that when the snow outside melts and the world is able to get in, our little bubble will burst. I’ll have to go back to work— wherever that will be—go back to seeing my parents, my friends and try and keep this—us—a secret.”

Tomaso shared a glance with Raff. “In Italy, it would not be such a big deal. No one knows you there.” He drew his fingertips down her belly. “Isn’t that right, Raff?”

“Right.”

Inca looked between them. “Why do I feel like a conversation has been had that I wasn’t part of?”

Raff grinned sheepishly. “I was just saying to Tommaso last night—we cannot reasonably expect no one here to find out what we have been doing. It’s like you said, once people are able to see us again, they’ll know.”

Inca felt a sadness. “I don’t want this to end.”

“Neither do we ... which is why we thought up a plan. You said you didn’t know if you could work in the Sakura again. Here’s our plan. Sell the business. Come to Italy with us for a year. There we have a home in Sorrento, set high on the hillside. Completely secluded, but with views of Naples and, of course, Vesuvius.”

Inca’s heart began to thud in excitement. She propped herself up on her elbows—the fact that she had two beautiful men naked either side of her didn’t escape her attention—but something else was bothering her. “I couldn’t be your kept ...” she searched for a word that wasn’t whore, but her face reddened and her smile faded. Raffaelo guessed her thoughts.

“You would be our guest, Inca. Our friend and our guest. Anything else is nobody else’s business. You would be able to regroup there and decide on your next move.”

Inca smiled at him. “It is tempting.”

Tommaso chuckled. “Then it is decided. And anyway,” he glanced out at the snow still battering the huge windows. “I am so sick of seeing this white stuff. I need the sun.”

He had no idea where Inca had gone, but he assumed wherever she was, she would be fucking somebody.

Whore.

Stuck in Willowbrook, it irked him that he could not kill when he needed to. As soon as he was able, he risked driving into the city. Luckily, although the roads were still treacherous, the snow ploughs had cleared the main highway into the city, and he immediately drove to the only place he could think of where there would be plenty of people and plenty of opportunities.

The hospital.

He chose the biggest in the city; he knew the layout, knew the dark places. Knew where the staff and patients came out to grab an illicit smoke.

He had to wait a couple of hours before he saw her, and when he did, he almost laughed out loud. She was the most similar yet. She had Inca’s soft features, sweet smile, and long, dark hair. He took her as she passed the alleyway where he was hidden, and he smothered her until she lost consciousness. He ripped her uniform open, and because she was already unconscious, he started by carving Inca’s name on her stomach, gouging the words deep into his victim’s lovely skin.

He had already decided that he couldn’t wait much longer. Inca would die soon. Very soon. She would bleed to death slowly from the damage his knife would inflict on her glorious body. He would make sure she suffered every moment and felt every inch of the knife that would tear through her tender flesh over and over.

Her name carved, blood dripping, he waited for this girl to come around and, when she did, her eyes widened in terror, the pain hit, and she opened her mouth to scream as he plunged his knife deep into her abdomen.

When she was dead—and she died disappointingly quickly—he sucked in a few deep breaths, smelling the salty rust stink of blood.

Inca ... I’m coming for you.

He closed his eyes and thought about her body, the honey-skin ... he would fuck her before she died, dominate her body completely. She would beg for her life, but he would not listen.

Soon, Inca, soon.

Inca was right, of course. The bubble did burst, and spectacularly so. A week later, the snow had almost completely disappeared, and the mansion staff came back to work. They would find no trace of the debauchery that had preoccupied its three occupants for the last week. Tommaso had business in the city one day and, try as they might, Inca and Raffaelo could not find a moment to themselves as the house filled with trades people and staff.

Raff looked at her regretfully as yet another almost-tryst was foiled by the chef asking him when they would like dinner served. Raff stole a kiss as the chef turned her back and Inca grinned.

Raff nuzzled her nose.

“Wait until we are in Italy—we need not pretend there, mio caro.”

Two days after the snow melted, Tommaso drove Inca to her parent’s house, and Nancy hugged her daughter tightly, smiling at Tommaso.

“Thank you for looking after her.”

“Have you been okay?” Inca looked at her mother’s wan face, but Nancy nodded.

“It’s just a cold. Don’t worry; your father’s been caring for me. Look, have you been into town? Seen Olly?”

Inca looked surprised. “No, why?”

Nancy sighed. “You’d better come and sit, and I’ll call him. He should be the one to tell you. He has some questions.”

She looked at Tommaso. “Dear, would you mind leaving Inca with us?”

Tommaso nodded, his eyes curious. “Of course.”

Inca saw him to the door. “I’ll tell you what’s going on later,” she said in a low voice, kissing him goodbye.

When he’d gone, they waited for Olly. Inca tried to quiz Nancy, but her mother wouldn’t tell her what was going on. Inca realized Nancy’s wan face must have something to do with what Olly had to tell her. Somehow Inca knew she wouldn’t like whatever he had to say. She suddenly felt anxious.

“Mind if I do some baking? It always relaxes me, and I have a feeling I’ll need it.”

Nancy nodded, her eyes sympathetic. “Go ahead.”

Inca went into the kitchen and began to pull together the ingredients for muffins. She had the feeling her bubble of happiness was about to be pricked and burst.

Olly opened the door to the kitchen and walked in, closing it behind him. Inca came out from the pantry and stopped when she saw him. A flash of distress crossed her face when she saw his grim expression.

“Hi.” She looked away from him, grabbing a mixing bowl and dumping some flour into it. Olly leaned back against the door.

“I’ve got to talk to you.”

“Okay.

“About Tommaso Winter.”

She stiffened. “What about him?”

“He’s not a good person, Inca. I don’t want you around him.”

She slammed the bowl down. “Jesus Christ. Really? It’s getting really old, Olly, really very old.” He saw tears in her eyes. “Please, Olly, just go.”

He took a deep breath in. “Just listen to me; there was a murder in Seattle last night. The victim was stabbed to death, no motive, no robbery. Her body was found on the grounds of the hospital. She … Inca … she looked just like you. I did some digging.” He put a piece of paper down on the counter. “Seventeen women of Asian descent murdered over the last few years and guess who was in the cities when the women e died? That’s right—Tommaso Dario Winter. All of the women were repeatedly stabbed in the stomach, some of them disemboweled. Like your birth mother. Like Jasmine Khan. All the women look like you.”

Inca was staring at him, her mouth open. “I don’t believe this. I don’t believe you. Have you actually gone insane?”

“Inca—”

“No. No. Shut up. Just shut your mouth. Tommaso’s harmless. He’s been a good friend to me. Both of them have. And you come in here and accuse him of ... are you actually fucking insane? Do you have any proof he has committed any crime at all, let alone slicing and dicing some women who, gosh, happen to look like me? You know how many Asian people there are? Lots of them look like me, and some of them get murdered. But somehow this translates into Tommaso Winter is going to kill me?”

Olly winced. “I’m just trying to protect you.”

She threw the mixing bowl against the wall, shocking him with the depth of her distress. “You don’t get to do that anymore; do you understand me? You don’t have the right.”

Olly ached at the anguish in her voice. He reached for her, but she backed away from him, hurt in her eyes.

“Just stop it. This isn’t fair, Olly. I can’t—” She put her face in her hands, and he heard her sob. Just once. “Please, Olly, you have to stop.”

“I can’t just stop caring about you. I can’t stop it. I love you.”

“No! You don’t get to say that to me again. Ever.” She was angry now. More than that. Furious. “God, I was so stupid to think, to let myself hope we could still be friends, but you’re making it impossible.”

She was sobbing now, and Olly managed to get his arms around her. Inca struggled with him, but he wouldn’t let go. She went limp, burying her face in her hands.

“You can’t just hold me and think that it’s going to make everything okay. I won’t let you do this to me again. You’ve broken me, Olly, and you can’t fix me this time.”

He let her go then, her words cutting into him, fracturing what was left of his heart.

“Please go.” She turned away from him.

Olly’s throat was closed, his shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry.”

She looked at him then, and he saw the heartbreak and the endless loss in her eyes. “It’s not good enough.”

After he left, Nancy quietly slid back into the kitchen. Inca was still crying, albeit silently, and her mother wrapped her arms around her. “It’s okay, darling.”

There was a knock at the back door then, and Nancy opened it to see Luna outside. “Hi,” she said uncertainly.

Nancy pulled her in out of the cold. “See if you can cheer Inca up. Your brother’s just upset her.”

Luna’s mouth formed a line, but she rolled her eyes. “That’s what he’s good at.”

“I’m okay,” Inca said shortly, wiping her eyes. She didn’t look at Luna. There was an awkward silence, then Luna looked at Nancy.

“Look, Inks, why don’t you stay with me tonight? I bet you could do with a girl’s night in for a change. Although I know, it must have been hell trapped in the luxurious mansion with those two gorgeous billionaires.”

Inca looked sharply at her old friend, then realized she was grinning at her. She smiled and rolled her eyes. “Utter hell.”

Luna shifted her weight to her other foot. “Well? What do you say? Chili and a Friends marathon like the old days?”

Inca smiled. “That sounds good to me, Loons.”

“Don’t call me that. That okay with you?” She looked at Nancy, who shrugged.

“Fine with me. I’m not Inca’s keeper.”

“Will Tommaso be okay with it?”

Inca bridled a little. “Of course. He’s not my keeper either.”

