Chapter 2: The Girl Who Wanted to Leave

Riley entered the living room with a white lollipop in her mouth and her hands in her pockets.

The family waiting there seemed far more interested in the girl crying on the sofa than in the daughter they had finally found.

Chloe Sterling held Evelyn's hand. Evelyn was the woman who had given birth to Riley, although she had spent the last eighteen years raising Chloe as her daughter.

Victor Sterling stood nearby with his two sons, Adrian, the older one, and Blake.

"Dad, Mom, now that she's back, I should leave." Chloe's tears fell freely.

"But you've raised me for eighteen years. Adrian and Blake have loved me for eighteen years. I'll never forget everything you've done. I hope I can still come back to visit."

Blake caught her arm.

"No. You've lived with us for eighteen years. You're already our sister. If anyone leaves, it should be that feral girl."

Riley took the lollipop out of her mouth and gave a short laugh from the doorway.

Everyone turned. Their expressions held wariness and distaste, not welcome.

Chloe gathered her skirt and hurried over. She dropped to her knees, clutching the hem of Riley's jacket.

"You must be my sister. I'm sorry. I took your place. It's all my fault. A girl like me doesn't deserve to stay here. I'll go live in poverty to make it up to you."

Blake charged toward them and pointed at Riley.

"She's crying like this, and you're just standing there?"

Riley looked down at Chloe.

"What does her crying have to do with me? Or do you need me to straighten her out?"

Adrian approached with his hands in his pockets.

"You've only been back a day—"

Riley slapped Chloe before he could finish.

The sharp sound stopped everyone. Chloe's head snapped sideways, and she fell into a sitting position on the floor.

"Cry, cry, cry," Riley said. "You're crying this whole family apart."

Chloe pressed a hand to her cheek, tears still running.

"You hit me."

"What the hell are you doing?" Blake lunged forward and put himself between them.

Evelyn rushed over and lifted Chloe's face in both hands.

"Are you hurt? Let Mom see."

Victor and Adrian crowded close, looking worried.

"Dad, Mom, Adrian, Blake…" Chloe glanced at them weakly. "She doesn't seem to like me. I should go."

She started to move. Blake caught her again, then rounded on Riley.

"We wouldn't touch a hair on her head. How dare you hit her?"

Riley rubbed the side of her neck and returned the lollipop to her mouth. Perhaps she'd misunderstood. Hadn't they just asked her to discipline a child?

She stepped closer.

"You really want to leave?"

"I should leave. I should give you back your place."

Soon Chloe was standing outside the front door with a black suitcase, staring at the closed entrance. It opened again. Riley stood on the other side, hands in her pockets.

"Don't worry. With me here, nobody's going to stop you."

She shut the door firmly.

Chloe remained on the steps, stunned. Somewhere nearby, a dog barked.

Inside, the rest of the family stared anxiously toward the entrance. Riley came back, brushing her hands together.

"Another day of doing good deeds."

"My Chloe!" Evelyn cried.

She ran for the door, with Adrian and Blake close behind. Riley put her hands on her hips and watched them go.

Blake and Victor returned looking furious.

"She lived here for eighteen years," Blake demanded. "What gives you the right to throw her out?"

"Am I part of this family?" Riley asked.

"You're my daughter," Victor said sternly. "Of course you are."

"There you go. I'm your actual child, and what's-her-name has been staying here for eighteen years. A host can see a guest out."

"So what if you're our biological sister?" Blake pointed at her. "To Adrian and me, she's our only sister. Some stray from God knows where doesn't get to throw her out. I'll teach you how to behave."

He swung a fist at her face.

Riley remained still until it was almost upon her. Then she caught his fist, twisted his wrist, and stopped him cold. Pain and surprise replaced his anger.

He tried to grab her. She kept hold of his wrist and threw him over her shoulder.

Blake hit the floor hard and curled around his aching stomach. Victor stared in shock. Riley dusted off her hands.

It had to be brute strength, Blake told himself. Nothing else. That country girl couldn't have beaten him any other way.

"Get up, Blake." Victor bent to help him.

Evelyn returned with Chloe and the suitcase.

"Stay here," she told Chloe. "Where else could you go?"

Chloe approached the others, her eyes red.

"It's not that I don't want to leave. Mom, Dad, and my brothers won't let me."

She leaned into Evelyn, comforted by the sight of them defending her. Being their biological daughter didn't matter. Chloe was still the one they loved most.

"You've lived here for eighteen years," Evelyn said. "How could I let you go back to some poor little town?"

"I knew you loved me most, Mom."

Adrian's face darkened as he turned to Riley.

"Chloe is kind. That doesn't mean the rest of us will let you run wild. Touch her again, and I'll send you right back where you came from."

Riley stretched, then pointed at Chloe.

"Oh. I get it. She was lying about leaving. From now on, I'll treat anything she says as hot air."

"Riley!" Blake snapped.

"Enough." Victor's voice cut through the room. "One is my flesh and blood. One is the daughter I've raised for eighteen years. They're both my daughters, and we can afford them both. You will get along."

"Yes. Both our daughters," Evelyn said quickly. Then she turned to Riley. "Say less, sweetheart. Chloe's been spoiled since she was little. Give her a break."

"I've never given anybody a break."

Blake's face twisted.

"Are you trying to piss us off?"

"Stop it. Mrs. Doyle!" Evelyn called.

The housekeeper hurried into the room in her green uniform.

"Take Riley to her bedroom."

"Yes, Mrs. Sterling."

Riley followed her out, giving the family one last look. Blind parents, a sly older brother, a violently stupid younger brother, and a manipulative little sister. Interesting.

Mrs. Doyle led her upstairs, stopped on the landing, and indicated a room.

"That's yours. Go on in."

Riley nodded. She watched the housekeeper leave, then turned toward the heavy double doors. She pressed the ornate brass handle, drew a breath, and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

The room was dim and expensive, but it was a mess. Bedding lay tangled on the bed. The closet stood open, clothes scattered below it. Riley looked around warily.

Someone had taped red paper letters to the window.

RUN.

She glanced down, kicked aside a white pillow, and walked to the carved chaise at the foot of the bed. A dark-green notebook lay there.

She picked it up and opened it. Photographs were pinned inside, joined by red string.

Someone had scrawled RUN AWAY! across the pages and surrounded the pictures with warnings: violent, cruel, vicious, ruthless, sneaky, shameless.

A figure appeared in the partly open doorway. Chloe leaned against the frame with her arms folded.

"You think being a Sterling is easy?"

Riley paused but didn't turn. She kept looking at the notebook.

"Once you find out what this family's really like, you won't have the guts to stay."

Riley closed the notebook slowly.

"Doesn't make sense to me."

She tossed it neatly into the trash can.

Chloe's face tightened, surprise briefly interrupting her spite. In the trash, the notebook fell open to the large red warning.