Page 2 of Belonging to Them

How will I ever confess

So much can go wrong

When I am not strong

And standing

On the knife’s edge

Of eternity.

I add creeping,slinky music to the lyrics, twisting the notes together in a way so that the melody supports the theme of secrets and standing on the edge of disaster.I don’t know exactly if it works or not, but at least the puzzle of it has me setting aside the threatening message I left in my maid uniform.

I need to do something about that note so it doesn’t go through the wash.Someday, it might be needed as evidence or something, I don’t know.All I really want to do is crumple it up and throw it into a fire.

I put everything away in the studio and go to the bedroom where I left my uniform.After fishing the note out of the pocket, I look around for a good hiding spot.

This is ridiculous.I hate this.I hate secrets like this.So much of what went wrong with Joel back in January was because of secrets—mostly his, but still.

Sebastian’s voice carries from the door.“Ella?”

I jam the note into my purse, feeling icky.“Yeah?Hi!”

“Hey.”He pokes his head into the bedroom.“How was your day?”

“It was okay.”Terrible.Fucking awful.

His hazel eyes narrow, like he can see through my lie.He probably can.

So I paste a bright smile on my face and say, “Okay, it wasn’t the best day, but it’s better now that you’re home.”

Tugging me into his arms, he says, “All right, princess.I’m here.There’s something I need to talk to you about, though.I might go on a trip, and it would take me away from you for a few days.”

“A trip?When are you leaving?”I ask.

“Next Thursday.”

Threading my hands through his hair, I say, “Well, I guess we’ll just have to make the most of this week, right?”

He grins.“Definitely.”

“Where are you going, anyway?”

His grin grows wider.“Well, Church of Fortune is playing in Vegas next week, and they want me to collaborate with them on a few sets.”

“That’s amazing!”I pull his face down to mine for a kiss.“Congratulations.This means you’re going to be touring again?”

“That’s what Helena thinks is best,” he says.

“Then I’m happy for you.”And I truly am.

“Do you want to come with me?”he asks.“I know it’s selfish, because you’d probably be bored while I’m working with Pat and her crew.And how many times do you want to attend the same show, but…”

“I would, but I have to work,” I say.“I just took off a week—I don’t want to leave Melinda scrambling to cover my shifts again.”

Sighing, he kisses me and says, “I get it.If anything changes, let me know.I’ll fly you out in a heartbeat, and every spare minute—there wouldn’t be much, to be fair—would be spent with you.”

“Fly her out where?”a deep voice asks from behind him.