Chapter 2

Elena

Standing outside Riker's Island Correctional, I fumbled through my bag for the little compact mirror I always carried and started layering on makeup, trying to cover how pale and worn-out I looked. The face staring back at me was stiff, but I didn't have time to care about that.

Looking bad was a small price to pay if it meant Jax wouldn't worry.

Jax had grown up alongside me — he was practically my brother — and we hadn't seen each other in three years. Just knowing I was about to see him again made my heart race.

The two black gates slowly swung open, grinding against the concrete as they moved. I took a deep breath and watched a hunched figure make his way toward me.

"Jax!"

I waved at him, unable to hide my excitement.

I jogged over. "Jax! Perfect timing — have you eaten anything?"

The sight of him stopped me cold. He was so thin it was almost unrecognizable.

Three years ago, he'd just graduated from Kingsley University — sharp, full of promise — and then someone falsely accused him of rape. Just like that, a bright future turned into a criminal record.

The person standing in front of me now looked nothing like the Jax I knew. The warmth was gone. The light was gone.

My chest ached, but I kept my voice upbeat. What's done is done. He needed to look forward, not back.

Jax's expression softened, and he was about to say something — then his eyes caught the ring on my finger. Something shifted in his gaze.

"Elena. You're married?"

That's when I realized I'd forgotten to take it off.

The ring was custom-made, worth more than I'd ever be comfortable saying out loud. It was one of the few real, tangible things left from my marriage to William. And from the very first day we were married — for reasons I never quite let myself examine — I never took it off.

I slipped my hand behind my back and gave a vague nod.

"Yeah. So, Jax — what do you feel like eating?"

But Jax wasn't letting it go. "Who is he?"

I went quiet, not sure how to answer that.

If William and I were actually happy together, I'd have no problem introducing them. But we weren't. We were heading for divorce.

"Jax, he and I are already —"

My phone cut me off.

Mary's ringtone — loud, impossible to ignore. I'd set it that way on purpose, so I'd never miss her call.

My stomach dropped.

Mary almost never called me anymore, not since the wedding. This had to be serious.

"Mary! What? I'm on my way!"

When I mentioned St. Mary's Group Home, Jax stopped asking questions. We grabbed a cab and got there as fast as we could.

---

The old front door of St. Mary's Group Home was wide open. Two expensive-looking cars sat parked out front.

I didn't even notice them. I ran straight to Mary.

"Mary! What's going on? What are they doing here?"

I stepped in front of her and spread my arms, eyes locked on the group of large men standing nearby.

"Miss Vance." Blake stepped forward from behind them, a contract in his hand. "Please don't make this harder than it needs to be."

My stomach sank.

"William sent you."

Hearing me say his name like that, Blake's brow tightened. His tone went cold.

"Miss Vance, watch yourself. What Mr. Holloway does is none of your concern."

My hands started to shake.

I was running on empty. Anything too intense and I'd fall apart. But for St. Mary's, I had to hold it together.

The Holloway family owned the property St. Mary's sat on. Three years ago, William had wanted to tear it down and build a mall. His grandmother, Sarah, had talked him out of it — for my sake. Now he was bringing it up again, and I knew exactly why.

I refused to take Chloe's case. This was his way of punishing me.

Something bitter rose in my throat. I swallowed it down.

I lifted my chin, jaw set, not backing down.

"We both know what William wants. Tell him I'll take the case. Now get these people out of here."

My voice cracked at the end. The anger and the helplessness were too much to keep in at once.

He was willing to do anything to force my hand — even use the people I loved most.

Blake looked conflicted. I think even he understood exactly why William had suddenly set his sights on St. Mary's.

Before he could respond, Jax — who hadn't said a word this whole time — spoke up. "William Holloway? The CEO of Holloway Group?"

Blake turned to look at him, mildly surprised. "That's right. Can I help you?"

Jax's hands balled into fists. A vein stood out on his forehead. Something about the look in his eyes made me uneasy.

I moved fast and stepped in front of him.

"He doesn't have anything to say. Blake, just pass along my message to William."

Blake glanced at Jax one more time, then turned and led everyone away.

I watched the two cars disappear from view — and then my legs gave out. I nearly hit the ground.

Mary grabbed me before I could fall, her face full of worry.

"Elena, you look exhausted. Are you okay?"

I'd caked on the makeup. And she still saw right through it.

I shook my head and was about to wave it off with some excuse, when Jax grabbed my wrist.

"Jax — that hurts!"

He was gripping too hard. I couldn't help but cry out.

He didn't seem to hear me. He pulled me around the corner, away from everyone else, his voice low and tight.

"What is William Holloway to you?"

What is he to me?

I didn't know how to answer that. I stayed quiet.

That only made Jax angrier.

He swung his fist into the wall beside him with a hollow thud.

"You could've worked anywhere. Why his company? Do you have any idea who put me in that place?"

I looked at him — eyes red, hands shaking — and felt something cold settle in my chest.

I already knew what he was going to say.

"William Holloway is the one who set me up."