l of brakes made E

Ellie woke from a peaceful

the driver for being so reckless-until she cau

s Shane

under no circumstances could

and swept faster through the puddles, clinging

g to do such degrading work? She has no right to call

ing about the street sweeper's retr

man he'd seen outside the prison yes

d the air around him instantly turned

. Want me to lend her a hand?" A flicker

yone catches you cleaning the street, they'll assume Holt Group

ing, we're definitely going to soak them." He glanced at Sh

isn't your child. Why do you care so much? I'm telling you, that street sweeper brought the baby along to win people's pity and sucker fools like

go, the driver made one

chill sharpened Shane

yes never left the financial reports, and th

the car. One more objection, and

late... well." Noticing the driver ease off the accelerator

n. His foot came down hard on the

las

by protectively to her chest. Though she managed to shield her daughter, the foul spray soaked her from he

filled Joelle with vicious satisfaction. One corne

ged a child around to lure

her anguished wails carrying with

ould do was tighten his hands around the wheel. Shane was m

sobs reached Shane cle

ot a single line registered. A strange weight bore d

phones, laughing as they recorded Emma's drenched, miserable

r, trading cruel remar

ly thing that mattered. "You're okay, Ell

e swaddle. Ellie had cried herself breathless, each sob breaking into a desperate gasp. In that instant, ever

st her chest, Emma sank into a crouch beside

aling the long, grotesque scar slashed across he

How did she get such a hor

sweeping the streets with a baby. The poor t

ea what she's been thro

had recorded Emma earlier. He stepped forward and offered her a tissue. "I'm sorry. R

d, he called out, "Come on, guys. She's been thro

abbed at her tears. "Thank you

e scar once more. She returned to the puddles and finished sweeping them away, t

the black Maybach gliding to

tt stared at her slender, fragil

woman tru

ore menacing. His mouth hardened into an unforgiving line. "Find out whether Emma re