“Just kidding. Jeez, you do need to chill out.”

“Sorry.”

Inca tried to relax and tried to forget about the scene with Olly. Luna let her off the hook for a while, distracting her. They chatted about work as Luna had flitted around the tiny kitchen of her apartment, throwing together the makings of a red-hot chili. They balanced their plates on their laps as they ate, watching re-runs of Friends. Inca felt the tension of the day leave her. She helped Luna do the dishes after, and then they collapsed back on the couch.

“Okay.” Luna grinned slightly as Inca rolled her eyes, then reached over to squeeze her hand as she saw the exhaustion in her friend’s eyes. “Inks, I’m sorry, but you need to talk to me. I feel like you’ve been withdrawing from me since Tommaso—and I think Tyler and Nancy feel the same way. The only person you seem to have time for is Tommaso or his brother. You really at the ‘living with stage’ with him already?”

Inca pulled her legs up to her chest. “I’m not living with him, if that’s what you’re asking. It was just a matter of safety; then we got snowed in.”

“Seems like it. Sure he doesn’t think you are officially living together?”

Inca rubbed her eyes. “I don’t know.” She winced at the fake sentiment of her reply.

You know what Tommaso wants. What Raffaelo wants. What you want.

She got up and paced around the living room. “I just want to get on with my life, sell the business, move,” and she turned away from Luna then, “move away. I can’t move on here with Scarlett’s murder and how things are with your brother.” She heard Luna’s distressed gasp, but when she turned back to her friend, Luna’s face was hard.

“So, running away?”

Inca sat back down next to her. “No. Well, not exactly. I’m going to Italy with Tommaso and Raffaelo for a while,” she added, seeing Luna’s expression. “Just getting my shit together, is all.” Mentioning her trip, she thought about what Olly had said earlier.

“Luna, you’ve met Tommaso and seen us together. Do you honestly think Tommaso would try to kill me? Or be capable of murdering all those women?”

“I don’t know. But I don’t think a little distance is the worst idea.” And for some reason, Inca felt a wave of terror at her friend’s reply. She shook her head, staring at her friend’s pale face.

“I don’t believe you.”

She got up from the couch and paced around, trying to keep calm. Luna watched her in silence, gnawing on her bottom lip.

“I know, Inca. I know he’s my brother, and I have to side with him, but there’s something about those twins. Both of them. Both of them seem like they’re … obsessed with you.”

Inca felt her face grow hot and she looked away from Luna’s penetrating stare.

“Oh, my God.” Luna breathed out a long, shocked breath. “You’re sleeping with both of them.”

“Shut up,” Inca hissed as if anyone could hear them. “It’s not like that.”

Except it was. It was exactly like that. She sat down and put her head in her hands. What have I become?

“I have to say, I’m impressed.” And Luna really did sound it, to Inca’s amazement. “Of everyone I’ve known, you are the last person I would expect to do that.”

“Can we please not talk about my sex life?” Inca was trembling now, and Luna put a hand on her arm.

“Inca … it’s okay. But maybe we shouldn’t tell anyone. Especially not Olly.”

Inca listened to her in silence, staring out of the window over to Olly’s house. The light from a TV flickered at the window. Otherwise, the house was still. Luna watched her. Finally, Inca looked at her, and her eyes were cold.

“Tommaso would never hurt me. Ever.”

Luna hesitated. “Olly’s been watching your house. We know this. He’s crazy jealous over Tommaso. Would he have seen anything?” Her voice trailed off as Inca flushed bright red and dropped her gaze. Luna gave a little gasp of distress. “Inca?”

“I don’t see how Olly could have seen us, but you never know. I still don’t believe Tommaso would hurt me. I never will believe that. I’d rather believe Olly would be the one who …”

Luna looked as if she would be sick any moment. Inca went to her and put her arms around her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. You have to stop worrying about me; it’s not your responsibility. I can look after myself. Your brother is a mess, yes, but he’s not violent.”

Luna pulled away from her. “I think you’re blinkered when it comes to Tommaso. Olly wouldn’t have said anything if he didn’t have reason to believe what he said.”

Inca went very still. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

Inca slowly reached down to grab her purse. “I think I should go.”

Luna turned away from her. “Well, that’s your thing, isn’t it? Like I said, running away.”

When Inca, still upset over the row, got back home, Nancy and Tyler were out and she breathed a sigh of relief. On the drive home she’d tried to make sense of the row with Luna. Inca felt bad; her friend was obviously conflicted, and she hadn’t helped any. She parked the truck and pulled out her cell to call Luna. No answer. She considered leaving a message, then ended the call. She’d apologize in person tomorrow.

Alone in the house for once, Inca reveled in the solitude, stripping the linen from the bed, gathering together dirty clothes and towels, loading up the washer, breathing in the scent of the detergent. She cleaned her bedroom, noting while she did the things that had changed without her noticing. A photo frame missing, books, records taken from the shelves in her room. She scanned the collection of vinyl that she had collected over the years, trying to see if they were just out of place. She frowned, trying to remember if she’d loaned them to anyone or if Nancy had been donating stuff to Goodwill without telling her. It seemed unlikely.

Sighing, she sat down on the bed. Should she call Tommaso or Raffaelo and tell them to come get her? No, she needed a night away for her body to recover, if nothing else. And besides, if she was going to go to Italy soon, then she wanted to spend some time with her parents.

And her friends. Olly. She shouldn’t have lost her temper with him. She would go see him in the morning and apologize, but warn him off Tommaso. She knew in her bones that he would never hurt her—or anyone else.

What about himself?

Inca pushed that unbidden thought away, not knowing where it came from.

When Nancy and Tyler came home, she spent the evening with them before turning in. When she went to bed, she fell asleep almost immediately.

Raffaelo knocked on Tommaso’s door. His brother was sitting up in bed, reading something on his laptop. He pushed his headphones from his head as Raff waved at him.

“Just wanted to say goodnight, brother.”

Tommaso smiled. “Goodnight, Raff. It seems strange without Inca here, doesn’t it?”

Raffaelo nodded. “It does. Well, goodnight.”

Raffaelo went back to his own bedroom and stripped. It did feel strange without Inca in his arms, or at least in his bed. Their bed. He had to admit, their three-way … arrangement … seemed to fit them so naturally. What pleased him even more was that Tommaso seemed more stable than ever, despite the weirdness of the situation.

Raffaelo lay back and closed his eyes. Straight away he saw her lovely face and imagined her skin next to his.

I love you, Raffaelo …

He heard her voice as clear as if she were here now. The scent of her skin, the silky feel of her cunt as his cock pushed inside her. God, he wanted her so much, all of the time. He couldn’t wait until they were in Italy and free to love each other without the fear of stigma. Raffaelo had never in his life felt as wiped out by love as he did for this woman. He was still smiling when he fell asleep.

Down the hall, Tommaso sat up and re-watched the same piece of video over and over again. It was the day they had indulged in tying Inca up, but the few seconds he was watching were of Raffaelo’s cock driving in and out of Inca’s vagina. His brother’s passionate, driving thrusts were hypnotic to him, the way his dick pulled in and out of her cunt, then the ecstasy on Inca’s face when she came.

Tommaso watched it, his own hand stroking his rock-hard cock. He couldn’t figure out why watching his brother fuck the woman they both loved turned him on so much, but it did. So badly. He was almost more obsessed with watching them fuck than fucking her himself—although that was always, always glorious. The few times they had taken her at the same time—God—he had been in heaven. The complete domination over her body. He cued up another video: Inca straddling Raff, their gazes locked, his hands stroking her belly, finger-fucking her navel in the way she liked while she slammed her hips hard against him, taking him in all the way.

Tommaso watched the scene over and over then jerked off, muffling his groans in his pillow. He went to the bathroom to clean up, and when he caught sight of his disheveled sight in the mirror, he almost crumpled. His green eyes were heavily circled with dark shadows, his complexion that of a heavy drinker—which he wasn’t. Puffy and seedy. The face of an addict.

What the hell is wrong that you jerk off to videos of your brother and your girlfriend?

“Mio Dio.” Tommaso Winter sank to the floor and put his head in his hands. What is wrong with me?

What the hell is wrong with me?

The next morning, Inca knocked at the door to Olly’s apartment. No answer. She knocked again and pressed her ear against the door to try and hear if the shower was running. It was early, she realized; maybe he was still asleep. She was about to knock again when the door opened. She jumped back a little and gave a nervous giggle. He had a towel wrapped around his waist.

Olly blinked, then smiled. “Hey … hey what are you doing here?” He laughed and shook his head. “I’m sorry … I mean hi, come on in.”

Inca smiled, a little taken aback—she’d expected him to be withdrawn, maybe a little cold. He waved her in, shoving a pile of dark clothes off the bed for her to sit.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you.” She glanced down at his towel, then reddened.

“Hey, no, look, you’re not—but do you mind if I just hop in the shower? I just worked out; I’m all sweaty and gross.”

She waved him away. “You go ahead.”

He grinned and went into the bathroom. “Anyway, this is a nice surprise. How are you?”

Inca blew out her cheeks, relieved the awkward atmosphere she’d feared was nowhere in sight. “I’m good … look, I wanted to apologize for last night.”

There was a small silence, then Olly stuck his head out of the door and smiled at her. “Let’s forget it. We were both, well, emotional. Friends?”

“Of course.”

