ght sight of Waylon on the balcony, cigar

g a ghostly veil over Waylon's sharp fe

only recall one other time Waylon

ed up a chill from being stuck in the rain and took the shock pretty har

adlines. The Jenkins family didn't just cut her off; they humiliated h

y done a DNA test before taking her back from

s focus-Alexia's phone was

shing on the screen stopped him cold. A flicker of something dark

tantly, the caller's

shown enough patience. Stop standing in the way of Marilee and me. You've lived off the Jenkins family long enough. If you have any dignity left, walk away for good-it's the least you can do for Marilee. Do

finally made Roger uneasy. His confidenc

in and stop what was happening, feeling panic

ened. His eyes went cold and every hint of warmth vanished, leaving the atmospher

is smile edged with cruelty. "So th

incts screaming a warning. His voice grew

d, her breathing faint but even. His response came as a g

ang before adding, "And

und of rage through the phone. Roger's voice thundere

pped out. "Relax. You'll figure it out... assuming you li

leaving sunlight streaming through

ted by a storm of missed calls

od of texts, then let the device drop onto the

reflection. Something had changed-her eyes, once

d out a smile, and this one actually

onfusion, stripping her heart of old pain and

ore pretending everything was

r, she scanned her contacts and pa

he other end. "Luna! It's about damn time! Tell me-a

background, her friends making no a

es, I'm going to sign the

, cheers, the clink of glasses-her friends wer

ut of that trance! No more hous

to you! Roger never deserved you. Say

ot for you, they'd have collapsed during last year's crash. Luna

ht a genuine grin to Alexia's li

with excitement. "A ride? For your grand return? Name it