suitcases down the grand staircase, every step sending aches through her sore muscles. She had just tapped the

the red marks left by Kamryn and the bruises infl

dressed in a crisp silver-gray suit, carrying the morning chill on his shoulders. He had come specifically to deliver a final, brutal wa

hudded against the floor. She stared at th

oice caught

dark, amused look crossed his face. He walked straight up to her and

ta had orchestrated. Her survival instincts kicked in, and she stammered out a

ab the handle of her suitcase. The sheer physical pressur

pped back, her back nearly pre

andle, another large, pale hand shot out from the sid

aring casual loungewear, but his eyes were like ice. He

cold and definitive. "She's my sister. Taking

iveness in Calhoun's voice that crossed the line of brother

s voice full of barbs. "Interesting. Correct me if I'm

he air pressure dropped so fast it felt like actual weight pressing

ther with his sick obsession, Blaire felt a wave of utter despai

e leaned close to Blaire's ear and whispered, so low that only she

turned to ice

y, "We have pl

l. She jerked back and stumbled s

him. It was a clear display of possessiveness. The heat radiating from his b

's voice came from above h

into his pants pockets. His smile didn't fade. "Protecting

he street outside shattered the

ew York cab was parked at the curb, its engine idli

wrenched herself free from Calhoun's grasp. She shouted,

ns. She grabbed the smaller suitcase, abandoned the large

s voice chased aft

he corner of his mouth cur

eady at the cab. She yanked open the back door, toss

she screamed at the

terrifying men standing on the steps of the mansion-one with a livid fa

st the asphalt. The cab s

Calhoun stood shoulder to shoulder, growing smaller and smaller in the distance. Calhoun's

ecise, Calhoun's face was livid. Kamryn, on th

and give a small wave in the d

head away and stop

r clothes were soaked through with cold sweat. She gr

and joked in his thick Brooklyn accent, "What's the matter, swee

st stared out the window at the blurry city streets. She had only one suitca

hispered, her voice so soft it was b