stood at the window for a long time, confirming there were no black cars, no men in dark suits downstairs, before she let herself be

e. She needed to get her sheet music and the only thing sh

Jed Pollard, or his wife, Lynn, so she wen

re. The living room was a mess, and the ai

e a drowning man spotting a piece of d

ice cold. But she already had a bad feeling. She knew him too well -

ed that Jed's small investment company had been wiped out ove

face pale. "They pulled all their funding

ood immediately - this was no coincidence. It was that man's doing. Another way

do with me," Cailin said, tu

ng ugly. "How can it have nothing to do wi

nnounced the broken engagement between the S

s gleaming with greed. "They're saying Graham Shepher

o answer, trying

e. They said if you go to them, quietly, all our debts will

ack to face him, disbe

barely above a whisper, as if she

st. "This is an honor! Marrying into the Shepherd family is a blessing you couldn

"He's right, Cailin. Don't be

. But now she saw clearly - she was never a daughter to them. Just an investment. An asset. Something to be traded at

ldness she hadn't expected from herself. "Re

turned and walked out. She didn't run. She made herself walk, o

. "They're sending a car for you this

alking faster and faster down th

pit of vipers. She ran three blocks before she stopped, doubled over, gasping for breath, her mind a tangled mess. S

person. A friend she'd made at a

but she pressed her voice down, trying not to let Juli hear she w

esitation and gave he

of hope, Cailin started the

he knew - this was only temporary. The Shepherds wouldn't give up, an