ulled out her phone, and

llo

ew short words, she ended the cal

che convertible rolled up beside he

p i

g man in sunglasses, and his featur

eat, Cassie gave him a small

and you just disappeared. Changed your number, vanished into thin

rother, tried to play it cool, but th

e curb. Cassie leaned back in her seat, her gaze drifting out

before she could hit the windshield. She looked over and

asked, "What happened? Did Jordy do anything to hurt you?

nd Cassie during those missing years, he had kept

ent about the matter, mainly because their par

Cassie's walls, and a wave of emotion she

isn't capable of pushing me around. I guess I just started mi

had pulled her away from her family fi

ave Cassie a pat on the head. He didn't use muc

s that for?

eally

ng. What finally made you not s

ha

studied her for a moment, then l

keep the smile off her face as she let

nd teasing each other, yet this was the fir

Cassie sighed and said, "Yeah. I finally saw e

no longer cared abo

effort had been

t, Jordy was no l

d home with his mistress. The look on his face at that tim

verything becam

d shared as children felt li

person she reme

n they were kids. When she brought it up before, he had stared

led debt never m

ad?" Shawn asked, realizing she didn

g, Cassie shook her head. "No.

ped on the gas, and soon eased the Porsche

ound themselves right in front of the Apex Clu

ts at this very club. She'd always chased excitement-racing

amily in Neerdale. The place was always packed, and unless so

leading her straight to the familiar bo

two years away, huh?" Shawn said, grin

one through, but he could see it in her e

ived. She lifted her glass and said, "Let's drink, Shawn.

hallenge made Shaw

competition. Soon, they were locked in a frie

up to Cassie. She pushed herself up from the table, s

but she waved him off. "No need

restroom. The mix of smoke and music only made her more unsteady. Braci

collided headlong i

ba

nd herself pressed against the wall by the man i

inst her neck, jolting

est and winding up her arm for a punch. But sh

spe

r to the Sullivan family, the same man she had