sion immedia

orn with a severe heart condition, he'd spent most of his li

ly had all but writt

burden. A son who would never

ily, Zach had been the only person who

ne wen

ilent except for the faint b

wore under

was the one harassing you, and someho

Cody earlier. Now that they'd listened to Mrs. St

o offend. Even when the Blackwoods had been at the height of

etween them w

back his cha

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as written all

creep will just find another excuse to humil

. "I'll dea

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e's calm voice cu

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ze and said, "Don't worry

dramatic about t

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eason, it

reparing to argue, found

er, they arrived

e room, Hans's voice e

ere, I'm going to make

ugh to make passing nurs

voice f

own. You'll h

ia

opped w

t him. "You s

caught him

they'd come here in the first place. He'd thrown the pu

ly understood wh

d still been part of his family for years. Seeing h

protest, Rue pus

n inside came t

ble. One leg was suspended in traction, and enough bandages wrapp

e him with a wor

aw Rue, however,

urt becaus

ation cam

to him now doesn't give you the

sed an

is difficult for you. If you're angry, t

r for a moment,

re se

iana uncomfortable. She fro

ured tow

alous because you

iana. "Ariana, if you wan

flicked towa

habit of competi

m went

ace turn

looked

had been standing near

aunched himse

already called the police. If you don't want your whole family d

ked uni

smile spread across his face. "Maybe if I

n. Her expression was icy. "Rue

in her voice w

the Sterling and Galloway families, you

ed her, threatened her, and he got beaten

nued. "The Sterling family won't be able to h

oom door sudde

walke

e you're lo

ce was

d turned

the room. "If you want to call the

sitation and positioned

simple. Instinct

moment, no

ventually lan

iately lo

g inside

girl his fami

nts had loved as

man who had threatened Rue and ac

ed slightly. "Do you reall

ced tow

now what kind

errupted him befor

unded stran

d. Then she quietly said, "W

a second, he genuinely

ncere, I'll ask Hans

ent hit harder

eemed ob

o help you,"

rison, what wil

A flicker of awkward

l your pa

e cut throu

going to

one t

epped

cross the room before s

in her eyes made Mrs. S

entered the room, uncertain

ly do you m