60

It took every ounce of self-control Alaric possessed not to go to her. “Are you okay?” he asked, managing to keep his distance.

She nodded but didn’t speak. He could tell by the wobbly set of her mouth that she was trying not to cry.

“They’re awful people,” Paul said. “Don’t let them get to you.”

“All of this is getting to me,” she said. “I miss how my life used to be. There’s three million dollars missing and I have no idea where it might be. Oh, and someone not only calls and threatens me, but they shoot out my window and mess up my properties. Now this…. I honestly don’t know how much more I can take. All I want to do after this is over is move away from everyone and everything and start over. It seems to be the only way my life is going to ever get normal again.”

Alaric edged out of the room. He didn’t want to hear any more.

—--------

Vanessa watched Alaric withdraw into himself and fought back tears. She could take the Wesleys enmity and rancor, she could take the whole world kn