Chapter 2

Ava stared.

Then she laughed. A harsh, ugly sound.

"You? Pathetic."

She spat the word.

"You want me to say 'I love you'?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"After everything?"

"I love Liam, Ethan. Only Liam. Always Liam."

She turned, took Liam' s hand.

Liam looked from Ava to Ethan, a mask of concern.

"Ethan, are you alright? You look... unwell."

His voice was smooth, laced with false sympathy.

"Maybe you should see a doctor."

Ava pulled Liam closer.

"He' s just being dramatic, Liam. As usual."

She glared at Ethan.

"You think a few words can erase years of your cruelty? Your manipulation?"

Her voice dripped with resentment.

"You' ve made my life a misery."

She led Liam towards the guest wing.

"Liam will stay here tonight. I don' t feel safe with you acting so strangely."

Ethan watched them go.

Her declaration for Liam. A fresh stab of pain.

He felt weary. So weary.

His usual anger, his need to retaliate, it was gone.

Replaced by a hollow ache.

He had five days.

This was day one. Off to a terrible start.

He sank onto the sofa.

Later, he heard them. Laughter from the guest suite.

Ava' s laughter. Bright. Carefree.

A sound he hadn' t heard directed at him in years.

It twisted something inside him.

He needed to know. Who killed him? Why?

He focused. Listened.

Liam' s voice. Lower now. Not for Ava' s ears.

A burner phone. Ethan recognized the muffled tone.

"...payment confirmed."

A pause.

"Yes, the job is done. No complications."

Ethan' s blood ran cold. Or it would have, if he still had any.

Liam.

Liam had him killed.

The charismatic childhood friend. The supportive lover.

A murderer.

Suddenly, a crash from the hallway.

A cry of pain. Liam.

"Ava! Ava, help!"

Ethan was on his feet, moving towards the sound.

Ava rushed out of the guest suite, her face a mask of alarm.

Liam lay at the bottom of the grand staircase.

Sprawled. Groaning.

"Liam! What happened?" Ava knelt beside him.

Liam clutched his arm, his face contorted in pain.

He looked up. Past Ava. Straight at Ethan, who stood at the top of the stairs.

A flicker of triumph in Liam' s eyes. Gone in an instant.

"He pushed me!" Liam gasped, pointing a shaking finger at Ethan.

"Ethan! He pushed me down the stairs!"

Ava' s head snapped up.

Her eyes, when they met Ethan' s, were blazing with fury.

"You bastard!" she screamed.

"How could you?"

She didn' t question it.

Conditioned. To believe the worst of him.

She cradled Liam' s head.

"It' s okay, Liam. I' m here. I' ll take care of you."

Her voice, so tender for Liam.

So full of venom for him.

Ethan felt a phantom pain in his shoulder. Where the knife had struck.

He retreated to his study.

Found the first-aid kit.

His spirit form mimicked injury. The Gatekeeper hadn't mentioned that.

He cleaned a non-existent wound. Bandaged it.

The pain was real enough.

The door to the study burst open.

Ava.

Her face was pale with rage.

"You enjoy this, don' t you?" she hissed.

"Hurting people. Hurting Liam."

Ethan stood. Defiant.

"He' s lying, Ava."

"Is that what you think of me? That I would hurt him?"

His voice cracked.

"After everything I' ve done for you? For this family?"

It was the wrong thing to say.

Her eyes flashed.

She strode towards him.

Grabbed the front of his shirt.

Pulled him close.

Her scent filled his senses. Intoxicating. Agonizing.

Then her lips were on his.

Not a kiss of love. Or passion.

A kiss of rage. Of control.

Hard. Bruising.

Hate sex. Their twisted ritual.

She bit his lip. Drew blood.

Or the phantom of blood.

He tasted it. Metallic. Bitter.

She pulled back, breathing hard.

Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. Or fury. He couldn' t tell.

"I despise you, Ethan Hayes."

She spat the words. Each one a hammer blow.

Then she turned. Stormed out.

Leaving him. Alone. Again.

A single tear traced a path down his cheek.

He whispered to the empty room.

"But I love you, Ava."

Her footsteps faded.

She hadn' t heard. Or hadn' t cared.

Day one. Almost over.

Four days left.