Bradl

rs after we had moved into the Harvey mansion, two

with wavy brown hair that fell across his forehead and a smile that seemed to warm

out, dropping a duffel

thleen, so he must have known

y said, his face lighting up. He

ven prettier than in the pictures. Then his eyes, a warm, sparkling blue, found

a small, fr

d, his attention had already been captured by Kane, w

his brother in a low voice, noddi

to hear. "She's the stepsister. The one with the dead

n, my rightful place. The sound of their happy, reunited laughte

atically moved to eat in the kitche

ey

g in the doorway. "There's a

hleen and Mr. Harvey were already seated. They hadn't said a wo

ed out, noticing my hesitati

y chair beside Booker. The conversation flowed aro

ual but with an edge. "I hear Jane's been a great h

y mouth. My heart began to po

ce of roasted chicken on my plate. "Y

ight, and I knew what happened to people

she's a very... diligent girl. We'll

w her shoot me a look. It was pur

st smiled

at my plate, the food tasteless in my

my room. It wasn't long before the d

're doing?" she hissed

know what

me. Seducing him? On

ever even met him

u?" she demanded, grabbing my arm.

," I whispere

"You stay away from Booker Harvey. He is out of yo

voice barely audib

d there, trembling, when I noticed a shadow in the hal

ing there. He had

had been a performance. A deliberate act to provoke Cathleen. I didn't know why.

the garden when he came ou

in?" he asked, not lo

I said

Jane. Your parents weren'

ister a pretty name, Kallie. I w

er been to s

N

you r

e. Simpl

blue eyes searching my face.

ouse. And there she was, a silhouette

e's wonderful. Cathleen and Mr. Harvey, they're both so good t

knowing smile playing on h

has a condo for me downtown. Closer to the o

icating, so terrifying, I couldn't breathe. But to go with him?

ered. "I have no money.

like a beautiful, dangerous animal. You did

tanding up. "When you've mad

t later, Cathleen was m

say to you?"

r in this house. I was just a pawn. "He asked my name," I said,

seemed satisfied with that. S

s announcement. "Dad, I'm going to move into

here anymore?" Mr. Harvey

d smoothly. He had already been given a

ds with you, to cook and

, thanks." He looked direc

on me. I didn't know what to do, whether to nod or shak

ke care of you?"

with unshakable confidence.

owards the door. It was

gage," he said,

s. "I don't need anything from here

brilliant smile. "I li

ense of freedom. I looked at the city through the

es, underwear. I had never owned a new piece of clothing in my life. I stood in

my face. He didn't say anything. He ju

doubts I had about him va

illing our small apartment with the smell of rich, nutritious food. "If I eve

me for hours, teaching me to read, to write, to do math

," he'd praise, and I

ed him, "Can you g

, then wrote a word on

ittle sweet," he said, s

racing the letters with my

riend, my protector. My world. And I w