l settled into my bones. A persistent cough started, dry and hacking. My skin grew pale, and the sheriff started looking at me

h sleep, I heard a new voice in the sheriff's office. I

o post bail

rprised. "Bail has been

quaintance of his. Here is the cashier'

oft. A wealthy man who owned a massive tract of land on the other side of the county. He wasn't a f

allen gravely ill. The vets had given up on it. In desperation, he had heard the r

ng was shallow, its eyes dull with pain. I spent hours with the animal, my hand on its neck, feeling the sickness inside

tried to press a thick en

I had told him. "I do

g expression. "Everyone does it for money, son

and I hadn't seen

xpensive suit that looked out of place in the dusty sheriff's stati

h a smile that didn't reach h

on and into a sleek black car that hummed quietly.

d steel. It was the opposite of Havenwood in every way. Inside, he had a doctor waiting. T

ft sat across from me in

ce smooth as silk. "Too valuable to be rotting in a

" I said, my voice

dismissive hand. "It was an investment. I

ng trickled

ued. "But we've hit a snag. The land is... stubborn. The soil is poor, the wa

, his blue eyes l

l give you anything you want. Food, clothes, entertainment. In re

. He hadn't saved me out of kindness. He had purchased me. I had

said q

vanished. "Wha

ot for that. It's not for making

aw tight. The friendly mask was gone, an

ly low. "You are a fugitive. Your hick town wants to lock you up. I am the only t

id, my strength returning

d react, he grabbed a handful of my hair and yan

hissed, his face inches from mine.

and straightened his suit jacket. The m

ooked at this man who thought he could buy and sell miracles, I felt the feather at m

suit and his perfect house, and

Mr. Croft. You're going to wis

a threat? From a boy who can barely stand? Ge

he gilded cage he had built for me. The ache in my chest wa