f glass doors into a private aft salon aboard the Seraphina. The warmth of the climate-controlled

nded in a heap on the cream

her eyes burning with a cold

ver case and lit it with an elegant flick of a gold lighter. She exhaled a

invoice from the hospital. Alaina's eyes scanned the numbers, her breath catchin

said, her voice casual, as if discussing the weather. "Without m

f rage and utter helplessness. She knew Sheila wasn

ng it in a crystal ashtray on the lacquered table. "But th

eement between the Snyder family and the Carlisles, on

mors that surrounded him were terrifying. A tragic accident five years ago had supposedly left him horr

tone dripping with mock sympathy, "how coul

s pampered stepsister, who had never once b

o place, cold and sharp. "So, I'll take h

in, cruel curve of

leave her with no family, no support, no options. Turn

ords tasting like ash. "I won't mar

ply took out her phone, dialed

alon. "Mrs. Snyder? This is Nurse Evans from the hosp

life support," Sheila sai

lert-screamed from the phone's speaker. A sound effect, Alaina k

or the phone, her fingers s

g satisfaction. She looked at Alaina, whose face

torn from the deepest par

lisle woke slowly to the muted roll of the Atlantic beneath him. His head throbbed, a dull, per

woman. A stranger. He couldn't recall her face, but he remembered her scent. A unique,

t there was a small, dark stain on the pristine wh

landed on something gleami

isitely carved jade pendant, cool to the touch. An

trace of her warmth,

ng PTSD and a brutal insomnia that no medication could touch. Last

had been a balm to his tormented soul. She

ing white. A possessive, almost desperate look entered h

ng. "Use every resource we have. Find the own