Chapter 4

Cassidy pulled a notepad and pen from the kitchen drawer and started writing.

When she finished, she dropped the paper in front of me.

It was a settlement agreement.

"She pressed the pen into my hand, eyes flat and cold."

"You've seen how this sits, Ethan. Zane cannot be touched. I cannot be touched."

"You sign this — you confirm it was consensual, confirm it was an accident — and I call the best private doctor in the state right now."

"You don't sign it, and she bleeds out up there. That's your choice."

Linc crouched down to my eye level with a fake-sympathetic look.

"What are you waiting for? Every second you don't sign, that's on you."

"Half a million dollars. She could buy a house back home. Even with a messed-up face, she finds a good man, she's set."

"You love her? Sign the paper."

Hector was staring at the card in Cassidy's hand, practically drooling.

"Sign it. We're helping her. This is us looking out for her."

"Stop being dramatic and put your name on it."

The scraping from upstairs had stopped.

The kind of silence that feels like a door closing.

Linc glanced up at the ceiling and made an exaggerated face.

"Uh oh. She's gone quiet, brother-in-law."

"You better hurry up, or you're going to be signing a death certificate instead."

My hands were shaking.

I picked up the pen and signed my name. Pressed my thumb in the ink. Left a print.

Cassidy ripped the paper from the table and actually kissed it.

"There you go. Smart man. We are going to be rich."

"Zane, we're good — it's done."

Zane gave a single approving nod.

"Good. Now I'm going to walk out that front door, and this never happened."

I was on my feet immediately. "You said you'd call the doctor. Call him."

Hector grabbed Cassidy's arm before she could dial.

"A private doctor costs a fortune. You know what those house calls run?"

"The girl isn't even that bad. Shock, probably. Let her sleep it off upstairs, and in the morning we drive her to the walk-in clinic and they stitch her up."

"The face is already done. What difference does it make where she heals?"

I stared at him. "You just promised—"

Cassidy slipped her phone back into her pocket and looked away.

"Dad's right. The doctor might report it. We wait. She's not going to die."

"Don't push it, Ethan."

While the three of them started talking about how to divide the half-million dollars, upstairs the person in that room was alone and bleeding.

And then — three hard slams against the front door.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Like someone trying to take the door off its hinges.

Cassidy's head shot up.

"Who is that? Who's here?"

Linc swung around toward me. "Did you tip someone off? I knew it — I knew you had a backup plan—"

The person outside started kicking.

"Cassidy Vega, you open this door right now!"

Cassidy, afraid the neighbors would hear, had no choice but to go to the door.

"Who is it? This better be important!"

She unlatched the deadbolt and the door burst inward, catching her across the forehead.

She staggered back with a cry.

In the doorway stood seven or eight people — some of them holding bats.

My relatives. The ones I'd quietly called to the wedding from out of town.

Cassidy took one look at them and immediately shrank.

"Oh — hi, everyone. Today's been a little chaotic, it's not really a great time to—"

She was already sidling toward the stairs, trying to block the bottom step with her body.

Linc ducked behind her and poked his head out.

"You can't just break into a private residence! This is trespassing!"

"We will call the police on every single one of you!"

I stood in the center of the foyer.

"I asked them to come." I said it quietly. "They're here to take someone home."

Hector jumped to his feet, pointing.

"Nobody is taking anyone anywhere! My family's guest is resting upstairs!"

"Get out of this house! All of you!"

The group parted.

A clear voice came from just behind them.

"Resting upstairs?"

A young woman stepped through the door, grocery bags looped over both arms, looking around the room with open confusion.

"Sir, who exactly are you talking about?"