Page 45

Chapter Fourteen

THE MOMENT THE ROOMstarted to shake, and Sylvain realized that his wife was once again in danger—

Think, Sauvage!

All of the inconsistencies he had noticed started flooding his mind.

For one thing, the Marchetti he knew...

If that man had wanted either of them dead, it would have already happened.

And the decisions Sylvain had made since finding himself tied up? He had always been a man of logic, and he didn't think even true love could change this. So why had he chosen to claim his wife's innocence while they still weren't out of the woods, both figuratively and literally? It was as if he had lost his mind...or someone had caused to lose it.

Either way...

There has to be something he's missing...

It took every ounce of his self-control to fight against the urge to grab his wife's hand and look for the nearest escape. Even when the world seemed seconds away from splintering apart, Sylvain had a feeling that whatever it was he was looking for...

It was right under his nose...

Something that was obvious but not quite so.

Something that was always there like...

Gargoyles.

Things started clicking into place the moment Sylvain saw the gargoyle-shaped wall clock. The mythical creature, the Marchettis were known to be inordinately fond of. But one thing the Marchettis would never be accused of? A lack of taste, which was the only thing that could account for the garish eyesore currently hanging on the wall.

Sylvain caught his wife's wrist just in time to keep her from dashing off.

"Do you trust me?"

The way she was staring at him...it almost made Sylvain smile.

Almost.

But first—

"I really need you to trust me,ma petite."

Liana was now looking at him like he had lost his mind."Are you for—"

Sylvain hauled her close, and her words ended in a gasp.

"Yes or no, Liana. Do you trust me or not?"

"Oh, for goodness' sake, yes—"

Sylvain didn't wait for her to finish speaking, already reaching out to rip the gargoyle clock off the wall—

There you are.

He switched it off...and darkness swallowed everything up.