Secrets and Scars: A Gripping Psychological Thriller (Fatal Hearts Series Book 3) by Dori Lavelle Page A

Tuscany—this truth about me would follow.
    I could get on medication, manage the virus, but ultimately, being HIV-positive would always remind me of Alvin. He had given me something of himself—left a mark that would stay with me, even if he wasn’t physically present. They could throw him in prison, or put him in a mental institution, but he’d never really be gone from my life. We were connected.
    After we left the cave, Owen didn’t bring it up again. He treated me the same way he had before I told him. In fact, my revelation seemed to draw us even closer.
    Owen dropped the stick that had served as his support. “Almost at the top.” His breath came in quick gasps. “Shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes to get up there. We’ll be able to know the exact position of the village.”
    “Finally.” The top of the mountain would be a milestone, a step closer to safety.
    “Do you want to drink… finish the bottle?”
    “No, I’m fine. Let’s save it for later. Anything could happen between here and the village.” I had long stopped being naïve. Just because we were close didn’t mean we would reach it. I remembered when Alvin forced us to change our route, making us travel the long way instead of getting to the yacht in no time. Distance meant nothing in our current circumstances.
    Nothing was ever as it seemed.
    “You could be right. But let me know if you change your mind.” He placed a hand on the small of my back, his touch melting away the aches in a part of me I could not see or touch.
    When he touched me, an invisible cocoon enveloped me, protecting me. When he smiled, my stomach flipped. But I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. There was so much between us at the moment, so many kinks to iron out before we could see straight. For now, all we could do was depend on each other to survive.
    “Come on.” I stepped away from his touch. “Let’s get to that village.”
    “You’re not alone in this. You know that, right?” His voice mixed with the crunch of twigs and rocks beneath his feet.
    “Actually, I am.” I turned slightly to toss the words over my shoulder. “I appreciate your help, but to a certain extent, I am alone. Once we get back home, I will have to deal with whatever comes my way on my own.”
    He fell into step with me and wove his fingers with mine. I didn’t pull away this time. “You’re wrong. I know everything seems terrifying right now, but if you work with me, we’ll find a way, together. Like I said, HIV doesn’t have to be a death sentence. My uncle, Walter, is HIV-positive. He has been happy and healthy for thirty years now.”
    Tears glistened on my eyelashes like diamonds as I turned to him. “I’m glad your uncle is okay. Thank you for telling me.”
    “And you will be, too.” He tightened his fingers around mine. “Since I have some experience with HIV, let me help you, let me be there for you. It doesn’t have to be a burden you carry alone. I don’t love you any less.”
    “I never, ever thought I’d say this about you, but you’re a good man, Owen Firmin.”
    “Let me be good to you, Chloe Parker.”
    “Let’s talk about this back in Boca Raton.” It was the only promise I could give him.
    By the time we reached the top of what turned out to be a dormant volcano, the sun blazed high in the sky, the heat spilling over us like a hot shower.
    Owen was right: we were able to see the small village—or was it a large farm? Thick farmland surrounded about five or six huts.
    “What are we waiting for? Let’s get to it.”
    Owen placed a hand on my arm. “Drink first.” He passed me the water bottle. I took a few sips and gave it back to him.
    “Go ahead and finish it. I’m okay.”
    “That’s not fair on you. You can’t let me have it all.”
    “You deserve to have it all.”
    I sank down on a rock, gulping in breaths of air. “You’re complicating things.”
    He placed a hand on top of my head. “Things are only as complicated as you