e bathroom floor. Her legs w

r reflection in the massive mirror. The angry, red fake scars covering her left cheek st

water and splashed it onto the right side of her face, s

ding dress and pulled on a thick sil

om door and pushed it open

m was empty. The

ed over her. The tight knot i

t of cedar and expensive cologne clung to the fabric. Her mind raced with the terrifying events of the nig

rced through the gap in the cu

alm. Dane's reaction last night had been bizarre-he hadn't shown disgust, but rather an intense, searching scrutiny, as if confirming something. If he wasn't going to kill her, perhaps she

ring breath and walked

ogany door open and step

tings, and thick carpets stretched out before her. The excessive luxury made her sto

ral staircase, a man in a tailored suit

expression remained completely blank, but

stiff, silent nod

ollowed the faint clinking of

ng, polished dining table. The morning ligh

essed in a crisp black dress shirt, the slee

ablet. His dark eyes locked i

straight to the chair on his ri

set the plate down, Cassie noticed the woman's gaze darted away from her face, a flicke

maid. She picked up

a piece to her mouth. Her movements wer

ief flash of approval

clinked loudly against the porcelain pla

d you," Cassie stated. Her voice wa

coffee. He took a slow sip. His

on the back of Cassie's neck stand up. The

want?" His deep voice echoed off

yes narrow

want your protection," she said,

he coffee cup

alked slowly around the corner of the table

is large hands on t

nt rigid. Every muscle

d against the back of the chair. H

he whi

tless agreement shocked her system. Her finge

nued, his voice dropping an octave, tur

ate. She nodded her

ck to his seat. The crushing press

The cold liquid helped cool the burning anxiety in her c

e," Cassie said, setting the glass dow

emands bare, expecting h

a single d

standing by the door. "Send two of our best men with her. If the Gilmores

alth and absolute backing sent a chill of apprehension dow

it jacket, and walked out of t

around the corner, Cassie let out a

Cassie walked out of t

circular driveway. A driver in a sharp unif

luxurious backseat. The buttery sof

ed out the tinted window. He

ff the sounds of the morning birds. Th

faces of her adoptive family flashed behind her eyelid

streets. The towering glass skyscr

tight. Her eyes grew c

y, heading straight for the we

. The sight of the neighborhood triggered a sharp ache i

fists in her lap. Her fingernai

state came into view. The pretentious family crest mounte

er laugh esca

e front steps of the mansion. The tires

lling her lungs with air, for

p morning wind hit her face, rustlin

ls clicked sharply against the pavement. She ad

hat used to choke her on these steps was completely gone. N