n the SUV was

e a man possessed, weaving through the Hamptons traffic. In the backseat, he had already cu

ing at the blood o

eeth clenched against the sting o

me a tablet w

?" I asked, m

forward, elbows on his knees, exposin

It was a dossier. Bank t

as three months ago. There were receipts from a pharmacy for a neuro

hat log between R

ing, Mom. I can

from her time interning in archives. We need to discredit her compl

up. The tablet slipped from my fi

I whispered. "Fr

n said, his voice void of emot

urning through the shock. "And y

g. If I had intervened sooner, they would have just found

thing. My reputation is gone. My family wi

an said again. "

you get out of this? You j

t fund has a clause. I can't access the principal until I marry

range sense of relief. I could understand busin

t know it was a lie then. "I get my money

he word ta

d. "Let's go

ests. Just Silas standing witness outside

or the rings, I realiz

ocket. He pulled out a si

our hand,"

He slid the ring onto my finger.

ietly. "It's the only thing in tha

It felt like a shackle, b

u, Elena..." his vo

take you,

tamped the

he clerk droned, bor

hand for a second longer than necessa

said. "We have