Page 74 of Carved in Ice (Made of Steel 3)

Monday

I landed softly on the other side of the roof as Miles. He was leaning against the ledge, staring down at the city below. I slowly stood up. Eli’s words tumbled through my head. About how Miles and I broke each other. How we both needed a fresh start. And how badly Miles wanted to save me after all these years.

I wiped away a tear that had trailed down my cheek. I had stopped watching Disney movies after my parents died. I completely stopped believing in fairy tales and happily ever afters when I was sent to live with Don.

But in my heart I knew that wasn’t true. All along I knew that Miles was my knight in shining armor. My prince. My happily ever after. I touched the center of my chest. Even though there was a winter coat in the way, my Sagitta pendant was there. It was like I could feel my heart beating against it. It had always been Miles and me. We were written in the stars. And it was finally time for me to tell him how I truly felt. How I’d always felt.

Yes, I felt broken when I thought he stopped writing. When I thought he had abandoned me. And I know he felt the same. But it was all a lie. Our hearts had never stopped beating for each other. I wiped away another tear. We broke each other, but now we had our whole lives to put the pieces back together.

I took a deep breath. “You were right, you know. Rocks don’t have brains.”

I thought he’d turn, but he didn’t.

“And hot chocolate is better with whipped cream. And mint chocolate chip ice cream has always been my favorite ever since I started sharing it with you.” I laughed, remembering tackling him in his family room in order to get my bowl back.

But he didn’t laugh. He didn’t say anything at all.

“I know it’s you, Miles. Who else would try so hard to keep me safe? Who else in this whole world cares about me but you?”

He just continued to look down at the street. What was he doing? The stars were what was worth looking at. Not the city streets. “Miles?” I started walking toward him.

“I’ve been here the whole time,” he said.

No. No, it wasn’t him. I froze. It was his voice, but it was louder than it should have been from this distance. It sounded like a recording. And it was the same thing he had said on the phone.

“I’ve been here the whole time,” the recording said again.

I started to run toward him, but skidded to a stop when lights flooded the rooftop. For the first time I realized that Miles’ body was hunched forward at an awkward angle. But the snow at his feet was all I could look at. It was dyed a deep crimson, stained with his blood.

“Miles?” My voice came out as a croak.

A shadowy figure emerged from behind an air-conditioning unit beside Miles. I knew who it was before he even stepped into the light. Before his laughter broke through the frigid air like a knife.

“Hello, doll,” Don said. The light hit his face, revealing the burns I had given him.

Fear gripped my heart and I stepped back. I wanted to run. My whole life all I had done was run. My eyes focused on Miles. If there was anything in this life worth fighting for, it was him. I held my ground and swallowed hard.

“You’re not going to say hello?” Don stopped right beside Miles. “Your friend wasn’t very welcoming either.”

I put my fake face on. The one I always wore around him to try and prove he didn’t bother me. And I hoped to God he couldn’t see through my mask tonight. “What did you do to him?”

“The notorious V?” Don laughed. “What does it look like? He fell right into my trap. Just like you did.”

There were some muffled sounds and then a recording of my voice started. “In trouble, V.” My voice echoed around me. “Don’s been following…” the recording cut out.

It sounded like I was panicking. “How did you get a recording of my voice?” I touched my throat. I didn’t remember saying those words. Parts of it had definitely been cut away. It felt like Don was worming his way into my soul. Owning every part of me again. Controlling my voice.

Don tilted his head to the side like he was examining me. “I don’t like what you’ve done with your hair. Why would you dye it?”

“Are you joking? I’ve been hiding from you.” I knew he was violent. But with everything that had happened, it was getting clearer that he was also insane. A

ll of this was complete madness.

“Hiding from me?” He laughed. “I’ve had tabs on you as soon as I stepped foot in this city. I had to keep you away from prying eyes.”

Whose prying eyes? I shook my head.

“No, you were hiding from him. Right?” He pointed to Miles. “And why I wonder? All those notes you wrote him.” A smile spread across his face, stretching the scars on his cheek until they shimmered in the light. “Why on earth would you hide from him after all these years?” He grabbed the back of V’s hood and lowered it.

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