e swore never to return to. Memories hung heavy in the air like cobwebs, clinging to the back

full of

full of

y Butler Gregory, the only man in this m

n said with a hint of sadness

. I came to finish what sho

de. "Your father is waiting in

neve

heavy drapes, and oil paintings of generations of Devere

leather chair like a monarch on a decaying throne

gal disappoint

inch. "You've be

u had a bastard child with a common

e. Say Leah's name with respect-or I

hink you can protect her? That c

ven if it means destroy

n. The moment you disappeared, the board started sniffing around. And now? You'v

t. A list of everyone who knows about Caleb.

rces inside this family you never understood. You think

anymore," Adrian growled.

'd better pray the woman and child

-

xt Day

t. The conversation with Adrian from the night before still haun

sons she couldn't explain. A strange man had followed her

ked in, jaw tig

é, then walked behind her and lowered his vo

od went co

u. "They know about Caleb. I don't know ho

d in. "Who

built on money. It's built on blackmail, betrayal, and power pla

d. "You left me

fe. But I was wrong. And now I'll do whatever

d hard. "You'

end this-my father, the board, maybe even my brother-they'll

-

ht – A F

t in a dark boardroom as

too

ith a waitress,

d be a li

ose o

torn. When he returned to Leah's apartment that night

st time, then slippe

withou

if he stayed, th

t night were back-and they

anted

d just told her. She wasn't just a single mother who had been abandoned by a rich lover. She had unknowingl

pered, fingers clutching her coffee mu

property-pieces in a game they can use to keep the family's fortune under their control. If they get to him before I can s

dn't

shook. "So wh

ss the street. "We go underground. Temporarily. I've arran

ed. "You want

want our son to survive. That

unding. "Why are you doing th

motion. "Because every day I spent away from you was a lie. Because I chose

throat, her heart aching desp

ng direction. There's something I need

. "I can't leave y

. For Cal

phone buzzed. A

led the past, Adrian. Now th

turned the screen s

bled. "What d

they know about Caleb. And th

-

– A Secre

into a sleek black car by Adrian's trusted guard, Marcus

going?" Caleb

id softly, brushing his curls. "Somew

addy be

ard, crouched beside the door, and

buddy. But you have to be

solemnly. "Li

there was pain in h

ads touching for a breathless sec

said. "Not unt

ay, Adrian turned ba

come k

as done

-