He grinned and disappeared again. “It’s me who should be apologizing.” She heard the shower crank on. “I was a jerk. Forgive me?”

“Of course.”

She heard him chuckle, then the door closed. She shifted on the bed, looking around the room. It was untidy. Clothes were strewn everywhere; Inca realized she had always thought of Olly as so organized. The mess surprised her. The window was open, a cold breeze blowing the curtain. She walked over to the window. The room on the first floor had a view out to the forest, the trails marked. She saw a couple walking their dog and a jogger or two. The other side of the woods was the beach, and she stood on her tiptoes trying to see if she could see the water from here. Nope.

She moved away from the window and her foot kicked against some papers. She bent to pick them up. It was a manila envelope, addressed to Olly. With a start, Inca saw her realtor Mindy’s return address in the left-hand corner. She frowned—she had had no idea that the two knew each other. In fact, when they’d met a few weeks ago … then she saw the date. December sixth.

December sixth. The day before Mindy had called her to tell the apartment above the Sakura was gone.

Her heart was thudding. She looked up and listened. The shower was still running, and the scent of apple shampoo drifted underneath the door. Olly was humming to himself. Quickly, Inca prized open the envelope and pulled out the papers inside. Then all the breath left her body, her heart slamming against her ribs.

The deeds to the Sakura apartment.

She sat down on the bed hard, only just acknowledging its rumbling creak. She read the papers quickly. The letter was signed by a partner of Mindy’s, Jeb Verdona, a fawning sycophant who was full of clichéd platitudes and realtor-speak. He expressed surprise at the large amount Olly was prepared to pay at such short notice to secure the property. Olly had bought the Sakura apartment. Olly. Inca couldn’t get her head around it. She rechecked the dates again. Definitely the day before Mindy had called her.

Inca gritted her teeth; the next moment she heard the shower shut off. She pushed the papers back in the envelope and shoved it back under the bed. She got up and went to the window again, hearing him open the door to the bathroom. She needed a moment to arrange her expression, to erase the shock she felt. Olly had bought the apartment from under her.

Bastard.

“You can turn around. I’m decent.” Olly chuckled, then saw her pale face. “You okay?”

She turned, nodded, and tried to smile. “You have a great view from here.” God, so trite, she cursed herself. Olly didn’t notice. He nodded.

“It’s a great location. Not as good as your abode, of course.”

Or the Sakura apartment, she thought with a grim smile. Olly pulled on his sweater and stood staring at her.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Inca pulled in a deep breath. “I’m fine. Look, Olly, like I said, I came over to apologize for last night. I should never have taken it out on you.”

“Ssh.” He was suddenly beside her, his hand brushing away the hair that fell over her face, his mouth against her cheek. “I said, no need to apologize.”

She was about to protest, but something in his eyes made her stop. A blankness.

She changed the subject. “I hope I’m not interfering with your day.”

“Quite the opposite.” He stood, reached for his sweater, and put it on, looking at her reflection in the mirror. “I was going to call you. How about hanging out with me for the day?”

She swallowed. He bought the apartment; he bought the apartment. Anger and confusion were starting to replace the shock. Her eyes narrowed, but she kept her voice steady.

“I can’t today, Olly. I have to work. Maybe some other time. I have to go.”

She moved toward the door, but he stopped her, his face confused. “What’s wrong?”

She made her smile neutral. “Nothing. I’ll see you later.”

The tightness in her chest didn’t ease as she drove to work. She parked the car outside of the Sakura and sat for a while, trying to digest what she’d found. Olly had bought the apartment. An investment? She rubbed at her eyes, a headache starting to pound at the back of her head. She slid out of the car and went into work.

This early, the Sakura was silent and dark. She stood for a while in the quiet, trying not see the bloodstains in the backroom or the police tape littered everywhere. For a moment, her chest felt tight, and she struggled to compose herself.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

She went to the sink and grabbed a bucket, filling it with soapy water. She cleaned the floor, a few tears escaping as she cleaned her friend’s blood from the floor.

Oh, Scarlett, I’m sorry.

After a couple of hours, Inca finished cleaning, went to pull the shades up, and unlocked the front door, moving around on auto-pilot. She flicked the coffee machines on, listening to their rhythmic hum, staring into the gloom of the teahouse. To distract herself, she thought again about the apartment above her head. Why the hell had Olly not told her he bought the place—and why hadn’t he moved in? The date of the letter threw her. Hadn’t she told him then that she wanted to buy it? An idea started to form in her mind, and she smiled grimly to herself.

“Hey.” The sound of Luna’s stilted greeting made her turn. Her friend looked at her warily as she emerged from the backroom. Inca’s eyes filled with tears and she went to her friend.

“I’m sorry about yesterday, truly.”

Luna’s body slumped in relief. “Me too. I’m sorry I was such a bitch. I’m just worried about you and about Olly. My head’s a mess.”

Inca laughed through her tears. “Right back at you.” She held onto Luna for a few moments. “Don’t let’s lose each other, okay?” She felt Luna nod and pulled back to smile at her. “And I promise, I will be more accepting.” She hated lying to Luna, but there was no reason to drag her into this thing with Olly.

Luna wiped her own wet eyes with the back of her hand. “Sounds good to me. Look, I came to offer my services because … you know.”

Inca smiled at her gratefully. “Thank you, babe. I appreciate it.”

There was a knock at the teahouse door—customers waiting for their morning dose of caffeine. Inca went to let them in while Luna put her apron on. They dealt with the customers and got on with their day, the tension between them gone.

As she worked, Inca again went through every reason why Olly would have bought the apartment. He certainly didn’t have the money, she knew, to offer the outrageous price that had knocked her out of the running. So how? Why?

The idea came to her later in the morning, and she pulled Luna aside.

“My head is about to split open. Mind if I step out for a half hour?”

Inca went to the kitchen, pulling out the drawers until she found the flattest knife she could. Upstairs, she pressed her ear to the door to the apartment, listening for any movement inside. She knocked quietly, then, when there was no answer, she slid the knife into the gap between the door and the jamb, wiggling it to ease the lock open. She grinned to herself, wondering if Raff and Tommaso would be impressed by her lock picking skills.

You can take the girl out of the trailer park … Inca smiled as the door popped open. She closed it behind her and padded slightly around the dark apartment. The drapes were closed, and she flicked the overhead light on. The apartment was dusty but tidy, almost too still. There was no furniture, no personal touches. Not lived in. She breathed in the smell of the place—there was a tang of abandonment in the air. She shook her head. If Olly had bought the apartment, why was he still living at his old place?

Anger was starting to build in her. She moved about the apartment looking for anything she could use, anything that would tell her more about the man she thought she had known all her life, that would explain why he would have done this to her.

Later, after a decent interval, she made her way back down to the coffeehouse. As she went out to the counter, she heard Tyler and Luna laughing. She smiled as she saw them, but as she moved close, Tyler moved to hug her, and she saw, seated behind him, watching her with careful, intense eyes, Olly. His eyes bored into hers, the slight smile on his face mocking.

He knows you saw the papers.

The thrill of adrenaline that coursed through her body and made her stomach drop was almost painful. She looked away from his gaze.

“What are you kids joking around for?” she asked lightly, forcing herself to smile.

Tyler nodded to Olly.

“Olly’s been telling us about the surprise he’s got planned for you. Well, I say telling us, but he won’t let on what it is and Luna’s been trying to get it out of him.”

Inca kept her face neutral as she looked at Olly. “Oh?”

He nodded. “Good news. My lovely sister,” he nodded at a still smiling Luna, “has offered to cover your shift this afternoon, so you are free after all. Isn’t that great?”

Inca’s heart sank. Tyler and Luna were looking at her expectantly. She tried to smile. “I suppose. I’ll get my stuff.”

In the backroom, she took her time gathering her coat and purse. Luna followed her in a second later, frowning slightly.

“Hey, it was all right to say yes to him, wasn’t it?”

Inca laughed softly. “It’s fine.”

Luna stared at her. “What’s wrong?”

Inca hesitated then shook her head. “Nothing. Look, I need to call Tommaso. Can you give me a minute?”

“Of course.”

She called Tommaso and told him that she was spending time with Olly; Tommaso, to his credit, told her to have a great time. “I can’t be selfish with you now that I know we’ll be together in Italy soon.”

Inca smiled. “I love you, Tommaso.”

“And I love you. Call me later, Principessa.”

Inca followed Olly out to his car and waited as he slid into the driver’s side and started the car. He turned the car towards the harbor and drove straight to the ferry terminal.

“So where are we going?” She swallowed as her voice cracked. Olly didn’t notice.

“Oh, no. I’m kidnapping you.” Olly grinned. “It’s a surprise.”

She stared at him for a long moment, then tried to smile. “As all good kidnappings should be.”

He laughed. “Exactly. You’re a very cooperative abductee.” He held out his hand and, reluctantly, she took it. He smiled widely. “Inca, I promise you, this will take your mind off everything.”

On the mainland, Inca stared out of the window as Olly drove south of the city. Olly had chatted enthusiastically for a while but sensing her mood, he had lapsed into silence. She felt him glance over at her every few minutes, curious, wondering. She gazed out at the rain which was making everything hazy, the road slick, the sky dark.

“Are you okay?” His voice broke through her reverie.

“I’m fine.”

Olly abruptly pulled the car onto the off ramp and onto a road Inca didn’t recognize. On the side of the road she started to see a few kids from one of the reservations.

