A Price on Freedom
was smooth, but his grip on my arm was tight. The glass he pushed
face, a perfect, charming mask he wore
A little something to celebrate our future. The photographer will b
and 'comfortable' when some photographer you hired walks in to find me in a hotel
is important for my campaign. A little scandal, a wronged fiancée... it
ger replacing the initial shock. This was his plan. Ruin me to make hims
ow, menacing hiss. "You come from nothing. I'm giving you a chance to be the wife
part is the hero?" I stood up, pushi
twisting into an ugly snarl.
t just unlock, it flew off its hinges, slamming agai
n front was tall, with a presence that instantly filled the room. His face was all sharp a
ounced, his voice a low comm
me. "Captain Stone! This is a misunderstanding.
rk, suffocating room. I stumbled forward, making sure my fear looked genuine. "
rom me to the glass on the table, then
t all disappeared in a flash of light and a searing pain. An explosion. Then, darkness. I woke up in this strange bed, in this strange ro
ed marriage to David Clark, the town's rising political star. Her family had sold her for a better life
money, powerful and respected, a world away from Emily's dirt-poor origins. Alex was the go
I was a simple victim. He thought I was part of a trap, a lure in a bigger game he was investi
atter," David stammered,
as entirely on me. "Ma'am, are you willi
him, forcing my legs to stay steady. I was a brilliant inventor from the
lose, my voice a whisper only he
d his subordinate, leaving David standing amid
amiliar face, Sarah Jenkins, Emily's best friend, was there with a small
at you were meeting someone else here!" she
would arrive, and Sarah would be the "witness" who could attest to my infidel
sers. He looked at Sarah, then at the others. His expression was unreadable,
owd, including Sarah, hesitated for a moment and then
er, Eleanor, a woman with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, greeted me wi
aze watched me from across the grand living room. This was Clara Stone, Alex's aunt
e dripping with condescension. "The one Ale
bit of trouble, Mother. Maybe Alex is
ty case. I was a survivor. And I was about to become
sister-in-law. "Clara, please. Th
e county are always looking for a way to climb. It seems she found a ladder in my nephew." Her e
et. I let the warmth spread through me, calming the frantic beat of m
ice clear and steady. "Captai
ck by my bluntness. Only Alex, standing by the fireplace, remained impassive, though I saw a flicker of s