ENTLE

the muffled sounds of Cyrus and Ramona arguing d

weight of a chrome butterfly-a custom part my mother had made-a comforting presence in my hand. It kep

broke the silence. Not arguing. It was the so

hallway was dark and unnervingly still. My room was at the end of the hall, but i

hing sound came from my

g behind the heavy curtain a

de of the house. The movements were clumsy but de

t Me

g into my home. A wave of fu

d, trying to pry the window open. The lock had been reinforced l

. The old sliding glass doo

blade to jimmy the lock. The door slid open without a sound. Brett s

was asleep, because he

, he froze, then let o

e darkness. "I know you'

small lamp by the bed. The dim light illumina

gement, Brett. What are you even d

re because my heart aches for you," he murmured, taking a step closer. "Look, I know my mother's words hurt yo

descending look off his face. But I needed to know what he was really after. Forcing down my fury, I lowered my gaz

That's a good girl. Now, to make things right and keep the peace, all you have to do is sign ov

e information. "Half the assets? What are yo

re than just scrap metal! Ramona told me everything. Your father has

ve snooped through Cyrus's fil

es darkening with lust. "Let's stop fighting. Your reputation is completely trashed. No other man is ever going to want you now. Just g

ating from my eyes like chi

ugly snarl. "Say no?" He lunged at me. "Then I'll

was going to assault me, right h

nged, I didn't retrea

his grasping hands, and drove

t, doubling over in pain, h