Chapter 2

Evelyn’s POV

"Where am I going?"

I checked the ticket. The destination was an island nation I'd never heard of. Adrian said the weather there was lovely—and that the country had no extradition treaty with ours. The second part meant nothing to me.

"Does it have shopping malls?"

The lawyer gave me an odd look. Adrian answered patiently. "Yes."

"Can I get limited editions?"

"I'll have them sent over regularly."

"What about my monthly allowance?"

Clara had just come upstairs. She snatched the ticket from my hand and flung it onto the floor.

"Is money the only thing you understand? Dad's been forced to resign, Kael and Joren are locked up, and Adrian’s emptying his personal accounts to keep you safe. You're asking about an allowance?"

I leaned against the doorframe without answering.

Adrian's voice went cold. "Pick it up."

"Adrian!"

"I said, pick it up."

Eyes red, Clara bent to pick up the ticket. She shoved it back at me and hissed under her breath. "You love money so much? Take his and leave. Don't ever come back and drag him down with you."

Adrian's face darkened. I still couldn't quite believe the Vales would actually fall. And honestly, I hadn't been worrying much. Adrian had kept me like a bird in a gilded cage for three years. My job was to eat well, shop, and enjoy myself.

So I went back to my room and packed. My two-story walk-in closet held three years’ worth of Adrian’s gifts: clothes, shoes, jewelry, handbags. I chose a dozen or so of the most expensive bags and stuffed every diamond from the safe into my suitcase.

I'd barely zipped it shut when a crash sounded downstairs. From the second-floor railing, I watched uniformed officers cordon off the room where the family kept its art collection.. They took paintings off the walls and slapped seizure notices on the wine cellar and garage. Sorrel tried to stop them, but Rohan caught her arm.

"Let them take it," Rohan said, his voice worn thin. "Those are company assets."

Adrian returned with two strangers behind him. One handed him a document. "Eight tonight, at the Summit Club. The representatives of all twelve funds will be waiting. This is your last chance to negotiate."

The man's gaze slid past Adrian and traveled slowly over me. "Ms. Hart's here, too."

Adrian stepped into his line of sight. "Keep your eyes to yourself."

"Don't get me wrong, Mr. Vale. Our boss heard your little songbird is quite a beauty. If tonight goes well, he'd be happy to look after her for you."

Adrian punched him in the face. Blood spilled from the man's nose. The room erupted; Adrian's security men pinned the second stranger before he could move. The first wiped his nose and laughed.

"Still throwing your weight around? Fail to show up by eight, and your brothers' cases move forward. Then they'll be facing a lot more than a few years inside."

After the men left, Adrian’s knuckles were still smeared with blood. Sorrel pressed a hand over her mouth and sobbed. Rohan closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping as if something inside him had finally given way.

Adrian turned back to us. His face was composed again.

"The flight's been moved up. You leave now."

He sent his assistant, Ehtan, to drive me to the airport and got into another car himself. From the back seat, I watched his taillights disappear into the night.

"Mr. Vale has arranged everything for you," Ehtan said as we pulled away..

"And what has he arranged for himself?"

Ehtan said nothing. A knot of unease tightened in my chest. Surely the Vales weren’t really finished.

I met his eyes in the rearview mirror. "Turn around."

"Ms. Hart, Mr. Vale ordered me to take you to the airport."

"Then I'll jump out of the car."

For several seconds, neither of us moved. Finally, he swung the car around.