Olly put his hand on hers. “We’re almost there. I’ll let you in on the secret soon.” He laughed, his face open and friendly. He turned onto a small mud road. The car wound up a hill; the pines became denser, thicker as they climbed. The forest blocked out the light, the trees curving over the road. After a mile or so, Olly pointed. “Inca, look there.”

There was a clearing in the trees to the left of them. Olly brought the car to a stop and they got out. Surrounded on three sides by the forest, the clearing fell away at a cliff at the far side. The view stretched for miles over lush, verdant pine forest; at the horizon, Inca could see the cobalt of Puget Sound, dark patches of the islands scattered across it. The low winter sun cast golden glints off the water. The Olympic mountain range rose out of the west. Inca turned to Olly, smiling but confused.

“Olly, it’s beautiful. But I don’t understand …”

He smiled and nodded behind them. “Look there.” He pointed into the trees and she turned to look. A house, a large Richardsonian-Romanesque style building, stood out against the dark green of the forest.

No, not a house, a mansion, Inca thought. A behemoth.

“I thought you might appreciate the architecture … have you ever seen something like this here?”

She shook her head, staying silent. The windows of the house were blank and dark and she shivered. It wasn’t a welcoming home; it was a statement. Incongruous in this landscape, it simply didn’t fit in this beautiful natural place. She looked at Olly’s face and read the pride and excitement in his expression—and something else. Triumph.

Inca frowned, confused. “Olly, I—”

“So, do you like it?”

No.

But she nodded, smiling slightly, and he beamed.

“Good. Because I bought it.”

She turned and looked at him, studying his face. After a moment, teeth gritted, her voice hard, she asked him the question she’d been holding back.

“So you didn’t want to buy anything in Willowbrook? Nothing there that caught your eye?”

“What do you think?”

She felt a ball of tension lodge in her chest as he stared at her, his eyes searching but a mocking smile on his face.

“You’re right.” She made her tone soothing.

Keep him sweet.

She had no idea where that idea had come from, but suddenly she knew it was the right thing to do.

He pulled her into his arms, surprising her. She resisted for a moment, and his grip tightened. His gaze was intense as he gazed down at her. “It’s a new start, Inca. A new start for you and me. It’s our new home.”

Inca stared at him, her heart thumping unpleasantly against her chest. “Olly … I don’t understand.” She pulled away from his embrace and moved away from him, putting distance between them. She studied his face. He was smiling, and his expression was victorious.

Inca felt irritation flood through her. “What do you mean for ‘us’? Olly … we’re not … I live in Willowbrook, Olly. I have a home.”

“I know that.” He reached for her hand. “But it’s time we planned for our future. Come on. I’ll show you around.” He started towards the house, his hand gripping hers so that she was forced to follow him. “I got it for a steal, as well. For some reason, it had been on the market for over a year.”

She pulled her hand away from his. “Olly, stop. What do you think you’re doing?”

He turned, and the expression on his face made her heart stop. Anger.

“Inca, don’t spoil this.” He stepped towards her, and she felt her breath quicken. He towered over her, his hand on her arm, fingers biting into her skin. Inca stared up at him, searching his expression. She was alone with this man and no one, noone, knew where they were.

She could feel her skin start to prickle, her legs like cotton wool. His grip was too tight, fingers pressing deep into her skin, bruising, constricting the blood flow. Her hand started to numb. She tried to pull away, but Olly’s hold was unyielding. Trapped.

“Olly … please …” Her voice broke.

He put his finger over her mouth and smiled, but his eyes were that flat gray steel again. “Just listen. You need somewhere to go, away from the town, away from Winter.” Olly spat his name. “Being around him is destroying you; I can see that. Everyone can see that.” He cupped her chin with his fingers. “This is what’s best for you, Inca. Somewhere you can get away from him. Where I can look after you.”

She could feel icy needles of fear creeping up her spine. “Olly, I’d like you to take me home, please.” Her voice broke and faded. He stepped toward her, seeming to grow bigger, stronger. His eyes were locked on hers.

Even if you run, you won’t stand a chance.

Inca swallowed, not taking her eyes from him.

“Olly … please. I want to go.”

He laughed and took her hand. “Later. We’ve only just arrived.” He unlocked the front door and pulled her into the house. “You know, for what it’s worth, Nancy and Tyler agree with me; they think you should get some distance from Winter too. Clear your head. Isn’t that what you wanted?” He didn’t wait for an answer and, heart thudding, Inca stepped into the house after him.

The entire inside was painted white. Everything.

Inca swallowed. For some reason, the starkness of the décor scared her and made her uneasy. The outside walls were dark, stone and wood, giving no clue to this blankness inside. Olly was talking, leading her around the place. There was very little furniture, the few pieces there were, were covered in white sheets. Inca started to feel disconnected to the world outside.

She walked to one of the windows and looked out at the view. The windows felt thick and unbreakable; the view seemed a long way away as if she were looking at it through a telescope even though the perspective was all wrong.

“Inca? I thought you wanted to get away—after all, that’s what you told Luna, isn’t it? That’s why you were looking at apartments in the city—you remember when you were attacked? Reminds me, did Tommaso ever explain himself about that?”

She gaped at him. “What has Tommaso got anything to do with that? It happened before I even met him.”

Olly rolled his eyes. “You really are blinkered when it comes to that waste of space, you know? Anyway,” he interrupted whatever she was about to say. “Let’s go upstairs. I want to show you the master bedroom.”

He made her walk up the stairs in front of him, motioning to a door to the left of the staircase. The master bedroom was huge, with a dressing room and walk in closet, an ensuite bathroom, and a bed. A huge bed, made up with white sheets, white pillows. And on the nightstand, a picture frame. Inca walked over and picked it up. A photo of her, smiling, looking away from the camera. She recognized the photo; it had been taken by Nancy on her last birthday.

“You took this from my home?” She held up the frame, her eyes filling with tears. Olly smiled, seeming oblivious to her distress.

“Just to help make it homey. Hey, look at this.” He walked out of the room to another down the long hallway. He threw open the door—another white, blank room. He wrapped his arms around her, tightening his hold as she tried to pull away. “And next door, Inca, don’t you think, it’s the perfect space for a nursery? For when we have kids.”

Inca wriggled violently out of his embrace, trembling so badly she stumbled a little as she pushed her way out into the hallway. Olly caught her up, grabbing her arm and turning her to face him. His expression was confused.

“Inca, what’s wrong?”

Inca felt anger roil up inside her. “Olly … are you kidding me? You’re talking as if we’re together … I’m not moving here, Olly. I’m not moving in with you.” She started down the stairs but Olly grabbed her arm.

“Why do you always have to do this? I try to do something nice for us and …”

“Olly, you’re hurting me.”

“I don’t care. I want to know what your problem is.”

She twisted her arm from his grip and turned to face him. “My problem is you, Olly, telling me how to live my life, buying a freaking house ‘for us to live in.' We are not a couple anymore, Olly; do you understand that?”

His face twisted in anger. “I understand that you can’t make up your mind, but I won’t wait forever, Inca. Either you want this, or you don’t.”

She shook her head. “Fuck you, Olly. You were the one who ended things between us. You. And now, I am grateful for it because this is crazy. You are out of your mind.”

“I’m out of my mind? Me? I’m not the one fucking two brothers, Inca.” His voice was granite. She swallowed the shame, flushing. Luna had told him—was that the reason for this insanity?

“It’s none of your business who I fuck.” Her voice was bitter now. “I’m just glad it’s no longer you.” Her voice shook on the word, and she clenched her fists up to calm herself. “God, is this why you bought the Sakura apartment out from under me? To leave me homeless so I would have no choice but to move in with you?”

He smiled. “You found out.”

She wanted to slap the grin off his smug face. “Who are you, Olly? You are not the man I’ve known my whole life. Who the fuck are you?”

Olly moved so quickly she didn’t have time to react. He pulled her into his arms, holding her as she struggled, grinding his mouth onto hers. Inca was breathless, and terrified. Olly scooped her into his arms and carried her back to the master bedroom. He dropped her onto the vast bed and as she struggled against him, he put his whole weight on top of her, kissing her with a ferocity she found terrifying. It was only when he stood and started to unbuckle his belt that she could move.

Inca rolled to the other side of the bed, kicking his hand away when he reached for her leg. She managed to get off the bed and tried to sprint for the door but he caught her. Petrified, she waited for his next assault.

To her shock, he dropped to his knees, pressing his face into her belly briefly and then drew away, tears in his eyes.

“I’m sorry. It’s just … I love you, Inca. I’m in love with you. And I want to make you happy.”

Inca couldn’t speak. Olly got to his feet and smiled down at her. “You don’t have to say anything back. Just know, I’m yours. For all time.”

The change in his manner threw her. Guilt, fear, confusion. She pulled away from his grip.

“Olly … I would like to go home now.”

He looked sad. “Are you sure? I’ve so much more to show you.”

She didn’t react, and he gave a martyred sigh. “I’ll take you home.”

Back in Willowbrook, Inca didn’t hesitate. She called Tommaso and Raffaelo, then went straight to the police station and lodged a formal complaint with Knox. Knox was shocked.

Inca held her head up high, but her voice shook. “I can show you the bruises, Knox.”

Soon, the police were looking for Olly, and a raging Raffaelo and Tommaso were having to be held back from ‘helping’ them.

