Collin

shifted. He straightened his shoulders, eyes burning wit

detached, as if reading me tomorrow's headlines. "If yo

y instincts screamed for me t

arely above a whisper but steady. "You've al

ross his face, poison lurki

icate with Luca. Hide it. Keep it out of s

track of my every move. He hardly lets me breathe without

down the hall. Leaning in, his word

o whichever child is legally married. But I was never really married to you, or to Luca. Neither of those weddings was ever recorded. That whole show was just a way for my father to tig

looking for trou

k's wife, so don't lay a

not his wife. The judge is dead. Is that not obvious e

s went

knees buckled. You want the d

e a sm

ll be there with a new set. All you need to do is sign

Emma? Will you

for the end of the week, but that's

he. I tried to wrap my head around how I had en

n his cane as he went. After fixing his s

. All I'm asking is that you try

vanished dow

elt like sparks on dry tinder, my nerves threatening to ignite. My

I reminde

walked beside him, dressed in a white lab coat, his face lined with exhau

ald Amaral, our c

orrect?" I nodded, my grip uncertain. He continued, "Mr. Black

d all this so quickly? Or had h

e's eighteen. She was brought in after a car accid

nd checked the tabl

months ago. Her discharge was confirmed, the

ht. She was still in a coma. I

e the attendant's name and I'll look into i

didn't ask. I can't wra

cility. I can help you search for a transf

like it slid ou

where

into his coat. After pulling out a bu

ll take this case myself. If I unco

teady nod before turning down the hall. The driver lingere

o it. You don't

Jackson. Unless that snake gives him the

ask. Trust me, you're the one who holds sway here-I made that ver

De

ward the parking lot, eyes

uation was slipping. Maybe his stories about Emma were nothing

Riley," he said, hold

to myself as I slip

nce felt heavier than any threat Jackson ever threw my way.

se everythin

ted. Weighing my options, I realized Luca still felt safer th

g in the living room. His gaze ran over me, then se

ack of papers. "So, how d

was gone. Just vanished-n

s there a sister at all, or was that j

If you still have to ask that, maybe you

three this afternoon. They've already set ou

to speak to another man in the room, the guy

ers. I'll leave them in the

d them. The question was whether I even wanted to t