emergency room doors bur

k-Presbyterian Hospital. His hands rested on his knees, stained with

quietly, her tiny fists gripping the fabric of h

of footsteps echoed from t

n expensive mink shawl draped over her shoulders. Her husba

e pulled a silk handkerchief from her purse and pressed it aga

t to the plastic chairs. The loud crash echoed down the hall. Severa

at Daryl. "Having the old lady fake a hear

eyes hit Jaxon like a physical blow. Jaxon swallowed hard and

ng out his chest. He adopted t

or," Preston warned sternly. "The Doyle Group rings the bell at the New York Sto

eld a fresh cup of black coffee in her hand. Her face was perfect

of Daryl's arms and ran toward Blaire,

end Grandma away," Cassie begge

hand trembled. A single drop of hot black coffee spilled over

helred Method cracked. A sliver of

rward, grabbed Cassie by the arm, and ro

e," Beatrice hissed sharply. "Think about

e crack in Blaire's mind sealed s

ant and walked over to Daryl, looki

stated, her voice flat. "Without my signature and my in

gh. He looked at her, his ch

mother's life host

lled commercial leverage. Something a bott

open. The attending physician walked out, h

ere panic-induced cardiac event," the doctor announ

ed estimate. The total at the bottom

wallet, but using it meant accepting her twisted charity. More importantly, he possessed his own hidden resourc

arms, a sickening grin on his face, wa

ed on Blaire. The look he gave her was completely devoid of anger

Cassie toward a passing nurse. "W

stopped so close she could feel

ce was a deadly whisper,

rds vibrating in his chest, "is nothing but

e in his tone. She quickly pushed the feeling down, convinci