“The sooner we get to Italy, the better,” Tommaso raged, but Raffaelo just put his arm around Inca.

“I think Inca’s probably had enough of men telling her what to do,” he chided his brother gently, and Tommaso nodded. He stroked Inca’s cheek.

“I’m sorry, bella.”

Inca leaned into his touch. “It’s okay.” She was hyper-aware of the other deputies trying not to stare at the three of them, at their obvious dynamic. “I feel the same. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

It was after midnight before Luna let herself into Knox’s apartment. Since Scarlett’s murder, they had become close—just friends, Knox was still grieving—and Knox had given her a key so that she would have a safe space to come to. She greeted him with a grin, waving a bottle of scotch.

“I saw all the activity at the station—Inca causing trouble again? A bribe. Spill it.”

Knox slumped onto the couch, patting the seat beside him. “You know it’s private police business. I could get into a lot of trouble …” He laughed as she kissed his cheek. “You’re going to have to try harder than that.” He tried to make his face disapproving, and she snickered.

“How about I show you a boob? No?” She feigned hurt, and he tugged on a lock of her hair.

“Seriously, look, I do have something to tell you, and it’s not going to be easy to hear.”

She studied his face, her own expression troubled now. “Okay.”

Knox took a deep breath. “Olly attacked Inca. He tried to rape her, I’m sorry … don’t cry.”

“God … I knew he was cracking up, but this … tell me everything.”

So, in a halting voice, he told her everything Inca had told him.

“Knox!” Luna was up now, hands at her mouth. “Tell me, really, is she okay?”

Knox grabbed her hand and pulled her down into his arms. “She really, really, is. She said to tell you she’s fine, just a bit shaken up. Winter seems to be taking … care of her.”

Taking over was what he’d been about to say, but he didn’t want to worry Luna. Knox had studied the man closely for the first time since they’d met, his huge physical presence, his intense manner. His brother seemed even more intense than Tommaso. Knox made a note to talk to Inca about that next time she was alone.

“Hey, you still here?” Luna waved a hand in front of his eyes. Her own eyes were still troubled. “So, where’s Olly?”

“We don’t know. He never went home. God, Luna … I’m so sorry.”

“What did he want? Olly, I mean. He knows it’s over between them so … what the hell was he thinking?”

Knox had no answer for her.

Inca went to see Nancy and Tyler and then went home with Tommaso and Raffaelo. She needed to be with them tonight, and they seemed more than delighted to have her there. They sat up talking, sipping warming scotch, making plans for Italy. They would leave in a few weeks, they decided.

“I want to find a job there, though,” Inca told them determinedly. “I don’t want to be a kept woman.”

“There’ll be plenty of opportunities open to you,” Tommaso said smoothly, sliding his hand onto the back of her neck and kneading the sore muscles there. “In the meantime …”

They took her to bed, in Raffaelo’s room this time, and they made love slowly, sensually. Inca was made to come again and again as they took turns to fuck her, before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

He had crept past the security guards, almost smirking at their lax vigilance. He’d nearly been seen by one of the other staff, though, and he’d ducked behind a column as the man pulled a cigarette out and lit it. The smoker wandered off, and the watcher took his chance and stole in the open door. He padded quietly through the silent mansion, up the grand staircase, checking each room. They were all empty, except the last one.

Inca lay naked and beautiful between both brothers. They were turned towards her; Raffaelo facing her, his lips almost on hers; Tommaso behind her, his lips on her shoulder. All three looked to be asleep. The watcher was entranced by the vision; all three were so beautiful that they looked like a painting.

He fingered the knife in his pocket. He had come here to kill her but now, seeing this, he’d never get near her. Even if he killed one of the brothers first, their ripped athletic bodies meant the other would wake and he’d be a dead man before the knife touched Inca.

Whore.

Fucking both brothers? His own cock twitched as he pictured it, then, as Inca moaned softly, he stepped back into the shadow and watched her. She opened her eyes and stared at Raffaelo Winter before closing the distance between them and kissing him. His eyes opened and he smiled as her lips met his.

“Ti amo,” he heard him whisper. Inca moved then, pushing Raffaelo onto his back and straddling him. The watcher felt his groin clench as he watched her lower herself onto Winter’s huge, erect cock, and begin to move gently. Tommaso awoke then and he saw him smile at them.

“Starting without me?”

Inca held out her hand to him, and he sat up, his mouth finding her breast. It was hypnotic watching the three of them and when Tommaso slid from the bed and moved around to take Inca, his cock thrusting deep into her ass as Raffaelo’s plunged ever deeper into her cunt, his own grew painfully erect. What he would give to join them …

He snuck away regretfully while they were still fucking and was able to get back down to his car parked along the road. Really, their security was laughable but, he supposed, with the three of them being inseparable—literally—he guessed they thought they were safe.

How wrong they were …

In the morning, Inca opened up the Sakura. It was still painful to be there, and she felt nothing but relief that soon she would be in Italy. Last night had been the clincher—after making love with Tommaso and Raffaelo, she knew she couldn’t be anywhere they were not. She had called Mindy first thing that morning and asked her to list the business for sale. She would sell, give Nancy and Tyler back their investment plus some major interest, then live on the rest while she was in Italy. Despite her protestations, she didn’t really want to work in Italy—she wanted to explore, learn Italian, discover more about her loves, spend every waking moment with them.

My loves … how wildly different her life had become since she’d met the two brothers—how wildly different she herself had become. A wanton woman, she said to herself and grinned.

“You’re cheerful.” Luna didn’t look happy as she came into the Sakura and Inca’s smile faded.

“Luna, look, I’m sorry that I had to tell Knox about what Olly …”

Luna held up her hand. “Please, don’t. It’s okay. What he did is unforgivable, even if he is my brother. Though I would like to know from you what exactly happened.”

Inca told her about the house, how Olly had behaved, about her things being stolen. By the end, Luna had to sit down, and Inca felt bad for telling her.

“I don’t know why he’s suddenly behaving like this. I’m so sorry, Inca.”

Inca was uncomfortable. “Let’s not talk about it. Even though I am so pissed at him, I hope he’s okay. Maybe he’s just …” She stopped talking, but Luna half-smiled.

“Say it. Maybe he’s having a psychotic break. Just like his little sister.”

“No, I …”

“Inca, it’s okay. Sometimes these things are genetic and, in a way, I hope that’s what he is having. Let’s be real honest here. Do you recognize this Olly? Is he the same man you grew up with and had a relationship with?”

Inca shook her head and Luna nodded. “Remember when I had my breakdown? Did I seem different to you?”

“You did. I remember thinking Luna has disappeared. It was scary—obviously not as much as for you and Olly but I felt like you’d died in some way.” Inca felt tears prick her eyes.

Luna sighed. “That’s how I felt. I was no longer me. And maybe, I think, Olly is going through the same thing. I think it’s been going on a while. I think it’s the reason he broke up with you, I really do. He’s unstable.”

“God.” Inca was choked up, but she got up and made some tea to cover it. “What a fucking mess.”

“Indeed. Look.” Luna got up. “I don’t think Olly meant any harm; I really don’t. I know he scared you.”

“He lied to me as well, Luna.”

“I know. He lied to me too. Look, shall we open up and distract ourselves? Knox will tell us if they find anything.”

Luna had been trying to call Knox all day. At seven o’clock, frustrated, she shoved her cell phone in her pocket and strode over to the police station. Fred, one of the deputies, greeted her.

“Hey, Knox here? I’ve been trying to get hold of him all day.”

Fred shook his head. “Got called into the city. They’ve got some big break in the murders and wanted to know what Knox knew.”

Luna frowned. “Surely they have records?”

Fred shrugged. “Can’t say I know too much. Knox went harin’ outta here this morning; haven’t heard a thing since. Looked pretty tense.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll be across the road if he comes back.”

“Sure thing.”

She returned to the Sakura and shook her head. Inca sighed. “We’ll just have to wait some more.”

A few minutes later, Tyler came in, breathless and frantic.

“Either of you seen Nancy? She didn’t come home, and I can’t get hold of her. She was meant to be home an hour ago.”

Luna gave a short laugh. “Maybe she’s with Knox. He’s been AWOL all day too.”

Tyler didn’t smile, his face creased with worry, and Inca went to him. “Look, I’m sure she’s just gone to get groceries or something. Come have some coffee and we’ll wait for her.”

Tyler hesitated, glancing over to the police station across the street. Finally, he sighed, still antsy, and sat on one of the bar stools. “Okay. Maybe you could try her from your landline?”

Inca nodded, casting a concerned look at Luna. She poured him some coffee and went out the back to try and call Nancy. Luna rubbed Tyler’s back, trying to comfort him.

“I’m sure her cell just ran out of power or something. When did you see her last?”

Tyler rubbed his head. “This morning. We had plans for the evening, you see. It’s not like her,” he fretted, getting up and going to the window. Luna went with him in time to see a police cruiser pull up. Knox got out, followed by some men she didn’t know. She banged on the window, but Knox ignored her, just walking with the men over to the station. She frowned and was about to leave when Inca came back into the room. She shook her head at them.

“Sorry, no luck. Look, we’ll leave it for a half hour.”

Luna interrupted her, darting to the door. “Be right back.”

Knox was emerging from the station, his face stern and set. She ran over to him, and he excused himself to the men with him, one of whom she now recognized as his old boss in the city, Trey Ford. She nodded to him, then turned back to Knox.

