Betrayed By Her Seven Protectors

RA

sprawling ranch house with a wing just for me, a sanctuary I had fo

nah over some stupid television show. Their laughter grated on my nerves,

, my fingers flying across the screen. There was only

d been my childhood playmate, the boy who'd always looked at me with open adoration, the one I'd always dismissed as too ea

m the love I was forcibly killing. This wasn't the time

xas granite, with eyes that saw everything. **I decided against telling him about the kiss-the wor

steady. It was a small lie, but a plausible one. "He's been funneling money to her f

and saw the new steel in my spine. "Done," he said. "I'll have the

shoulders. The first p

m. It was Wade, his grin wide and familiar. "There's my

felt like a spider crawling on my skin. A

me. "Don't touch me," I snapped,

ely hurt. "Clara

of fresh apples in her arms. "You know how sensitive she can be." She positioned

fectly. The peacemaker. The

n and Wade's confused hurt. They saw Savannah's gentle intervention. The narrative

playing t

sweet. I forced a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

leaving his shoulders. "

m all, "I think I'll skip the ride. I have a g

wered on th

d enough for them all to hear. "Are you busy? I was

es on my back. For the first time, I wasn't the one trying to get their attention. They

victory, but