Allie

Mark Vandenburg shakes my dead fish for a hand, and the warm butterfly feelings from the past few days are gone. Dead. They're all dead.

His disapproving eyes travel down my dress and to my feet before his blue-green eyes hold mine captive again.

"I hear you're with Lucas now. Pretty sudden after the split with my daughter." He clicks his tongue disapprovingly. "Especially after your public display the other night."

Oh. My. God.

There's a pit forming in my stomach where the butterflies died and when Mark arches a brow, I stammer my way through a response.

"Well, things just happened the way they did. It sounds like Katrina had other interests toward the end."

If sugar daddies or whatever they are, count. Men who were paying for pictures of her or something, I'm not sure. Frankly, I was shocked but also not considering some of the stories Lucas has shared with me.

He grimaces and releases my hand. He has to be a magician or dark lord of some sort—I just know it. He's never spoken to me, but I'm afraid and cowering right now.

I've done nothing wrong. It's just his presence that's making me feel like the scared child standing in front of a tiger. Fear trickles down my spine and suddenly I'm a little girl afraid of getting in trouble.

Yet he's the one Lucas swears is covering up my accident. He should be afraid of me right now.

Mark licks his bottom lip with an intimidating, dry chuckle. "Gentlemen, would you mind excusing us for a moment?"

The group of suits behind him all leave without a word. That's what they do, right? His assistants or whatever they are. His posse? Gang? His mafioso lackeys?

Mark is a businessman in real estate or something boring like that, so what are they called?

"You know, Allison–"

"It's Allie."

"Right," he scoffs. "God forbid you use your given name. You know, you're a very smart girl and I understand you've made some mistakes in your life. We're all prone to make mistakes when we are young, sweetheart. It happens. I happen to be of the belief smart people match better with smart people while the pretty people ought to be with their own kind."

I don't know if he's calling me ugly or stupid right now.

"Ted is a very smart guy with plenty of potential. Handsome, charming, good head on his shoulders. He's an excellent match for you."

Mark picks up a picture frame from my desk with Jadon and me in it, and examines it with a scowl.

"But it appears you and Ted can't come to terms with a little arrangement sorted out for you."

He sure is direct now and not at all hiding the fact he's a shady person.

"He has a good job, Allie, that he can do anywhere. A decent income, and is prepared to take you on with your... child. Says he's always had feelings and was waiting for the opportunity, but a little guy got in the way."

And what is this concern? Why does it matter to him so damn much?

"I think I'm happier with Lucas, but thank you for your concern." There. Dignified and somewhat not too pansy-sounding. My lady balls are in full swing.

"Here's the thing, Allie." He sets the picture back on my desk, faced down, and claps his hands together. "Lucas is the star. Bright smile, pretty face, attracts everyone he meets. He's the all-American dream boy from a small town with charm. All that cute patriotic glamor people like. He's otherwise not very good with you and your care." Mark waves his hand around dismissively. "You understand where I am going with this?"

John's voice carries from his office. He's on the phone with someone, and Mark and I are completely alone. There's no rescuing me here.

Swallowing the lump in my sandpaper throat, I consider lying, but I don't know what's prompting me into his Allie trap. "No."

I clear my throat when he arches a brow at me. "I-I-I mean no, I don't understand why it matters to you."

Mark sighs and flashes a quick grin before he returns to business mode with a friendly, but false, tone. "Ted will have you taken care of, Allie. You and Jadon will have every opportunity to go anywhere you want. Say where, and I'll make it happen. I'll arrange for your passport and Jadon's, and Tom can follow along. Private schools for the boy, the best clothes, your student loans paid. Maybe set up your little catering business with some friends that would get your foot in some doors. Everything would be taken care of for you."

What?

I glance down at the picture of Jadon and me, and when I look back up, Mark is inches from my face.

His eyes are more green than blue this close and I can see my reflection in them. He smells like expensive cologne and doesn't have a hair out of place on his head.

"I hand selected Lucas Kennedy for Katrina years ago on that football field. I have planned out his entire life for him ever since the first newspaper interview. It's still framed in every small business in this town like they see him as a local hero. He's going to be in my family, representing my interests. He's going to marry Katrina and her name will be Katrina Kennedy, and they will have children that live to a certain standard. Just because you spread your legs for him in my driveway when you thought no one was looking and got yourself pregnant will not alter my plans. You will either go with Ted, or I will force you out of this place. It's your choice."

He's the devil, this man is. That's why this feels so strange.

Mark narrows his eyes and blinks slowly while I recall his words.

"You're the reason Lucas got hurt, aren't you? When that kid slammed into his shoulder. He was going to play and now he can't."

He wrinkles his nose and stands back up straight, patting down his sleeves. "Accidents happen, Allie. That's all it was." He glances over at John's door before looking back at me. "You'd be wise to take my offer."

"And if I don't?"

The way he says it sounds more like a dangerous threat than anything else. "Watch out for accidents, Allie."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I don't need to make threats. I'm providing you with an opportunity you won't want to pass up. You and your child will be better off out of this town in the long run."

Why does he keep bringing up Jadon as my "child" like that? Like Jadon is some disease.

John's door opens again, and he approaches us with a broad smile while clapping his hands together. "Okay, shall we head to the field? I think Tom is out there for practice now. We can get a feel for how you want everything set up after the game."

What?

"You're setting something up?"

John nods. "Didn't you hear the announcement? Mark is running for Congress. We're using the field after the first game for a rally, and then we're announcing your dad's retirement."

His what? Retirement?

Oh no, Mark's not going near my dad after what he just said. I paste on a sweet smile. "Why don't I come with you?"

John blinks at me. "Allie, I need you to cover my line and emails. Thank you for the offer, though. I'll be back in an hour and we can go over the details."

"But–"

"Thank you, but we don't need you."

Mark smirks at me from the other side of John. "It was a pleasure meeting you in person, Allie. You remind me of your mother when she was your age. Back when we knew each other."

The two of them leave the office while I stand frozen, stunned.

What just happened? He knew my mom?