ENTLE

ight, revealing a weathered f

ed, my voice shak

s most loyal friend and the head

rus and had kept to himself in the garage,

es locked on the shotgun. The

? This is a family matter!" Cyrus sp

tley, I've known you for thirty years, and I've never seen a fam

look after Eva. Anyone who touches a hair on her head toda

ing Cyrus's hired suits couldn't match. He was a man who had

ustration. "You think you can stop

a sharp, definitive click, he thum

just soared with hope, began to sink again. Gus wa

of a siren cut through the

. Cops? Who ca

of the house, kicking up a cloud of dust. Two more patrol cars pulled up right beh

lk white. His worst f

flew open and my fr

ht, emerged from the driver's side. His expre

ing past Gus's shotgun and Cyrus's thugs, foll

ow!" the lead trooper barked, his h

slowly placed their guns on the floor and kicked them away. Seeing the cavalry had arrived, Gus le

neutralized, the trooper's

y?" he asked, his voice

ded m

handed it to me. "Miss Bentley, this is an emergency summons from Governor Julian Sinclair

rofound relief washed over me. After all these ye

. The name hung in the air, a wea

ed. Brynlee shrank

rror and disbelief. He could never have imagined that I, the daughter he

s his meeting with Miss Bentley, this estate will be under 24-hour surveillance to ensure her safety.

ar, unambigu

isted with fear, and felt a surg

me," she breathed, her eyes bright with adrenaline. "I took it straigh

Gus, and Julian, far away in the capitol. In my

ease," the trooper said,

a grateful squeeze

ncing over at the old mechanic. "I'll keep Gus company and help

hrough the room of my stunned