Randall lowered his head. “In that case, I’ll wait outside.”
With that, he stepped back and closed the door.
Now what?
Her cousin Nathan was in his office on the other side of the property doing who knew what at 3:00 a.m. Probably plotting world domination. Or her painful death. Or both.
After she’d run away at sixteen, Nathan became the heir apparent to their family’s business. He was the golden child. The future of the family. And then he managed to get himself sideways with a guest and had to hide out in Europe for a while.
While his life was spiraling out of control, Bronwyn’s had come together. She finished her degree, worked in the industry in several resorts around the world, and returned to Gossamer Falls, determined to atone for her sins.
Neither she nor Nathan had expected the CEO position to ever be hers, but it was now, and she had no plans to let it go.
Her extended family had never been tight-knit. She’d grown up with competition as the name of the game. She didn’t know exactly when it started, but over the past few years, the Pierces had somehow fractured into separate, warring factions. There was no trust. No love. No sense of togetherness.
Lord, how did we get here? And how doI get out of this mess?
She didn’t know the answer to the first question, but she knew the answer to the second. Or, at least, she knew the first step on the path.
She twisted back to her computer and typed out an email.
With shaking fingers, she hit send, gathered her things, including her weapon, and walked out to meet Randall.
Even after close to two decades of hostility, she knew that while the one person she needed right now wouldn’t speaktoher, hewouldkeep her secrets and do everything he could to keep her safe.
And there was no turning back now. She’d placed the charges and lit the fuse. Her walls were coming down. She had to trust that he’d stand with her when the last one fell.
Two
Twenty-Eight Years Earlier
“Come inside and find your seats.”
Mo listened to the teacher, Mrs. Delaney, and was pleased to see that his seat was beside his sister’s. His cousin, Cal, was one row ahead of him.
The noise level grew and then quieted as everyone settled into their assigned spots.
Meredith tapped his desk, and he turned toward her. She widened her eyes and looked at the door.
Mrs. Delaney had stepped outside the classroom but kept the door open. From his seat, Mo could see her and the principal, and he could hear other voices too. When a small girl peeked around the edge of the door and into the classroom, Mo caught her eye and smiled.
She returned the smile and then her gaze flicked around the room.
“You must understand,” the principal said, “we have a small school, and this is the only kindergarten class.” She pointed to the little girl in the doorway. “If Bronwyn is to attend school here, this is where she’ll be.”
The voice that spoke next was deep and loud enough that Mo heard part of what was said. “We understand, however ... expect you to try ... won’t tolerate...”
The conversation continued for another minute and then the girl, Bronwyn, was ushered into the room by Mrs. Delaney. The adults who followed—Mo assumed they were her parents—barely said anything, but they glared at Cal. And then at Meredith.
And finally, the mom looked at him.
She glanced down at the name on his desk, then turned to Mrs. Delaney. “Just keep her away from the Quinns.”
Mrs. Delaney’s mouth got all pinched up, and she said, “My students will be expected to interact with all of their classmates, Mrs. Pierce.”
Oh.
Cal turned around in his seat, and the three of them shared a look.
