fect blonde curls, her eyes a wide, innocent blue. She wore a simple white d

d offered a small, hesitant smile. "Kennedy. I'm s

stared at the girl who had so

Cook prepare your favorite blueberry pancakes." He beamed at her with a warmth Kennedy had never known.

irritation. "Your things are still in your room. I told you, Camille is

dy said, he

her father demanded,

y mother's room. You w

you're told! You are an ungrateful brat, and this is exactly wh

dy's words were physical blows. "Dwight, please don't be a

y as he turned back to her. "You deserve the bes

augh escaped Kenne

t towards the guest wing,

k you're going?" h

she said withou

n two weeks! You

e for the wedding. That was our deal. I'm holding up my end. The deal did not include s

n and didn't look back. The gilded cage o

ed the presidential suite, charging it to the primary Hall family

ent on a sh

ything. Gowns she would never wear, shoes she would never walk in, jewelry that could fund a small country. Eac

ith rage. "What the hell do you think you're doing?

our daughter, about to be sold off to the highest bidder for your politica

my daughter! You

aid sweetly. "Just as soon as I'm married

, leather, and diamonds. Her goal was simple: to drain every last drop of liquid cash from her father

essage lit up her pho

e are

er, a stupid, foolish part, wanted to pour out t

for my wedding,

dn't

lite but firm tone, that her card had been declined. Her father had frozen the account. S

nd had it drop her in the center of town. She had thousands of dol

of it. This was her armor for her new life in Seattle, he

her entire life, surrounded by the powerful and influential, s

like a fortress. The silk of her dress felt thin against the biting win

of drunk men stumbled towards her

f them slurred, his eyes raking over

her chin high. "

and took a step

ened, and Elliot Solis stepped out. He didn't look at the men.

he aura of cold, dangerous power that clung to Elliot was

s gaze sweeping over her lugg

hing she couldn't identify. It wasn't concern. It was... annoyance. A

shot back, her pride stinging.

It wasn't a reques

but her body was shivering, and the fear from the encou

e curb, leaving her brief, miserable life on the streets behind. She felt a wave of humiliation so profoun