ff the bathroom floor.

he stared at her reflection. The angry red fake scars stared back. R

and splashed it onto the right side of her face, stri

wedding dress and pulled on a thi

om door and pushed it open

om was empty. Th

shed over her. The tight kn

r and expensive cologne clung to the fabric. Her mind raced with the terrifying events of the night.

ed through the gap in the cu

ed by a cold, calculating calm. Dane hadn't shown disgust. He'd looked at her with intense, searching scrutiny, like he

fully pressed down the edges of her fa

ath and walked towa

hogany door open and st

paintings, thick carpets stretching out before her. The excessive luxury m

spiral staircase, a man in a tailore

His expression remained blank, but the

m a stiff nod

ollowed the faint clinking of

ng, polished dining table. The morning ligh

essed in a crisp black shirt, sleeves

s tablet. His dark eyes lo

straight to the chair on his ri

wn, Cassie caught the flicker of pity and fear in the woman's eyes before

t a piece to her mouth. Her movements

ief flash of approval

metal clinked against the porcelain.

er they promised you

ck coffee. He took a slow sip

made the hairs on the bac

do you want?" His deep voi

s eyes

I want your protection." Her

he coffee cup

e walked slowly around the table unti

hands on the ba

nt rigid. Every muscle

d against the back of the chair. H

he whi

tless agreement shocked her system. Her finge

nued, his voice dropping an octave, tur

sitate. She nodd

to his seat. The crushing pressu

The cold liquid helped cool the burning anxiety in her c

e," Cassie said, setting the glass dow

al demands bare, exp

a single d

e door. "Send two of our best men with her. If the Gilmores try an

of wealth and absolute backing sent a chill down he

jacket, and walked out of th

around the corner, Cassie let out a

Cassie walked out of t

the circular driveway. A driver in

backseat. The buttery soft le

ted window. Her eyes w

mmed shut. The eng

faces of her adoptive family flashed behind her eyelid

hattan streets. Glass skyscra

tight. Her eyes grew c

e highway, heading str

to pass by the window. The sight

ts in her lap. Her fingernails

ore estate came into view. The pretentious family cr

er laugh esca

to the front steps. The tires crunc

filling her lungs, forcin

p morning wind hit her face, rustlin

sharply against the pavement. She adjuste

hat used to choke her on these steps was completely gone. N