Page 76 of Secrets & Desires

“I don’t get why he killed Pia, or Moriko. I understand Roan, to frame him, and Amber to silence her, but why those two innocentgirls?”

Nox hesitated. “Liv…they think he killed a lot more than that. They think he’d been murdering women all over the country for years. He enjoyed it, darling. He got off on it. Sandor was quite the writer himself. They found diaries where he described his kills. He murdered Ariel and then blackmailed Amber into shutting up. Pia, Moriko…there was an entire notebook on the myriad of ways he dreamed up to killyou.God.”

“Fucker.”

“Quite.”

Livia sighed. “How’s Odelle? How is she taking the news of Roan’sdeath?”

“She’s doing okay. She’s outside, if you want toseeher.”

“God,yes.”

Nox grinned, kissed her forehead and went to fetch his friend. Odelle walked in and her face was blank as she stared at Livia for asecond.

“Well, look at you, lounging around doing nothing but costing my friendmoremoney.”

For a moment, Livia was shocked, but then Nox burst out laughing and Odelle cracked a smile. Liviagiggled.

“Odie, did you just makeajoke?”

“I think I may have. Hello darling, it’s good to see you awake.” Odie bent down and kissed Livia’s cheek then held her hand. Livia was surprised to see tears in her friend’s eyes. “We nearlylostyou.”

“But I’m still here,” Livia said, squeezing her hand. “And I’m not goinganywhere.”

“I’m so happy, honey, so glad you’re okay. I love yousomuch.”

Livia did cry then and Odelle hugged her—awkwardly, of course—but Livia clung to her friend. “Thank you, Odie. I loveyoutoo.”

Odelle couldn’t speak then, and soon after she left them alone, promising to come back—and bring some contraband foodwithher.

Alone,Livia smiled at Nox. “Have I told you how much Iloveyou?”

“Even though I got you intoallthis?”

She pulled his head down for another kiss. “I would take every minute of pain over and over again for you, Nox Renaud. This is us, this isourlife.”

Nox kissed her as if for the first time. “From now on,” he promised, “I swear it will be agood,happylife.”

“Nox?”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Yeah, baby?” His voice was soft andtender.

“NoxRenaud?”

He grinned at her formal tone. “That’sme.”

Livia gazed at him, her eyes shining. “Nox Renaud, would you do me the great honor ofmarryingme?”

Nox’s eyes widened and he began to chuckle. “Well, damn, woman, you just stole mybestline.”

Livia grinned and pulled his face to hers, crushing her lips against his. “Is thatayes?”

Nox kissed her passionately and then nodded. “It’s ahellyes, Ms. Chatelaine. It’s a yes and a yes andayes…”

TheEnd