Chapter 61

Audrey’s POV

Tears blurred my vision as I stood beneath the flickering street lamp. Ethan hovered nearby, his confident demeanor replaced by awkward concern as he watched me fall apart. He fumbled in his pockets, finally producing a crumpled tissue.

“Hey, don’t cry…” His voice carried a gentle uncertainty I’d never heard from him before. “We’ll find Snow, I promise. The search area might not be big enough…”

The kindness in his tone only made the tears fall faster. I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to stem the flow, but it was like trying to hold back the

tide.

“Audrey, please…” Ethan’s voice cracked slightly. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”

When I didn’t respond, he finally did what he’d clearly been wanting to do for the past hour – he pulled me into an awkward embrace. His college varsity jacket was soft against my tear–stained cheek as he patted my back with the careful uncertainty of someone who wasn’t used to offering comfort.

“Hey, um, maybe tone it down a little?” He gave a nervous laugh. “It’s past midnight. The neighbors might call the cops if they hear crying…”

The absurdity of the situation – a college student trying to comfort a dying woman over a lost cat – almost made me laugh through my tears. Almost.

“Listen,” he continued, his voice taking on an eager tone that suggested he’d just had an idea. “I’ve read about this – some cats have amazing homing instincts. They can find their way back to places they used to live.”

I pulled back slightly, hiccupping. “What do you mean?”

“Well…” He kept one steadying hand on my shoulder. “Maybe she’s going back to the place you lived before.”

“You really think that’s possible?” The words came out barely above a whisper.

Before Ethan could respond, harsh headlights suddenly flooded the street, temporarily blinding us. The deep purr of the engine filled the night air as a sleek car pulled up to the curb.

“Who drives like that?” Ethan raised one arm to shield my eyes from the glare, his other hand instinctively drawing me closer. “Ever heard of common

courtesy?”

door opened, and Blake Parker emerged like a predator from its lair. The glow of a freshly lit cigar illuminated his features as he leaned

hood.

I knew too well. “Weren’t you just insisting at Mayo Clinic that there

Each syllable dropped like ice. “Is this

from Ethan’s

the tension, carrying a defiance that made my

the hospital?” Ethan continued, either oblivious to or ignoring the danger. “Yeah,

that your answer too?” Blake’s brows furrowed, his gaze shifting to

I frowned deeply.

telling this lie to protect me. If I contradicted him now, it

I admitted it, Blake might trouble him in some

Ethan let out a cold laugh. “You know what they say about silence being consent, Mr. Parker?” His mocking tone cut

1/3

Chapter 61

feelings

laugh held no humor. “So now you

started walking towards us,

“This is

hear the threat in Blake’s voice clearly now, Even New York’s most prominere socialites would meet a miserable end

W

Blake’s POV

laugh. “After saying these words?

toward them, I saw his varsity jacket draped

primal stirred

her face lighting up every time I’d draped my suit jacket over her shivering shoulders, the way she’d curl into my warmth with that mix of innocence and seduction that had been uniquely her. Those stolen moments in the garden, her lips finding mine with eager abandon, leading to nights where passion

was. When I’d nearly lost myself

stood, wrapped in another

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