ENTLE

m the chill that had settled deep in my bones. I hadn't slept.

had humiliated both Cyrus and the Merr

was gone from the driveway. He must have been taken to the hos

e long. Cyrus

ger from last night were gone, replaced by a

e Merritts and apo

pologize? For what? For almost b

ters is that you offended them! Brett's arm is broken. Elean

for your business, I should have just let hi

tand? You're a girl, trying to hold onto a massive inheritance

. "Like last night, when you stood by while you

onable," he said, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper, "let me be clear. You have two choices. One, you

d of any warmth. "...I send you s

le. It hung in the air be

money, for his new family,

error that was clawing at my throat. "I need

n. "You have one day. Eleanor will be back tomorro

rd the click of the lock from

, but it was solid. Despair, cold and suff

bodyguards were now patrolling the gro

e out. Mia. But my ph

ic angel on my nightstand. A birthday gift from Peggy, our old h

d a note on a scrap of paper and stuffed it inside. It held an addre

n's. She was the only one who might have

back and pressed

es were red and swollen. She'd heard the commotion last night.

, splashing it across the sheets. "Peggy, I'm

ed the ceramic angel into her apron pocket

, then she gave me a nod. She finish

ounding. She w

e next morning, at ten o'clock sharp, a

Merritt