Haven Read Online Free Page A

skyrocketed. Bone-crushing strength. He was unnaturally strong.
    I forgot every bit of my self-defense training. “Let go.” Fear left my palms sweaty and my voice raspy.
    He shook his head. “You know me, cara mia , and I you—better than you know yourself at the moment. But we shall remedy that soon enough.”
    My heart skipped a beat and Lorenzo protested. “Thomas. Don’t. Not like this.”
    Lost in his green gaze, I couldn’t move.
    “Admit it. You feel our connection.” His demand rang like a chime, triggering feelings with no memories to attach themselves to.
    “No.” Oh yes I do, oh no I don’t, oh yes I do . My head hurt, the pain magnified by his cold fingers digging into my arms.
    Thomas’s laugh held no humor. “I think you do. But let us start with the others. Look, little one. Look upon your family.”
    He guided me to a specific painting of a young, happy couple in evening attire. Bronzed and tall, like my brothers, with the same regal cheekbones and proud Roman nose, thick, ash brown hair and milk chocolate eyes. My parents looked nothing like me, but I recognized them.
    “Tell me what you see.” The order in his tone rang clear in the gallery.
    I bristled and refused to speak. Hate bullies.
    “Speak.”
    “My parents.” Unable to stop myself, the words slipped out. How did he do it? I glanced at Lorenzo. “I thought you said he wasn’t a warlock.”
    “He’s not.” My brother glowered at the other man but continued to let him manhandle me. I allowed it too.
    What’s wrong with us?
    “Then what is he?” I frowned at Thomas. “Who are you?”
    “Your uncle.”
    My mouth opened and closed a few times. My mind upgraded Thomas to Seriously Delusional Serial Killer and I protested the insanity of his words. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re about my age. And you’re blond.” And clearly bat shit crazy. “You can’t be my uncle. Now let me go, you nut. My arms are going numb.”
    All traces of humor left his face. “You would deny me?”
    “Back off.”
    He forced me to another painting. “Him?”
    Lorenzo made a strangled sound. “That’s enough, Thomas.”
    Thomas ignored him. “Would you deny him, too?”
    My stomach somersaulted and landed in my throat. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t deny my instant connection with the man in this painting, his skin like fine china, pale and perfect, his face delicate and chiseled with high cheekbones and a smallish chin. Almost feminine, yet at the same time masculine. Full red lips, slightly narrow nose. Thick black lashes framed dark eyes. Long dark chocolate hair styled in perfect ringlets surrounded his breathtaking face and spilled over his shoulders. He wore a frilly white shirt open to the waist over tight black pants and black boots, his body tall, lean, and strong.
    It wasn’t the fact he was the most beautiful man on the planet, or that he stood next to the grand piano in my family home. No. Truth hummed in my brain. Ties to this man jangled, as if they ran through my blood and demanded I acknowledge him. His outstretched hand beckoned. Come, Carina. Come .
    “That’s—” I cleared my throat. “It’s my Uncle Maurizio. My Zi. Zio Zi .”
    “Yes, very good, Carina.”
    “But I don’t understand. I’ve never even met him before, have I? And is that my piano?”
    “He gave it to you for your sixth birthday and taught you how to play it. As a child, you entertained us both on many occasions.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t believe you.” Don’t want to believe you…
    “No? Then let us open the door in your mind and return to the beginning. Thus we will separate lie from truth.”
    “Door?” My skin crawled, shoulders tensing. Faith spoke of doors during her vision earlier. Cracked ones, in my mind? God, does this guy, my so-called uncle, have something to do with my memory issues?
    Lorenzo wrenched me away from the other man. “ Basta , Thomas. Enough.” He wrapped a protective arm around my