ra's
n the couch, watching me with expressions so serious I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. This wasn't the usual quick
a smile. But they didn't return it, a
on the couch between them. Not a question, an order.
ght of their scrutiny like a boulder pressing down on me. Dad cleared his throat,
for the best," he said, his tone flat, unreadable. "We'
y body wouldn't move. Marry? Pierce brothers? My eyes darted to my mom, searching for anything to cling to-a sign, a hin
about this, remember? No talk of marriage until I've found a job-until I'm re
lowed, his jaw clenching. "Thi
anic in my voice was painfully obvious, but I couldn't stop it. "
ghtly. "There are things you don't understand, Sierra.
y wore. Men you didn't cross, men you didn't dream about... men you most definitely didn't marry. But
l be here soon,"
low and desperate. Dominic? Kelvin? God,
cracked a little as he said it
aths coming faster. "And
torted with something like shame. "If this marriage
hot and sharp. "So that's it then? You're gi
ank onto the bed, letting the first tear slide down my cheek. I'd only ever imagined my future being filled with possibilit
see Leila, her face lit up with some twisted kind of amusement. "Well, well," she said with a smirk
ut she didn't. She flopped down on the bed
be marrying money." She laughed, her words needling into me. "And
ate swung open, revealing a long, dark car gliding toward the house. The chill I'd felt before was nothing compared to the ice that wrapped around
you?" She let out a dry laugh. I was still staring out the window, breath shallow as I watched him step out of the car, all angles an
ierra!" my mother's voice came throu
ipping into it. The mirror caught my eye-a girl with wild, sc
space with an electric pull. Every instinct I had screamed to run, to fight, but his exp
at, breaking the silence. "
ous smile, like he knew exactly how terrified I was. Then, with a smooth, command
g nothing but the bone-deep assurance that, sta