was my welcome-home party, but I hadn' t wanted it. After years in the Middle East building my o

ble. My eyes scanned the room, a practiced move, ass

rm, her laughter a little too loud. Andrew, looking every bit the aspiring actor he was, soaked

eyes widened, a flicker of panic in th

ep. I walked straight to their table, my

ed, her voice a mi

I looked at her, then at Andrew

slap. It erased years of history, of us being

. The color d

ent, but a bead of sweat was forming on his temple. H

mitation," I said, my voice low

xt table to hear. I pointed to the small, white scar that c

flawed copy. You're miss

red, her mouth slightly open, caught between the

w, her voice a hars

ded, his actor's charm

shing him away. He stumbled back

yes wet. "Ryan, I can explai

eant nothing to me. Her loyalty w

my voice flat. I felt nothing. Absol

away, leaving her standing alone in

picture of calm in the chaos. She held a vintage silver rosary in her hands, her fingers still. Our eyes m

ass to her in

slow, almost imperceptible shake of her head before

made a mental note. The Chadwick family was old money, powerful in ways Fowler Oil wa