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.

looked as

been further from

did Elodie finally understand why Jarrod Silverstein

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

let anything

her lips. "What, were you that afraid of him? Did you want

she was jabbing

of survival were next to nothing. Whether it was his own feud or Patricia Aldridge's vendetta, it was all settled

you still don't believe me." Watts watched her reddening eyes with a touch of

pronounced every word clearly: "Have you ever heard of

Elodie frowned.

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 it

wave of dread

Watts caught the panic in her eyes and said bluntly,

you think her lovesick admirer

That's what he meant.

clicked

Quinn had come here... was