How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie Thorne was caught completely off guard.

For a moment, her pupils shrank with shock.

She didn't want to believe it, but those words twisted something sharp and painful in her chest.

"Watts Aldridge! What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Her voice, usually calm and collected, suddenly cut through the night with a fierce edge.

Gone was her polite pretense. The look she gave him was cold-so cold it could wound.

And that look only amused Watts more.

How much did Elodie hate him, to glare at him like that? Was a single sentence enough to push her this far?

He stepped closer, studying every flicker of emotion on her face in the shadows, almost savoring her reaction, as if he wanted to see her break as the truth landed. Word by word, he said, "You shouldn't be surprised. I'm telling you the truth. Why else do you think I kept you here?"

Elodie's clenched fists trembled, but her eyes remained hard, almost vicious.

Watts didn't care for that look, but he didn't let it bother him. He leaned in, bending down to meet her gaze. "Elodie, he's dead. He's gone for good. You need to move on."

For some reason, Watts was even smiling as he said it.

as cheerful

it couldn't have been further from how he

did Elodie finally understand why Jarrod Silverstein had described Watts

his youth, Watts's mind, his insight, his ruthlessness-even the way he

let anything

"What, were you that

was jabbing at his sore

didn't care anymore. Jarrod's chances of survival were next to nothing. Whether it was his own feud or Patricia Aldridge's vendetta, it was all settled

believe me." Watts watched her reddening eyes with a

word clearly: "Have you

Elodie frowned.

"The same group who ambushed you-Italy's most infamous crime family. Back when that useless Sylvie Fielding was still around she had a pretty close relationship with them. Rumor has

of dread swept through

Watts caught the panic in her eyes and said bluntly,

do you think her lovesick admirer would

That's what he meant.

clicked for

had come here... was all