"I need to tell you something."
Aria's voice rang through the quiet of the penthouse. They'd just returned from lunch, and Marcus was pouring them wine in the living room.
He turned, his eyes searched her face. "What is it?"
"My real name." She took a breath. "It's not Elena Sterling."
Marcus set down the glasses carefully. His expression didn't change, but his body went still. "What is it?"
"Aria. Aria Kozlov."
There was silence. Marcus crossed the room and sat on the couch."Sit down. Tell me everything."
Aria sat beside him. "I changed my name after my family died."
"Why? What happened?"
"They were murdered in our home in London. I was eighteen." Her voice was quiet. "I came home from rehearsal and found them. My parents and my brother. All of them."
Marcus held her hand. His fingers interlaced with hers. "Jesus, Aria."