“What’s going on? Are you looking for Olly?”

He indicated for her to wait, spoke to the rest of the group in low tones. Returning, he took her arm. “Come on.”

He led her back to the teahouse where Inca and Tyler were watching them, confusion in their faces. He asked them to sit down while he explained.

“Trey went back over cold cases in the city. He found a woman who was murdered with the same weapon but didn’t fit the victim profile. She was an African-American mother of five.”

Luna looked confused. “And?”

“Her name was Justine Sardee.”

Inca blanched. “Oh God …”

Knox nodded. “She was killed on March first. That date mean anything to you?”

Luna looked bleak, and her voice was barely above a whisper. “Olly’s birthday.”

Knox took her hand. “It’s all too coincidental. He’s been going into the city at night too. We need to talk to him as soon as possible.”

Inca shook her head. “This is ridiculous. Olly would never hurt anyone.”

Knox’s eyes were kind. “Inca, didn’t you come to me and tell me the exact opposite thing yesterday? The facts are that the murders all took place at times Olly was either unaccounted for or in the city. Then there’s the murder weapon itself.” He looked at Tyler. “You know what I’m going to say.”

Tyler nodded, his whole body slumped in defeat. “My knife.”

The woman both looked back at Knox in confusion.

“Tyler was issued a bayonet knife when he served in the military,” he explained. “It was part of the inventory stolen last year, only Olly never listed it in the police file. It was the only thing that wasn’t accounted for. Then there are the ballistics on Scarlett’s murder. I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you before. They’re the same issue bullets as we use. We just need Olly’s gun to prove it.”

Inca couldn’t hold out the small cry of distress. “What the hell are you talking about? Are you accusing Olly of murdering Scarlett now?”

Luna looked as if she would throw up. Tyler reached for Inca’s hand. She pulled it away and stared at Knox. He was pale, obviously uncomfortable.

They all looked at Luna now. She shook her head

“No. No. He’s being set up.” She stood up now, angry. Inca, tears flooding down her face grabbed her hand.

“Luna, I don’t want to believe it either, but—”

Luna walked out of the room. Tyler started to get up, but Inca stopped him. “Tyler, leave her. Knox, Nancy is missing. She’s been missing all day.”

Knox look startled and stood. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that first? Tyler, come with me.”

Inca watched helplessly as the two men stalked out.

Luna pulled the back door shut behind her, pressing the speed dial on her cell phone. She waited until the voicemail kicked in.

“Hey, it’s me. Look, I don’t know where you are but … they’re going to arrest you. I want you to know, I know you didn’t do anything wrong. I know it.”

Her voice cracked, and she hung up the phone. Her body gave out then, and she sank to the ground, sobbing.

No. No.

Olly was being set up; she knew it. Her sobs juddered to a halt and she dragged oxygen into her lungs in gasps, trying to regain control. One thought dominated her mind now.

How the hell was she going to save her brother?

It was four a.m. before Knox came back to the teashop. Tyler had returned earlier and they had been joined by the Winter brothers, both of whom had immediately sent their own security teams out to help the hunt. Tyler, hollow-eyed and stricken, got up to greet him, but Knox, grasping the older man’s arm, shook head.

“Nothing yet, buddy. Trust me, we’re looking. The coastguard is sending up a helicopter at first light. Same with the police, the F.B.I.” He took a deep breath. “Considering Nancy’s age and link to Inca, the feds are considering her disappearance as part of the case; they’re giving us all the resources we need.” He winced at the agony in Tyler’s face. “Man, we’ll find her. I promise.”

Tyler nodded, speechless with terror. Knox looked over to the two women, their eyes filled with the same horror as their friend’s. Luna hugged Knox and he sank into the embrace, exhausted, drained.

“I can’t stay long,” he murmured into her neck, his face buried in her hair. He was reluctant to let go. Luna cleared her throat and he looked up.

“Can I have a word, Knox? In private?” She looked embarrassed to ask.

In the kitchen, she looked at him squarely. “I need to tell you something. It’s going to sound crazy, and you’re going to think I’m saying it just to help Olly but—”

“Just go for it, Luna.”

She nodded. “All right. I think Olly’s being set up by Tommaso. I think he’s dangerous and unstable. Everything started to go bad when he showed up.”

Knox considered her words carefully. “Just one problem with that, Luna. Tommaso didn’t show up until a couple of months back. The murders started a year ago.”

Her shoulders slumped. “I know,” she hissed with frustration.

Knox relented. “Hey, I’m not taking his side, but I’m just telling you how the court will see it. For what it’s worth, I think there’s something hinky about him too. But just at the moment, I’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

She nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry.”

They walked back out to the coffee house and Knox nodded to Tyler. “I’ll be back and keep you updated.” He walked towards the door, then turned on his heel and went back to Luna, searching her face. “Don’t go taking the law into your own hands now, will you? If what you say is true, I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Olly woke in his car. It took him a moment to orient himself to his surroundings. Desolation Point. He sat up and wondered how the hell he’d gotten there. An empty bottle of vodka lay next to him, but he frowned at it. Vodka wasn’t his drink. He opened the car door and the fresh air hit him.

“God.”

He stumbled from the car and rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He saw the trunk of his car was lifted up and frowned. What the hell? As he stared at it, he felt his phone buzz. Voicemail. He listened to his sister’s words, and a sickening dread came over him.

Slowly he walked to the back of the car. The flies were buzzing maniacally, and Olly could only stare in horror at the dead body of his ex-girlfriend’s mother. Olly whirled and threw up and up until he could no longer do anything but dry-heave.

He staggered further away from the car, wondering what to do. He heard the sirens getting closer. Luna’s voice came back to him.

They’re going to arrest you.

He pulled his cell from out of his pocket and called her. She answered on the first ring.

“Olly?” she was whispering but, as soon as he heard her voice, he crumpled.

“Luna, Luna …” He started to sob. “They’re gonna say I did it …”

“No. No. Olly, listen to me. I know you are innocent. I know it with every cell in my body. I believe you.” Her voice was stronger now. “Are you listening?”

Olly’s sobs juddered to a halt and he panted, trying to catch his breath. “Yes.”

She lowered her voice again. “I believe in you.”

Olly shook his head. “You’re the only one who will,” he said bleakly.

He pushed his way through the woods, towards the sound of the sirens. A couple of cruisers were parked at the side of the road. As he approached, the cop driving the closest one got out of his car. Olly went up to him, his whole body slumped in defeat.

“I think,” he said, and his voice broke, “I think I’m the one you’re looking for.”

Inca saw Knox’s face before Tyler did, and his expression said everything. An involuntary moan escaped her lips and Tyler looked up sharply. He followed her gaze, turning to the somber cop.

Knox shook his head, his eyes sorrowful. “Tyler …”

“No. Don’t say it. No.” Tyler began to shake and Inca, tears coursing down her face, darted around the counter and caught him as his knees gave way. She and Knox managed to maneuver him into a chair, and he leaned over, a gut-wrenching howl of grief echoing around the room. Inca leaned her head against his.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she whispered again and again, and he put his arms around her, holding onto her, muscles clenched. He drew in deep breaths, trying to get control of himself. Knox, his hand on the older man’s shoulder, waited, his own face wan.

After what seemed an impossible time, Tyler looked up. “Where?”

“In the woods near Desolation Point.”

Tyler and Inca exchanged a long look. He saw his own confusion reflected in her eyes. “Was she stabbed?”

Knox nodded. “Yeah. It’s the same killer.” The implication of what he had said hit him then as Tyler stood and darted into the backroom. They heard him throwing up and Inca gave a little sob.

“With his knife. With Tyler’s knife.”

Knox nodded and put his arm around her. “Look, I need you to stay with Tommaso. Take Tyler, if that’s okay. I don’t know why, but I think from everything we’ve found out, it has to have something to do with you. You shouldn’t be alone.”

She gazed up at him. “What about Olly?”

He hesitated. “Inca … he’s in custody. He was found with Nancy’s body in the trunk of his car.”

“No, no, no …” She started to sob and Tommaso held her as she cried. Raffaelo cursed softly under his breath.

“He turned himself in, Inca. Whatever the truth is, we’ll get it; don’t worry. If Olly’s innocent, we’ll find out.”

She gathered herself, rubbing her eyes. “Sorry.”

He looked at her kindly. “He’s asking for Luna. I need to find her.”

Inca nodded. “She’s upstairs. Knox … I know Olly. He wouldn’t do this. He wouldn’t. He’s messed up, yes, but he’s not a killer. Should I come?”

Knox’s face softened. “Sweetheart, you need to look after Tyler now. Olly’s cooperating. Funny he knew to come in almost as soon as the arrest warrant was issued—almost as if someone warned him. Look, we need a positive ID on Nancy’s body.”

“I’ll do it,” she interrupted. “Tyler doesn’t need to see her like that.”

Tyler had emerged from the bathroom, wiping his mouth. “Sorry.”

“Tyler, I’m so sorry for your loss.” Knox was all business again now, his manner sympathetic but practical. “Inca’s going to come with me tomorrow and make the official identification.” He looked between them.

Tyler opened his mouth to object, but Inca went to him. “Let me do this for you. I owe you. You don’t need to see her like that. Please.” She hugged Tyler, and he exhaled a long, almost relieved sigh, holding her close.

