A Price on Freedom

was smooth, but his grip on my arm was tight. The glass he pushed

face, a perfect, charming mask he wore

A little something to celebrate our future. The photographer will b

and 'comfortable' when some photographer you hired walks in to find me in a hotel

is important for my campaign. A little scandal, a wronged fiancée... it

ger replacing the initial shock. This was his plan. Ruin me to make hims

ow, menacing hiss. "You come from nothing. I'm giving you a chance to be the wife

part is the hero?" I stood up, pushi

twisting into an ugly snarl.

t just unlock, it flew off its hinges, slamming agai

n front was tall, with a presence that instantly filled the room. His face was all sharp a

ounced, his voice a low comm

me. "Captain Stone! This is a misunderstanding.

rk, suffocating room. I stumbled forward, making sure my fear looked genuine. "

rom me to the glass on the table, then

t all disappeared in a flash of light and a searing pain. An explosion. Then, darkness. I woke up in this strange bed, in this strange ro

ed marriage to David Clark, the town's rising political star. Her family had sold her for a better life

money, powerful and respected, a world away from Emily's dirt-poor origins. Alex was the go

I was a simple victim. He thought I was part of a trap, a lure in a bigger game he was investi

atter," David stammered,

as entirely on me. "Ma'am, are you willi

him, forcing my legs to stay steady. I was a brilliant inventor from the

lose, my voice a whisper only he

d his subordinate, leaving David standing amid

amiliar face, Sarah Jenkins, Emily's best friend, was there with a small

at you were meeting someone else here!" she

would arrive, and Sarah would be the "witness" who could attest to my infidel

sers. He looked at Sarah, then at the others. His expression was unreadable,

owd, including Sarah, hesitated for a moment and then

er, Eleanor, a woman with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, greeted me wi

aze watched me from across the grand living room. This was Clara Stone, Alex's aunt

e dripping with condescension. "The one Ale

bit of trouble, Mother. Maybe Alex is

ty case. I was a survivor. And I was about to become

sister-in-law. "Clara, please. Th

e county are always looking for a way to climb. It seems she found a ladder in my nephew." Her e

et. I let the warmth spread through me, calming the frantic beat of m

ice clear and steady. "Captai

ck by my bluntness. Only Alex, standing by the fireplace, remained impassive, though I saw a flicker of s