“Like when Ripley kills Peter at the end of the movie?”
“Ripley loved Peter.” He sighed. “But he did what he had to do.”
“Are you telling me you have to kill me?”
“I would never harm you.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want the same thing you want, Bianca.” His face changed and he looked away. “We’ve both come so far.”
“Do you want me to sign away my share of Bradley Corporation? Is that what this is about?” I asked bitterly.
“This is about so much more than that, Bianca.” He stretched his arms up and I could hear the fatigue in his voice.
“What is it about, then?”
“You haven’t been totally truthful with me either, Bianca.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know about the other letters.”
“What?” I stared at him in shock. “What do you mean?”
“I know the secrets you’re hiding. I know what your father did. I know the truth behind his guilt.”
“My father felt guilty because my mother died and he didn’t put the puzzle pieces together soon enough to get justice for her death.”
“Do you really think that’s the only reason he was upset, Bianca?” His eyes searched mine. “Are you seriously trying to tell me you didn’t know about the affair?”
“What?” My jaw dropped as I gazed at him, my mind racing. All of a sudden everything I thought I knew was called into question. All of a sudden I remembered the label on the box that had held my father’s papers. All of a sudden Jakob was on my balcony, grabbing my hands and pulling me toward him.
“Don’t try and run away again, Bianca.” His eyes looked dark as he gazed down on me. “It’s not safe here.”
“But aren’t you the one I should be afraid of?” I whispered up at him.
He said nothing, just leaned down to kiss me roughly.
J. S. COOPER is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series The Ex Games and The Private Club, as well as many other series and stand-alone novels. Visit jscooperauthor.com, or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
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The Ex Games
The Ex Games 2
The Ex Games 3
After the Ex Games
The Private Club
The Private Club 2
The Private Club 3
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Copyright © 2014 by Jaimie Mancham-Case
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First Gallery Books trade paperback edition November 2014
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Interior design by Jaime Putorti
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cooper, J. S.
Illusion / J. S. Cooper. — First Gallery Books trade paperback edition.
pages cm.
I. Title.
PS3603.O5826365I55 2014
813'.6—dc23 2014020508
ISBN 978-1-4767-9098-5
ISBN 978-1-4767-9103-6 (ebook)
contents
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Disillusioned Excerpt
About J.S. Cooper