r 5: S

t a thousand miles

storeroom door, my ear straining to catch the

my dad say. But what follows is the soun

ith you!" There is more t

hear a ma

n't calm down, you're going

. "What.what is t

siac. It'll help

rhythmic thumping of heels against the marble, and then

dia! Keep her stil

t perfectly: my father, the man who used to tuck me in, pinning his own daughter down to pour th

g uncontrollably. I'm not Chloe's biggest fan

his is Chloe's fate, w

eavy thud that echoes through the floorboards and vibrat

starts again, but th

he quiet, sharp as a razor. "Our Chloe! How

k. I can hear the sound of his footsteps c

million dollar hole in the floor. If Chloe didn't go, we'd be sleeping i

lost her favorite accessory. "That ungrateful, selfish girl. S

ve of pure, concentrated loathing so strong it makes the cold of the room seem distant. They aren't even pretending anymore.

crifice myself and make

*

o breathe. Then it becomes a dull, heavy ache. Thirst is worse. My tongue feels like a piece of dry leather, and every swallow is a struggle. I drift in

to believe a man that arrog

its me, it's a painful feeling. It's a blinding white wall that makes my eyes sting and water.

a voice snap

I don't have the strength to fight as a maid hauls me toward the living room. My legs are usel

f stale cigarettes hangs in the air. Chloe is standing over me, wearing a silk slip dress and a look

t, the sharp point of her stiletto catching me in the ribs. I gasp, the air le

ould take you," I whisper

at her. "You think you're so smart? You think you're safe because you married a name? We had to pa

ps to the side, and I feel a fresh tear of skin inside my cheek. Before I can reco

out a strangled cry, the bones in my hand protesting under the p

ease stop

when she sees me, a small smile creeps up

d floor, Lydia steps closer and delivers a backhanded

he floor. Fresh blood

nother ten million to recover your sister. That puts our debt at 20 million

d then looks at me. Chills run down my arm when I see a satisfied glint

These people are supposed to be my family. Yet

m the mantel. His eyes are red and glazed with a terrifying,

tten rid of you y

what'r

atters against the floor inches from my head, shards of it spraying across my skin. I try to crawl away, my f

, her eyes narrowing with a sickening intent. "You want to take Julian'

eyes shut, wrapping my arms around myself in a futile attempt to pr

ows isn't a kick. I

is kicked off its hinges, hitting the hallway floor with a deafening crash. A gust of col

space. But I don't look at them. I look at the m

t, his hair slightly damp from the rain. His face is a mask of absolute, lethal stillness. He looks around the

onto mine, and for a second, the coldness in them shatters. He sees the bl

't shout. He doesn't have to. The quiet

ng white. Alistair is across the room in three long strides. He doesn't even look at my father

before he gently brushes a stray hair from my forehead. His touch is so light it's almost a gho

, Emily,"

smells of expensive wool and the cold outdoors, still holding the heat from his body. It's the first ti

. She is backed into a corner, staring at the small army currently occupying

at her with a disdain so profound it's lik

he man who is going to ensure that by tomorrow morning, none

her head as she tries to make the connection about where she head the name from. Then moment it clicks, Chloe

barely a whisper. "Are you Alista