Confessions. Cynthia Eden

back the ring that fateful night. She’d told him she just couldn’t marry him.

      He’d scared her that night, when she’d always thought he was such a safe guy before.

      Maybe Grant would never need to know the full truth about what had happened. Because she had changed a lot in the past ten years. And now...now Grant wouldn’t be able to tell when she was lying.

      She’d grown too used to lies.

      * * *

      IT WAS HAPPENING. The cops had finally taken in Scarlett Stone. The grand jury had indicted her. There wasn’t going to be an escape this time.

      She’d pay for what she’d done.

      She’d suffer.

      This payback...it was such a long time coming. He’d had to plan so carefully to make certain that he struck Scarlett at her weakest point.

      Had the woman really believed that she’d get away from him? That she’d find some ridiculous happy ending with another man?

      No, Scarlett...that will never happen.

      He’d taken away her dreams. Now...now the justice system would take away her life. He’d be sure to attend all the court proceedings. Watching her suffer would be so rewarding.

      You’ll suffer, just the way I did.

      Scarlett had wrecked his life, and now she was about to see just how much pain she could endure.

      She would have nothing. No one.

      In the end, he’d be the only one there, laughing as she was taken away—forever.

       Chapter Two

      The judge had granted bail. The judge had granted bail. But...

      It was too high. Scarlett turned to her lawyer, thanking him for what he’d done. “I don’t have that much money, Pierce.” Pierce Jennings had been the best lawyer she could afford. And he’d done his job—he’d gotten bail.

      Pierce, perfectly polished as always in his designer suit, patted her hand. “Don’t worry.” His bright green eyes connected with her stare. “I’ve been assured the bail is already covered.”

      What?

      The judge was leaving the bench. Scarlett was about to be taken away again. Her gaze darted into the crowded courtroom behind her. Reporters were there. Faces she’d never seen. Eric’s brother, Justin, glared at her from his seat behind the prosecutor and—

      “Scarlett.”

      Grant appeared, just a few feet from her, as he pushed through the crowd. When he reached her, his fingers curled over her shoulders. “You’ll be out by dusk,” he promised her. His eyes glittered. “You’ll be with me.”

      She shook her head. “I don’t...I don’t have that much money.” Maybe if she mortgaged her condo and sold her car and—

      “You’ll be with me,” he said again, sounding absolutely certain, and she realized that Grant was planning to put up bail for her.

      “You can’t!” It was too much.

      “It’s already done.” He squeezed her shoulder. She knew the reporters had to be avidly watching this scene. How long would it be before someone dug into her past and found out about her history with Grant?

      Not long at all.

      “I’ll be waiting for you,” Grant promised her.

      She was about to be led away from him. Reporters were shouting at her. Justin’s glare could have melted a glacier, but—

      Grant was the only person who mattered to her then. “Thank you,” she whispered.

      He inclined his head.

      * * *

      THE REPORTERS WERE GONE. The crowd had finally thinned. Grant paced in the narrow hallway, waiting for Scarlett to be released.

      She’d been held too long. She’d been too pale. Her eyes too desperate in that courtroom.

      “My brother was right...”

      Grant swung around at the low, rough voice. Justin Turner stalked toward him. He’d made it a point of learning the guy’s identity right away.

      The guy’s suit was rumpled, his eyes bloodshot. Justin lifted his hand and pointed his shaking finger at Grant. “You were sleeping with his fiancée.”

      What in the hell?

      “He told me that she was involved with someone else. Even mentioned your name.” Justin Turner’s laughter was cold. “I told him that he was wrong. Scarlett seemed so good, so perfect. I thought he had to be wrong about her.” The man raked a hand through his dark hair. “But he wasn’t.”

      Grant’s shoulders tightened. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

      “Don’t I? I watched you in that courtroom. You couldn’t take your eyes off her. And the way you touched her...” Disgust flashed over his face.

      Grant shook his head. “You’re drunk.” He could smell the booze wafting off the guy.

      “He was my brother! You’ve got brothers of your own...how would you feel if a woman killed one of them? A woman who claimed to be in love, then turned and attacked—”

      The door opened behind Grant. He shifted his body and saw Scarlett standing in the doorway. The light shone off her blond hair, and when she saw Grant, a tentative smile lifted the edges of her full lips.

      “Her lover...” Justin snarled. “Eric was right.”

      Her smile vanished.

      Grant took her hand. “Come on, we’re leaving.” But when he turned back around, Justin was in his path.

      “Her last lover was murdered,” Justin told Grant. The scent of whiskey clung to the man. After the court appearance, he must have hit the nearest bar—hard. “Better not sleep too soundly with her in your bed.”

      Grant had pulled away from Scarlett and lifted his fist before he even realized—

      “Don’t!” she yelled. She grabbed his hand. “Please...please, let’s just go.”

      Grant sucked in a deep breath. Holy hell, he never lost control like that.

      And Justin...he was grinning. The guy had wanted Grant to attack him. Maybe he wasn’t as drunk as he appeared.

      Grant locked his arm around Scarlett’s shoulders. He pulled her up against him. “Get out of our way.”

      Justin backed off. His eyes were on Scarlett, though, and Grant stiffened at the emotions he saw in the man’s eyes. Fury. Hate. So much hate.

      “I’m sorry about your brother,” Scarlett murmured. “But I didn’t do this. I didn’t!”

      Two guards were watching them, suspicion heavy on their faces.

      Scarlett’s lawyer was in the hallway, too. Pierce Jennings nervously cleared his throat. “Time to get her out of here,” he said to Grant.

      It was past time for that. Grant guided Scarlett down the hallway, making sure to keep his hold tight around her. They went out the back exit, just in case any particularly dogged reporters had wanted to try and catch them by surprise.

      But no one was out there. Grant opened the passenger-side door of his SUV, and Scarlett slid inside. He hurried around the vehicle.

      A glance back showed that Justin had followed them out. The guy stood at the curb, watching them. No, watching Scarlett.

      Grant jumped in the car and slammed his door.

      “Were you involved with him?” He’d already started