OMG! The continuation is finally here! 👇 Read Chapters 1-6 below!

“She is sleeping,” Stellan Vane said, his voice a low, gravelly baritone that seemed to vibrate the very glass of the hospital window. “And her doctors tell me she is only doing so because of you.”

Norah braced herself against the pillows, her bruised ribs throbbing. "I didn't do it for a thank you, Mr. Vane. I did it because she was drowning."

Stellan stood up. The movement was fluid, like a predator adjusting its stance. He walked to the foot of her bed, his dark, calculating eyes locking onto hers. "People do not simply climb over the LaSalle Street Bridge on a whim, Norah. Especially not women who work eighty hours a week just to keep their brothers on dialysis. You saved my daughter, Mia. In my world, a debt like that is not left unpaid. But it also raises questions."

"What kind of questions?" Norah asked, her heart beginning to hammer against her ribs.

"Like why a hospital cafeteria worker was exactly where she needed to be, at the exact second my daughter was pushed."

The word hung in the sterile air of the room like a heavy fog. Pushed.

"She didn't slip?" Norah whispered.

"Mia is deaf, not clumsy," Stellan said coldly. "Her nanny was found dead in an alley two blocks away. Someone targeted my family today. And then, you appeared." He leaned in closer, the scent of expensive cologne and cold winter air washing over her. "Are you my savior, Norah? Or are you the prettiest distraction I’ve ever encountered?"

"I was walking home from work!" Norah snapped, her fear turning into defensive anger. "Check the security cameras! Check my life! I don't know who you are, and I don't care about your money."

Stellan stared at her for a long, agonizing moment. Finally, the tension in his shoulders eased fractionally. "I already did. My people have spent the last two hours tearing your life apart. You are clean, Norah Ashby. Too clean for a city like Chicago. Which is why you are coming with me."

"I'm what?"

"You saved my daughter. The people who tried to kill her today saw your face. They know you pulled her out. If they think Mia told you something—or if they simply want to punish me by hurting the person who ruined their plan—you are a target. My home is the safest place in this city. You and your brother will move into my estate tonight."

Norah let out a dry, disbelieving laugh. "I have a job. My brother has dialysis tomorrow morning at eight."

"A private medical team is already setting up a state-of-the-art dialysis machine in my guest wing," Stellan said, pulling a sleek black phone from his pocket. "Your brother is already in my car. And as for your job... you just retired."

Before Norah could protest, the door to the hospital room burst open.

It was Danny, her younger brother. But he wasn't looking at her with the frantic relief she expected. His face was pale, his eyes darting between Stellan and the door.

"Norah," Danny breathed, his voice trembling. "We have to go. We can't stay here."

"Danny, it's okay," Norah tried to soothe him. "This is Mr. Vane. He's..."

"I know who he is," Danny whispered, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the edge of her bed.

But Norah didn't see the tiny, frantic signal Danny was trying to send her with his eyes. She didn't see the way his hand was shaking, or the sweat dripping down his neck. Because Danny wasn't just terrified of Stellan Vane.