Claimed By The Coldhearted Sterling Heir

The air inside smelled of stale beer and damp insulation, a scent that had coated the inside of her lungs for nineteen ye

ng the dust motes dancing in the afternoon sun. It wasn't the rattlin

ter, started barking. It was a frantic, terrified

eep her head below the sill. She peeled b

e massive, pristine, and completely alien against the backdrop of rusting siding and

the middle v

d tall, adjusting the cuffs of a charcoal suit that probably cost more than the entire trailer park. He w

n Ste

painful, erratic rhythm. He looked li

oaned open behind h

to the small living space. The neck of a whiskey bottle

g the garbage bag to her che

" Ray pushed past her, kicking the screen door open. It

feet sinking into the dam

hovering near his waist. Julian didn't flinch. He just raised a hand,

a winter ocean, cold and indifferent. He looked at Ray, t

st assessed her, like an appraiser look

baritone that seemed to suck the

roat felt like it wa

thur Sterling's instructions

g slightly. "You ain't collecti

He didn't snap his fingers for money. Instead, he reached int

ounts of child endangerment, one count of distribution of controlled substances from this premises, and tax ev

the document and the armed men behin

willing to provide a relocation stipend to ensure you do not impede Miss Vance's departure. This is a settlement, legally recorded. Sign the rele

tched the pen, scribbling his name with shaking hands. He didn't look at Faith. He didn't say goo

r stomach. She had been sold, not for

an said. He turn

at the small window where her lit

t turning around. He knew ex

t and stinging. "She's only te

tective Services has already been anonymously tipped off regarding the conditions here. A case worker is ten minutes out. If you take her now, y

it was a plan. "Get in," Julian said. The inte

ned two shirts, a pair of jeans, a photograph of her mother,

g between her toes. She reached for the

o the black plasti

t away,"

froze.

is voice devoid of emotio

es," Faith whispere

alwood and something sharp, like ozone. "And frankly, that bag is a biohazard. If you want to sur

conditioning wafting out felt like a promise of a different world. If she st

bled. She loo

ud, tipping over. The stuffed bear spilled ou

a small, str

" Julian

climbed into the car. The door slammed shut,