Finding Hope Where Heartbreak Once Lingered

way, slicing open the heavy night as it

" Danny Dale's hands were locked tight around the steering wheel, his jaw clenched, eyes bl

lay restrained-her wrists and a

nd urgent. "Danny, stop. Turn back. The engagement banquet is about to beg

n of the Carter family. Instead, she was being forcibly spirited away by Danny, the i

ement?" he snapped. "You only live with us temporarily. You are not even a Dale! And now m

As she worked at the knots, she spoke softly, trying to

y, "Then why were yo

You'll be standing there alone-turned into a joke in front of the entire city. He hasn't met y

oyfriend, don't you? Three years together. Give me his numbe

tightened painfully. Her boyfri

out. Just endure it for six months. Half a year-I'll come back, e

the family's eldest son. Every time she asked him to make their rel

ushed her into marrying a stran

hts. Their car jerked to a halt. A black SUV ha

!" Danny shouted as he shoved open th

cold metal muzzle pressed f

ined from his face as terro

hrough the night. "Jackson.

d the darkness itself. His presence was chilling

egance, and leaned casually against it. His sharp eyes flicked toward Claire

She frowned and glanced at Danny, whose face had

her. "You have

he turned and strode toward

seized the gun, clicked the sli

led against Danny's

had never stared down the barrel of a real gun.

toward Claire. "So?" he drawled. "Are you r

. Forcing herself to stay calm, she spoke careful

ly. "On the night your engagem

glow of the streetlights, his features were sharp and d

ement... then he must know

come Logan Carter's fiancée," she said sharply. "Do you really dare interfere? Pu

She was betting

man laughed softly. "Interesting," he said. "Were

lly. "He's busy tonight and couldn't att

ise. I'm delivering myself to him tonight." Her gaze sharpened. "I

ell silent

away. His eyes lingered on her, dark with amusement. "So," he said slow