clearly meant what she said. Charlie cle

eal men always keep t

urt first, launching

render left the others cornered. One by one

opping looked

bounding across the court

rs of Scarlett's mouth until a small

finally unraveled, leaving

ng himself back to Scarlett's side. A grin, half disbelief and half admiration, stretched across

-real respect. The old assumptions about her being a

speed, so he could recognize the

only the surface, but he

slipping her phone from her pocket and giving it a quick glance before striding t

ased after her. "W

rise," she replie

pe felt like a quiet

ing into pale blue, then igniting into a blaze of

ould leave

, yet what settled in her chest w

slicing through the dawn air. Tilting her head towar

aced a call to her father, asking him

expected them

suddenly felt the unmista

t boarded the helicopter. Time had carved creases into his face, bu

amily's steadfast butler, the man

ckered through her mind. She gave a small nod, vo

utting through the pale dawn. Wind whipped aga

the spot, gaze fixed on the fading helicop

ust left l

she hadn't even bothered to

ide; it was Asher's

o a friend, and swung onto Lightning in one fluid motion. The engine roar

sound-your motorcycle's here!" he

a slight tilt of his chin, he signaled to his sister

sed the room, and p

it was-L

you could touch it, Charlie?" His voic

ars, yet it still carried

amily, Asher had no intention

storm could hit him. "She was the one who took Lightning to the track. And she crushed me out there! Her racing skills-they're unreal. I'm tellin

in his words wa

ut a flash of surprise

tured that the gentle, compliant Scarlett as th

as if to prove his point. "If you think I'm lying, a

say anything, Isla jumped in,

ing? Isn't she just a gold digger who latched onto Asher for the money? Aside fr

er's life three years ago and then asking him to marry her as repayment. In Isla's mind, Scarlett was nothing more t

ace. "You really think everyone's like you, Isla? All loo

livan family's residence, not your home. How dare you talk

as long as she could remember, and that bitterness had seeped into her bones. So when Char

e refused

u insult Scarlett! She is your brother

exclaimed, her voice laced with venom.

arted, anger flas

sliced through the ten

he chill in his eyes enoug

for?" he asked, tone calm but ed

ened, and after a hesitant breath, she held ou

eports to you," she murmured

lance as he took the folder

ur task," he said c

triumphant grin at that, sa

sher was on his

you can go now,"

ied quickly. She wasn't intimidated by Charlie, but she was afra

iled in her chest, she could only lo

be going now." Her voice

nd gave a theatrical wave. "See you!" he ca

back, though, he me

ecover with a nervous chuckle. "Right... I should, uh

n silent approval, eyes s

sin knew when to