tepping over the threshold. His leather dress shoes thudded against the creaky

her. He reached down, offerin

tel room a month ago, but the man attached to them now felt like a complete strang

pulling her up from the floor with a force that made her sh

d quickly replaced her anger. She planted her hand

ked. "You think you can just walk in here

. "She's a paroled convict. A liability. If you wan

neck. She yanked her hand, trying to break Jameson's g

. The sound held no humor. It made

nner pocket of his suit jacket with his free hand and pull

and, uncapped the pen with his thumb, and wrote a string of numbers in quick, sharp

lged as he read the numbers.

r. The ugly scowl on her face instantly mel

meson's hard profile. "Where did you get that kind of money?" she asked, he

ameson said, his voice flat, devoid of any attachment to the fortune he

ropped into Debora's stomach. He was giving up everyth

s pocket. "Go pack your things, De

ngernails digging into the skin. She d

Marlene's fake smile vanished. She leaned i

you, and you better make sure you serve him well and keep him happy. If he gets bored of you and brings you back he

d. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She kn

r arm free and walked toward the tin

the nightstand, she picked up the only thing of value she owned: a blurry photograph of her biological mo

. Jameson was standing by the window, his hands clasped be

d to her pathetic bag. A flicker of mockery dance

w me," he ordered, turning on his h

rlene, who were already arguing over the check. She stepped out into the c