“Thanks, Bubba,” he said softly, then turned back to Knox. “Knox, I heard what you said about Inca not being alone. I agree, bubs, no argument.”

Tommaso cleared his throat. “You shouldn’t be alone either, Tyler. Our home is your home. Knox, will you let me know when Inca should be there tomorrow?”

“Of course. They’re going to take her bo—Nancy, to the city morgue. I’ll go with you, so you won’t be alone, Inca.” He turned to Tyler. “Tyler, man, I’m so sorry. You need anything, you just holler, okay?”

Inca hugged Tyler. “Just know, I will always be here for you, whatever you need. I’m so sorry.”

Tyler let out a long breath. “Thank you.” He searched Inca’s face. “You okay?”

She shook her head. “No. No, I’m not. Tyler, Olly didn’t do this.”

He hesitated, then sighed. “For whatever reason, I believe you about that. I can’t imagine he would do this. Nancy’s gone. God, Inca.” His voice was so full of desolation, it made her cry. “What the hell am I going to do without her?”

F.B.I. Agent Trent Burke leaned back in his seat and studied the young man in front of him. Olly Rosenbaum had refused a lawyer and just asked that his sister be with him during questioning. There was something so guileless about the kid, and he had answered every question, Trent felt, with honesty and frankness. No, he had no idea how Nancy’s body had gotten in his car, nor indeed how he had ended up where he did. No, he had no motive to kill her. No, he wouldn’t describe his relationship with Inca Sardee as obsessive.

Trent glanced in the two-way mirror, knowing the cop from the island, Knox, was watching. He’d banned him from the interview even before he found out he was close to the main suspect’s sister.

Jesus. Trent shook his head. What a goddamn mess.

There was a knock at the door. Trey Ford walked in, a tray of coffee in his hands, a folder tucked under his arm. Olly and Luna thanked him for the drink. Trent took the folder and opened it, reading through the contents. Ford watched him carefully, and eventually, Trent nodded and turned back to Olly. The younger man looked exhausted; his sister, tense but protective.

“So, Olly.” Trent kept his manner relaxed. “You want to tell me where you’ve been going nights?”

Olly sighed. “The city. I’ve been moonlighting, I guess you’d call it, working construction.” He leaned forward and dropped his head in his hands for a moment. Luna, paler than ever under the strip light, rubbed his back. He took a deep breath.

“Thing is, I got myself into bad debt buying two new places. So I got in touch with an old friend and asked him if he could hook me up with some work. And I guess I just wanted one thing in my life that was just mine. So I didn’t tell anyone. Not Inca,” he smiled at Luna. “Not even you, sis.”

Trent nodded. “I get it. We’re going to have to check with your friend, you realize, and whether you’ve broken any conditions of your employment, well, I’ll leave that up to your boss.” He glanced over to Ford, who shrugged. “Well, we’ve got a long way to go here, so, take a break for five minutes, and we’ll be back. Ford?”

Outside, Knox was waiting. “Thoughts?”

Trent shook his head. “Something’s not sitting right. We’re gonna need more time, and I think we need to take him back to the city. He’s too close to everything here,” he added, throwing Knox a meaningful look. Ford nodded.

“I think that’s a good idea—look, I’m not trying to interfere, but seems to me, Knox, you already got a lot on your plate without this. Let Trent deal with Olly. Keep out of it and handle what’s been going on with the murder scene. I know the victim was a friend. Take some time.”

The door behind them opened, and Luna stepped out. She looked as if she’d been crying, but she gave them a weak smile. Knox put a hand on her shoulder.

“I think my brother should have a lawyer now,” she said quietly. Ford nodded and reached for the phone.

“They’re going to take him to the city for questioning, honey.”

She nodded, sighing. “Okay … well, I should go with him.”

Trent made a face. “Honestly, I think you’re better off here, Miss Rosenbaum. We could be a long time.”

Luna looked at Knox, who nodded. “Sweetheart, it’s for the best. Inca and Tyler are going to need you too.”

Luna’s face crumpled, and she hurriedly dabbed her eyes. “I don’t want him to be alone.”

“He won’t be.” Ford was back. He squeezed her hand. “I’ll look out for him best I can. I promise.”

Knox drove Luna to the Winters’ house. “I want you to stay with them and be with people when I’m working.” He glanced over, his face apologetic. “Sorry, I don’t mean to dictate – “

“I get it,” she said with a small smile. “Thank you. God, what a mess.”

He pulled the car up to the curb outside Tommaso’s place, and they sat there for a moment. Knox reached over and took her hand.

“I’m sorry for all this crap, Luna. For what it’s worth … I don’t think Olly’s a killer. I had my suspicions, my doubts early on, but …”

“It’s your job to be suspicious of his kind of behavior.” Her voice was soft and trembling. “It’s my job as his sister to believe in him. And I didn’t.” And she started to cry.

Knox came to pick Inca and Tyler up the next morning. He nodded at the suitcase in the hallway. “What’s that?”

“Tyler’s going to Connecticut. Nancy’s brothers are in a residential home; he doesn’t want them finding out from anyone else.” Inca lowered her voice. “They have Alzheimer’s. I don’t know how much they’ll understand about this, but he has to try. I’m going to take him to the airport after you’ve dropped us off.” Inca was pale; there were dark circles under eyes. Tyler came out to greet Knox, his own face drawn, his body sunken with grief.

“I’ll take you to the airport,” Knox offered. “No point in you getting a cab when I have a perfectly good car.”

“Okay, thanks.”

At the morgue, Tyler stayed in Knox’s car, not even looking at the building. Knox led Inca to the viewing suite.

“The post mortem was done this morning,” Knox told her, and she nodded, drawing in a deep breath as they stepped into the room. The medical examiner smiled sympathetically at her. Knox put his hand on her back as the doctor lifted the sheet. Inca could not help the little cry of distress. Nancy’s face was peaceful now, her eyes closed, but the shock was not lessened at seeing her so brutalized.

Inca nodded at the medical examiner’s question, “Is this the body of Nancy Sardee?”

Knox leaned in. “You need to say it out loud, honey.”

Inca swallowed back the bile in her throat. “Yes. This is my mother, Nancy Sardee.” She looked at them both. “Can I have a few moments alone with her?”

The doctor nodded, and Knox smiled softly at her. “I’ll wait outside for you, sweetheart.”

Inca waited until the door had closed before she stepped closer to the table, placing a hand gently on Nancy’s head.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, and fat tears dropped down her face. “This isn’t fair. Not you, Mom. How could you be gone?”

She thought of all the times Nancy had gone on a rant about some perceived injustice, how she would accuse Tyler and Inca of ganging up on her when they would tease her, the way she would give Scarlett the stink-eye when Scarlett was too rowdy. All that energy snuffed out. Inca shook her head. She glanced behind her at the door; it had a window, but the blinds were drawn. She wanted to know what her killer had done to her.

Sucking in a breath, she gently lifted the sheet covering Nancy’s body—and immediately wished she hadn’t. Although the medical examiner had done his best, he could not have concealed the brutal slashes, the deep stab wounds, the unthinkable violence inflicted on her. The horror. Inca was about to pull the sheet back when she noticed, almost hidden amongst the bloodstained skin and stab wounds, bruises on Nancy’s stomach. Someone had beaten her mother before he killed her.

Inca dropped the sheet and stepped back, fumbling for the door handle behind her. She staggered out of the room, hyperventilating. Knox, sitting outside, darted to her side and held her while she tried to get her breathing under control.

“Hey, hey, hey, it’s okay. C’mon. Let’s get you out of here.”

Outside, she found she couldn’t look Tyler in the eye, just nodded when he asked her in a broken voice if they’d made a positive identification.

“I’m sorry, Pops. It’s Mom.”

She expected him to crumble then, but to her surprise, he merely nodded, his expression blank. “Better get me to the airport then.”

At the airport, Knox said goodbye, then gave them privacy as Inca hugged Tyler tightly. He held onto her for a few long minutes.

“You take good care of yourself, Bubba. Will you change your mind about coming with me?”

She shook her head, trying to smile. “There’s things I have to do here, Pops.”

He frowned. “Just be safe, then. Call me later. I should be in no later than seven. I’ll make sure my cell is on.”

She studied him for a few minutes. “I love you, Pops. I wanted to tell you that. And I want you to know that I will be forever grateful for the life you’ve given me.”

He kissed her forehead. “I love you too. You’ll always be my girl. No one could be more like a daughter to me, not even if you were my flesh and blood.”

She waved him off with tears in her eyes. Knox came to collect her, and she looked at him gratefully. In the car, they sat in companionable silence.

At the outskirts of the city, Knox glanced at her. “I’ll drop you off at home, okay?”

“Thank you.”

He nodded. “Look, Inca, we’re gonna catch the guy, whoever it is.”

She looked at him. “Sounds like someone believes a certain someone else is innocent.”

He laughed at her convoluted sentence. “I have questions. Like, if Olly killed Nancy, why the hell was he spotless? There was no blood on his clothing. Nancy had defense wounds—why isn’t Olly covered in bruises?”

“And why would he kill Mom anyway?” Her voice was gruff but determined.

He looked over. “Quite.”

She sighed. “Do you think they’ll let him go?”

Knox shrugged. “If common sense prevails, I hope so. He has alibis for about half the murders in the city. Just wish he’d let someone else know what he was up to earlier. I have to admit, his behavior when he broke up with you colored my vision of him, along with his attitude towards Tommaso and what you told me about the other day.” Inca looked away from his gaze.

