und. When Finley pushed the door open, the scene in th

aron, was perched on the edge of the sofa, wringing her hands. Her half-sister, Kaylee, sixteen and already fluent

ood by the fireplace, a smug,

n," Dozier said, his voice d

s fixed on the hallway that led to h

smelled of stale beer and cheap cologne. "Come on, Finley. Don't be like

ausea rolled through her. She sidestepped

slammed a hand down on the arm of his chair. "I

The point o

ers closing around the folded piece of paper. She pulled it out and threw it onto the

le," she said, her voice clear a

le

to her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief. Kaylee actually

table, his brow furrowed as he unfolded it. He stared at it

ving the paper in the air. "You forged a government documen

mumbled the name, a flicker of recognition in his eyes that he couldn't quite

e table as if it were garbage. "You met some guy and married him on the sa

them to be angry. She hadn't expecte

g for the first time. "We registered at City

ut the undertone was pure accusation. "Lying to us like this? Maki

's lungs. She looked at her mother, at this woman who was supposed to p

arguing. Words meant

said, her voice flat. She t

e." His eyes were hard, glinting with a new, vicious idea. "If

a look. A sile

grin spread across his face as he on

tarting to hammer in thick, pai

cold as ice. "Showing you who your husband is. S

nal. They were going to have him force h

mother was staring at the floor, her shoulders shaking. Kaylee was

crooned, taking a step toward he

wall. There was nowhere left to go. He was

ne. Her hand shot into her purse, fumbling for

ross the screen. She found the contact

sb

ed the phone against her ear, prayin

icked. It w

, it was

eady voice was the most beaut