smartime Bud was going in adopt von, remember? You almost task the Hewitt last name

He had always wanted two kib, nurut nadi

*process at preparing Die ductinent's for adoption, but he

When be leamed the two were dating, her backord away

He told Kirche would still get his wish if she marriedüüdein.

Ason-in-law was first as good a son, he said.

Gideon sucked in a deep breath. Tenet your

Vouweie,' kita cut him off. "You are and you will always be my brother.'

Alileonielused to accept that title. "We dared. We kond. That's me

Thing you do with aboodler.

True. I dated you. And Thibed you. A lot. If you didn't leave, we might still be together."

Kiravalled the scrapbook, she used to hreji

She called it hen Weilding Book,

It had cuttings from magazines and newspapers-wedding dresses she lilied, vennes she thought would be perfect for the reception, appetisers that looked fancy but were budget fully

'Est you did leave," she said as she gently removed Gideon's had from her left waist. 'I'm Austyn's wife now. You are no longer my boyfriend, but you'll always be

She pushed him away.

"Lalidn't want to leave you back then. You Janw that, Hiral Bhadron choice!".

Tudo "She nodded. 'You had in leave became of your mother. You did the right thing t

Kira had lured him for leaving without saying goodbye...

ne you, I would've done the same

She would do anything to save her dad, just like Gideon tried to do with his mother

In a way, it proved that she had not loved the wrong un-they both valued family above allette,

hul durunnstancestor them apart

They were simply not meant to be

Twill always traver the memy of

pleaded wildim. "Let'çumye om Kira he and the sound of wood genaning

aid. "You were the best first boyfend agirl could hope for but it's over now, and we can't keep living in

Let's be fandy, olay

Coldcon was gripping the back of a dual se

"The only relationship you and i will hare is husbandanal wile, "be vowed "Notother and sister. Not fonds. 1

I'll make that happen, mark my words!"

He moved towards her.

The door was behind him.

Herexit blocked, Kica had to step back

"Kira, I didn't take your last name, but you can take mine." He towered above her. "You'll be Kira Gamer one day. I

she scrambled back and kept the chair between them

But Gideon just leaned over it.

Kira was trapped between the wall and the chair

He lowered his head, moving into loss her.

'Let her go!

The door banged open.

Aman's voice shouted, followed by a loud cash

Kira saw Gideon being hauled backwards by the scruft of his neck

He locked over a chair and tell

Kita gawked at the intruder.

she saw the navy blue suit jacket before she saw his face.

Less than two hours ago, it was draped over the shoulders of Deborals Connelly.

Kira's heart thumped wildly.

What was Austyn doing here?

Stay a away from her! Austyn spat out the words at Gideon, who was lying on the floor and clutching his stomach

Austyn grabbed Kira's wrist and dragged her out of the room.

Giana was standing in the hallway outside.

"Kira! Are you okay?'

She'd just come back from the restroom.

'I'm fine." Kira was about to say something else but Austyn had already moved past Glana.

'Hey!' Glana, stunned for a moment, chased after them,

"You should go home! I'll call y

Kira shouted without looking back

Her wrist hurt from Austyn's vice-like grip, but the more she struggled, the harder he

squeezed.

"You're hurting her." Luca was standing on the pavement outside the restaurant. 'I didn't call you to come here and terrorise her. Look at her face. She's pale as a Austyn strode past him and pulled open the front passenger side door of the Hummer

The engine was still manning.

A walet stood nearby, looking flustered.

TH

A minute ago, the car had slidded to a stop outside the restaurant

The man with a fare like thunder had joped out and pushed past him without a word.

The valet was about to call the manager when the man came back out.

'tel in" Austynindered.

Kina climbed into the in

he front passenger seat

Lora stopped Anuyn 'Don't be an asshole Talk to hersely team how to communicate, will you? salve your problems with words,

but wayn slaved the police capta lay and got in the car.

sciering lunshly on the concrete toad.

Thick As Two Short Planks

made a mistake in calling Austyn?

Twentyminutes ago, he was strolling past The Grillroom when he happened to see ina's familiar figure

The man next to her was the one who'd taken a bullet for her back at the warrute.

Caress something

There was atlaid person, aglel Luca wasn't familiar with

The trio's body language dew his attention.

Gideon was walking close to Kisa, their shoulders almost touching.

The third person appeared to be a tagalong.

Luca hesitated belly before calling Kontyn

He just thought the husband had a right to know if his wife was having a late night dinner with her man

Austyn came at the double

Luca hung back, prepated to intervere la fight henke out...

Luckily, Austyncame out two minutes later and appeared fond bat sandarmed.

Lacashook his head.

"Can we go now? It's getting cold out here. A woman looked an arm around his.

'Sute. Cura started walking.

"The man just now-a trend of your she asked.

Is he the business the doctor!

Businessman Austyn McCarthy'

Do you think he saw me with you just now? she pupped his arm. "He won't tell your wife about this, will be?

Lura shook his head. I don't think so. He was too mad to notice anything else."

The woman was relieved. 'Okay. Good to know,!

Kira rubbed her sore wrist

She kept her eyes on the fast receding trees outside the window.

Austyn kept his foot on the gas pedal, driving like a bat out of bell

Neither spoke on the entire ride home.

The polled upon the circular driveway outside the villa

Austyn shut off the engine, got out of the car and slatined its door shut.

Kiraunbacked her seatbelt and got out after him.

The house was dark

It was close to one ti

Elsie must be fast asleep by now.

Kisaclimbed the trains to the second floor.

The bedroom door was open, but the battusom door was shut,

Kirasat on the soda, hugged her knees to her chest, and listened to the sound of running water

from the bathrooms.

he was glad Austyn was taking a she

She needed the time to sort out the m

mess in her head

Thinking back, Kira realised how dense she had been.

There had been so many clues,

She used them all.

fir rafler, she noticed them but fundablind eye Austynbalcone Tette me night, looking worn out

He'd liggeil her and told her he ran an old trial

Tiborah was thText content © .

But

Kira didn't know it at the time.

Then there was the time she called him and asked him out to dinner.

He turned her down and said he was busy.

Bisy having dinner with DeboralL

was working late.

Tonight, he said he was

Kira hadn't realised accompanying an ex-girlfriend to the hospital could be called 'work'

Austyn must think she was as thick as two short planks.

as right.

And he was

Idiot, Kira muttered.

The bathroom door opened

Austyn padded out.

He was bare-chested, with just a towel wrapped around his waist,

Kira ran her eyes over his sculpted pets and abs.

This was probably the last time she got to see him half-naked,

Austyn found a pack of cigarettes in the nightstand drawer,

He lit one ap

'Go and showEL'

Kira nodded, like the obedient wife she always was.

If he wanted to delay the inevitable conversation, she was happy to comply

Austyn stood on the balcony,

A sinal pile of ash soon gathered around his feet.

He ground out the butt of the third cigarette in an ashtray and frowned

It was almost half an hour

What was taking her so long?

He went to knock on the bathroom door.

No response.

Kara, opin up!

10 reply,

Austyn put his ear against the door and heard nothing

He twisted the doorknob.

The door win locked from the inside

He stood there for a moment, then he turned around, heading towards the utility closet.