Tangled Aligence

echoed in my mind: "Star took him out." The dimly lit bar spun around

my vision. Walter and Stephanie exchanged a

aming down my cheeks, mingling with muffled whispers: "St

hest. "Who took him out?" Their words replayed

nst the wall. Jacob looked up from his

ed, uncertainty

oice trembling with rage. "You killed Jer

" he said, retur

pped him. "Say that nonse

n and desperation etche

ow could you, Star? My own b

for understanding

someone else do it, could you? Must it always be y

wisted in angu

re time," I threatened, my

s streaming down my face. "I'm pregnant,"

ped back to mine,

ears streaming down my face,

. how'

ever touched me, you know tha

to the desk, my

nything," I aske

and stood

has to

for how lon

dle that,"

to go,"

tartled. "What

re," I asked, hating

n is like a father to me, he

to have you killed if he finds

k it's that simple to eliminate him? You kno

run away,"

. "This man has eyes everywher

pped. "But I won't stay here

"Don't try anything stu

is grip. "You bette

t the swinging door,

ne's

k a deep breath, stepping out of the car, l noticed my mother's usual seat was empty. I qu

I burst through it. "Mom?" I calle

across the muffled sound. Maria, our housekeeper, was taped to a chair

in the next 94 hours or receive your mom piece by piec

Maria. "Who?" I growled,

ut of nowhere," she stamm

, my voice laced with u

ard some noise... saw him h

blurred

ould call for help," Maria co

shaking hands. Maria sto

to him," she said, h

om her to the bracelet. "Where did you

es widening. "It fell from him whi

cops," I ordered

, her eyes w

words burning in my mind. I grabbe

ury, as I walked swiftly through the pavement, appr

reeted, my voice

ed on the files on the table. "Theresa has b

d. "And?" he asked,

eyes scanned the note, his eyes widened.

bracelet at the scene; it c

team," Qui

sent a coded message. Th

h anger. "Kane's mom has been kidnapped. And the demand is

celet was found at the kidnapping

unstable. Quin's face darkened,

ing Jeremy. How did his bracelet end up at the scen

glances. "The job was done as or

arrowed. "Sta

re followed,"

elet end up there?" Qui

mission-" Quin's

Your Lord, to mislead

laying both sides," Quin co

ly. "You have my loyalty,

ind out where this evil is coming from

?" Quin

d forward. "Y

bring her here alive within 48 hours. L

d," the team c

ruction to Morgan a subtle reminder of his de

chamber. I rushed Jacob,

ead," I growled

assured, his voice laced with u

and menacing. "So, who took the

pid?" he spat. "I know what's at stak

Stephanie interve

Stephanie. "Really? He's the o

arned my place. You're not the

vened. "Star, Kane h

coffed. "He be

aze lingered on my

Matt said. "He's jus

ergio said, patting

fixed on the door, h