with Kiara's stubbornness right now. Getting up, she walked to the kitch

jacket and headed back out into the cooling ev

acket leaning against a lamppost. He wasn't looking at her, but something about the

ed back, the m

was being paranoid. Still, she changed direction and headed towar

making her jump. It was a

e answered

aid, "Miss Ross, we should talk.

is th

at the diner on 5th and Maple.

could be a trap. But what choice

where she could see the door. The place was half-empty - just

gray suit entered. He scanned the room

into the booth across from her

r than she first thought, maybe in

ou?" she d

th about your father's arrest." He pulled a folded docum

statement showing large transfers from C

," she said i

urse it is. But it's the eviden

ou showing

helped create these documents. And for th

d. "You're admitting t

ss, Miss Ross. Now, can you raise two

in disbelief. "Tha

tood up, adjusting his suit jacket. "Th

nt crumpling in her shaking hands. She had three days to fi

ng at the crumpled document. The waitress came by to ask if she wanted

out her phone and called Martin Cole

hey framed my Dad," she said quietly. "They

ned sharp. "Where

and Maple. H

sending a colleag

Twenty minutes later, a woman in a navy pant

sa Grady, Martin's a

e was waiting behind his desk with two

ened?" Mar

rd for word and handed over the doc

e of them said. "But

can help. If we can prove t

t?" Ariana asked. "He

put a tail on you. If he contacts you

normal. Go home, get some rest. We'll

unlocked the door, she noticed the light under

be mistaken for twins-

erences were there

e that rarely flickered. Her face carried the quiet weight of responsibility. Her dark hair was usuall

yes rounder, more expressive, more charming than beautiful, with a glow that came not from grace but youth. Her dark hair, though the same s

se open beside her. "I took

n't have come," she said,

I couldn't just sit at

ou have midterms, Ki. A solo performan

uld be stretching in a rehearsal hall like nothing happened?" Ki

oftened. "I'm not as

r jaw tense. "You're not t

fell bet

the bed, her tone quieter. "I just

d, dropping beside her. "We'

itated, th

He's stable." Kiara stood up. "No

g. Kiara listened quietly,

help," she said. "My dance

. "Sebastian Harris? T

e dark apartment. "Mr. Harris sponsors my education and dance scholarships. He ow

mples. "What exactly

morrow and explai

in return? We have no

ou paint something for one of his buildings. M

t on the worn carpet. The electricity had come back on te

But we go together. And we

ut he's powerful. He knows people. And ri

na n

You'll see. He'

didn't

g in her gut whi

-

ek downtown office building. Kiara smoothed her sk

Mr. Harris" she tol

u Kiara

es

EO's office." The receptionist handed her an elevator card, and she thanked

they stepped into a spacious waiting area with floor-to-ceiling window

back to them as they entered. This was the

munication had passed through the school administrator. His name had always hovered like a myth-the head of the Harris f

the kind of posture that needed no announcement. His fair skin had a rich smoothness, his jaw was sharp, clean-shaven, and

posed, too still. A man who never rai

e didn't show it, but for a brief, invol

. He looked dangerous in the way a storm cloud did bef

features and cold gray eyes that swept

said. "I see you