“And probably the things you had seen made you hypersensitive to everything, I’ll bet.”

“Yup. I saw monsters everywhere.”

Inca turned away from him then, not wanting him to see the fear in her eyes. “I know what you mean.”

At the mansion, she turned and hugged him goodbye. He smiled at her.

“I’ll see you back at home. I don’t want you alone until we get this asshole. I’ll be home as soon as I can, hopefully with Olly.”

“Thanks, Knox, for everything.”

Inside the mansion, Inca deliberately went straight to her room, wanting to be alone to grieve. She lay on her bed and the sense of loneliness, of hopelessness she’d been trying to bury, threatened to overwhelm her, and she pulled up the comforter to hide the tears. Exhausted, she leaned her head on her hand and closed her eyes.

Before long, images and half-clouded dreams began to run through her mind. Kissing Raffaelo, standing with him at the edge of the cliff. Now they were at the bottom, Raffaelo lying motionless on the rocks. She was screaming for him to wake, but he was gone. There was a laugh, a movement, behind her. She turned. She expected to see Olly, but no, it was Tommaso driving the knife into her, grinning, giggling. Pain. Blood.

Death.

Luna had refused to stay at the Winter mansion—and neither of the brothers seemed keen on her staying with them. She could tell from their hostile eyes that she wasn’t welcome. They clearly thought Olly was guilty.

As soon as Knox had taken Inca and Tyler into the city, she had slipped from the house and walked back home, letting herself into Olly’s place, tidying it up, looking for any clue. The detectives had clearly already been there, and she ignored the Keep Out crime scene tape. There had been enough secrets around her.

And yours is one of the biggest, isn’t it, Luna?

She closed her eyes. She could never take back what she had done. Never. And yet … it felt unfinished, what she felt she had to do. It’s time.

She left Olly’s place and went to Knox’s apartment, sliding under his bed to ease up the floorboard she had removed a few weeks ago. From underneath, she took up the small bag, then crawled out again. She left a note on Knox’s desk, then, with tears streaming down her face, she walked into the inky black night.

“Well, kid.” Trent pushed open the door to the interrogation room. Olly looked up, his eyes heavy and tired. His lawyer, Bryan, followed Ford in and patted Olly’s shoulder. Trent smiled at him.

“Your construction boss has confirmed your alibi. We still have questions, but for now, you’re free to go.”

Olly gaped at him. “What?”

Bryan cleared his throat. “No evidence, buddy. They’ll bail you for now. You will have to surrender your passport—”

“Knox can take care of that,” Trent interrupted with an apologetic nod to the lawyer.

Olly followed them out of the precinct in a daze. Bryan said goodbye, Trent, too, and Olly was left alone on the sidewalk. He began to walk, not paying attention to where he was going, just needing to feel the ache in his leg muscles and the cold air in his lungs. His speed increased and then he was running, pushing himself harder and harder until finally, he stopped, chest heaving, the blood pounding in his brain.

He was free. There had been moments over the past days when even he had believed himself capable of … anything. All he knew now was that he had to get to Inca, to hold her, to protect her.

One thought dominated his mind as he turned and began to walk across the city to the waterfront. Inca was in trouble. The image of Nancy’s body flashed in his mind, and Olly couldn’t help seeing Inca’s face, contorted like Nancy’s had been in absolute terror and agony, her body shredded and bloody.

“No…” Olly’s jaw set. Before this ended, Olly knew in his heart, more people would die. But if it took his last breath, Inca would not be among them.

Raffaelo stroked his fingers down her bare back. Inca had stepped out of the tub, and now he wrapped a thick fluffy towel around her. She looked exhausted, drained, and grief-stricken. She had woken up screaming from the nightmares earlier, and it had taken both him and Tommaso to calm her down. She had cried for most of the rest of the day, the full impact of what had happened hitting her full force.

She leaned against him now, and he kissed her temple. “Tommaso is preparing some hot soup for you. You need to eat.”

“I couldn’t.”

“Try for me.”

They walked slowly hand-in-hand down the stairs. In the kitchen, Tommaso smiled at her and kissed her lips softly. “Here, eat. It’s good.”

Inca smiled at him. “Did you make it?”

Tommaso grinned. “No. That’s how I know it’s good.”

She appreciated both of them trying to make her feel better and truthfully, she didn’t want to be anywhere else. The soup was good, and she managed about half of it. She looked at them both, sitting with her so patiently.

“Is it weird? What we’re doing here, I mean? The three of us?”

Neither brother looked surprised at her question. Raffaelo sighed. “I would think, to most people, yes. But we are not most people. The love between us … it is pure, I think.”

“I think so too.” Tommaso smoothed his hand down her hair. Inca nodded.

“I can’t deny what we have is incredible. I love you both, so, so much … but do we have a future? What about when …” She got choked up. “When we want to have children? What happens then?”

“That is far in the future, Principessa.”

“Is it, though? I’m twenty-eight; you are thirty-five. In the next ten years …”

“We will worry about that when the time comes. Surely, if anything, what has happened lately shows us we must live in the moment?” Raffaelo’s voice was quiet, but full of love. “When it comes time for children … we will have to talk.”

She nodded. “Because our children cannot be cousins and siblings. That is a step too far, even for me.”

Tommaso nodded. “I understand. Although it has happened before—a wife marries a man who dies, then she marries his brother.”

“This is too complicated a discussion for this evening. Mio caro, are you cold? You’re shivering.” Raffaelo grabbed a throw from the chair next to the fire and wrapped it around her. Inca was only wearing a simple white dress, and she hugged the blanket to her now. But she shook her head.

“No, I am not cold. I don’t know why I’m shivering …” The trembling got worse.

Tommaso got up and came to her. “It’s the shock. Raff …help me.”

They both wrapped their arms around Inca and held her until the trembling subsided. She smiled gratefully at them. “No one could love both of you the way I love you,” she said simply.

Tommaso and Raff looked at each other, each reading the love for this woman in each other’s eyes.

“We will make this work, my love,” Raffaelo said and pressed his lips to hers. Tommaso nodded.

“I swear we will.”

Knox got home utterly exhausted and spent. He collapsed on his couch, taking off his gun belt and closing his eyes.

Just five minutes and I’ll go to bed.

He was on the verge of sleep when his cell phone buzzed.

“It’s me.”

Olly.

“Hey, man. What’s up?”

“I’m out. On my way home. Is Luna with you?”

Knox got up and checked the guest room. “No, man; she’s probably at yours. Want me to go check?”

“Would you? She’s not answering her phone.”

“Of course, I’ll …” He trailed off when he saw the note on his desk. His heart failed. “Olly … get home now. Now.”

“What?” Olly sounded panicked, but Knox, his chest tight, hung up. His legs felt like jelly.

Dear Knox,

I’m so sorry … I never meant for Scarlett to get hurt. She was wearing Inca’s coat, and when I realized it was Scarlett, it was too late. I ended her pain quickly, but I couldn’t take it back. I loved her too. I have to finish this. I’m so sorry. Tell Olly I love him.

Goodbye,

Luna.

It was after eleven when the security guard came to find them. “Miss Sardee? There’s a Luna Rosenbaum here to see you … I made her wait at the front door because it’s late … what do you want me to do?”

“Luna’s here?” Inca got up, but Tommaso halted her.

“It’s way too late, Inca. Tell Miss Rosenbaum to come back in the morning.'

“No, it’s okay. Let me go see her. Thanks, Craig.”

He nodded and left them. Tommaso shook his head at her. “I don’t like this.”

Inca rolled her eyes. “It’s just Luna. I won’t turn my back on a friend.”

“Let her go, Tommaso.” Raffaelo sounded irritated. “You’re not her master.”

Inca threw a grateful look at him and patted Tommaso’s hand.

“I won’t be a second.”

Luna looked as if she were shivering, and Inca reached for her to pull her into the warm of the house.

“No.” She avoided Inca’s hand, and Inca frowned.

“What is it, bubba? What’s going on?

Luna was staring at her, studying her intently. Inca got worried. “Are you okay? Is Olly okay?”

Luna was still staring, her ice-blue eyes wide. “It’s like a cancer.”

Inca was confused. “What is?” She began to shiver now— the night was cold, and her thin white dress was no protection. “Come in. I’m cold.”

Luna gave her a strange smile. “You won’t be in a minute. Your beauty. It’s like a cancer. It infects everything you come into contact with; it always has. All those women … Nancy … your birth mom … Scarlett. She was wearing your coat.”

Inca started to get scared now. “Luna …”

“She was wearing your coat, and I thought it was you. I thought it was you.”

Realization dawned, and Inca covered her mouth to stop herself screaming. “Oh, my God …”

Luna pulled out the gun she was hiding in her pocket and leveled it at Inca. “I won’t make the same mistake this time. No more cancer.”

And she shot Inca. Inca staggered back, blood blooming across her right side. She stumbled and dropped to the floor as Luna pointed the gun at her again and fired another bullet at her. Inca had raised her arm to defend herself, and the bullet smashed through her forearm and grazed her temple. In horror, she saw Luna placed the muzzle against her own head, and as Inca heard shouts coming from every direction, Luna smiled at her and blew her own brains out.

The last thing Inca remembered were the horrified faces of her two lovers as she lost consciousness …