The only sounds were the clinking of silverware against chi
break the tension. "So, Carley, sweetheart. Wh
sweating. This was her opening. She had
t Martha, deliberately keeping her eyes
y said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "And I found an apart
k eyebrows slammed together. "Move out? Why would you
," Carley argued softly. "Besides, I'm twe
t. "But you just got back. We haven't seen you in
y sane person left in this house," Pip
ight pressing down on her chest. "Mom, Dad, I love you, but I
ng sound cut th
r of his mouth. He tossed the napkin onto the table.
first time all evening, he l
ical assault. It wa
k rumble that vibrated in Carley's bones. "Pippa is still in school. Y
d at him, her heart pounding a
sharpening into a blade that carved straight through her defenses, "that after every
s using her deepest insecurity-her guilt toward t
ht back, but her throat locked. She couldn't say a word. If she fought him,
th deep approval. "Barron is absolutely right
r the table, his broad chest blocking the light from the
esponse. He turned and
m directly behin
nt that Martha or Sterling could catch. But his hand brushed the top edge of her chair, his long fingers pressing into
hal, silken thread pitched so low it vibrated directly int
er ripped down
out of the room, leaving the din
glass. "Well, that's settl
hed tears. Her lungs felt like they were shrinking. Her
s to her old bedroom. She slammed the door shut, locked i
chest, burying her face in
pocket with shaking fingers
trap
ame seconds lat
r. She let the phon
ted her head. Through the glass, she saw Barron's black Aston Martin tear down the d
ains around her neck, and the knowledge that he could appear at any
long as Barron Newton drew breath, this house would never be a h
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