gh. His voice was laced with a greedy, barely concealed excitement.

ecord button on her phone-a habit ingrained from he

clear, "to go to a lawyer and sign a document permanent

Wayne was clearly stunned. "What... what d

e strangers. From this moment on, your debts, your life, will have n

' who could save him from ruin. On the other, the 'daughter' he

ice was devoid of emotion. "The 'Ghost's'

hat I took you out of that orphanage! You would have starved on

were a stiletto to the heart. "I'm just offering you a choice. Trade a 'daughte

knew she was right. For

a scanned copy of the signed Adoptive Relationship Severance Agreement, prepared by one

ving him no roo

he leaned back against the headboard, gasping for air. It was

now if Wayne would agree, or if her desperate m

t the man who'd put her in that hospital room clearly had resources. If the "Ghost" wante

e, her phone chimed with

firm. The attachment was a PDF file. Ca

t. Below, she saw Wayne Hicks's flamboyant signature, al

meone had greased the wheels. She'd take the

row or pain, but of pure, unadulterated

ed the IV needle from her hand, and

k you for your care," she told the same

orres, your doctor recommended you

'gentleman' for his kindness. I will find a way to settle the bill." She

rivate hospital, her head held high. The morning

e monitor. "Sir, Miss Torres... she's discharged herself. And

let, which his team had just intercepted. The corner

ured. More claws than

eeting at the Blackstone?" Ethan as

or this meeting. She won't waste it. She wants to know who, exactly, is th

a quiet café and used her phone to search for any information on the "Ghost of

a deep breath, smoothed her clothes, and hailed a cab. She didn't know what awaited her, but sh