Chapter 1

The moment Elina Griffin saw me clutching my mother's memorial portrait, she snatched it out of my hands. I lunged after it, but she was wearing heels. She simply lifted it higher than I could reach.

She looked the portrait up and down with a smirk. "Your old lady wasn't bad-looking. Too bad she had rotten luck and gave birth to someone like you."

She clicked her tongue. "You've been mooching off Talon for years, living in his house, eating his food, acting like you're the lady of the house. I've met shameless people before. But you're in a league of your own."

I reached for the frame again.

This time, she jerked it away.

The corner of the frame slammed against the edge of the trash can with a sharp crack. A jagged fracture spread across the glass.

"Didn't you hear me? Or are you deaf?"

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. Rage surged from my chest and lodged in my throat, burning behind my eyes.

My hand shot up before I could stop myself.

She reacted instantly.

Taking a quick step back, she transformed in the blink of an eye. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her lips trembled.

When she spoke again, her voice was soft and pitiful.

"P-Please don't hit me... I was only trying to help clean up the house. If I upset you, I'll apologize. Isn't that enough?"

I froze. My hand hung suspended in midair.

Then I noticed her glance toward the front door. Only then did I realize it was still open.

A door opened somewhere down the hallway. One of the neighbors was coming out.

Grinding my teeth, I lowered my hand and pulled out my phone and called Talon.

Ring...

Ring...

Ring...

No answer.

I called again.

Still nothing.

Elina leaned against the doorframe, watching me.

The instant the neighbor disappeared back inside, every trace of hurt vanished from her face. Her sneer returned.

"What? Calling Talon to tattle on me?"

She stepped closer.

"Who do you think you are? You've been freeloading in somebody else's house for years, and you've actually started believing you belong here? Talon's been keeping you around like a stray dog, and now you think you're the lady of the house?

"I'm throwing everything in there away today. If you know what's good for you, leave on your own before I have security drag you out."

I stared at her. The anger in my throat sank into the pit of my stomach, twisting into a hard knot. I turned the cracked frame over, carefully slipped it inside my jacket, and zipped the pocket shut.

I didn't call Talon again. Instead, I looked her in the eye. "I paid for half this house."

She blinked, then burst out laughing. "You? Paid for it?"

She looked me over from head to toe with open contempt. "You dropped out of school. Where exactly would someone like you get that kind of money? Saving up what you mooched off the men you hang around with?"

I didn't answer.

My mother, Greta Ranford, had left me the money before she died. My name was on the deed in black and white.

Elina didn't need to know any of that, but she wasn't throwing me out, either.

I brushed the dust from my jacket, picked up my bedsheet from beside the trash can, and flung it into her face.

"Wash it. Then give it back."

She looked ready to explode, but forced herself to keep smiling. "The sheets I bought are pure silk. The whole set cost over $8,000. I bet you've never slept on anything that expensive in your life."

Her smile turned mocking. "As for this piece of junk? I'd rather donate it to the janitors than waste my time washing it for you."

Then she deliberately ground the heel of her shoe into my bedsheet several times.

When I still didn't respond, she must have assumed I'd finally been intimidated. Her tone relaxed.

"Tell me something. Do any of those brothers actually care about you? They're all going to get married and have families someday. Don't tell me you thought you could live in Talon's house forever."

Elina leaned close enough for only me to hear. "I heard you already ruined the relationships of Talon's other brothers. But your luck just ran out. I'm not one of those pushovers you scared away before."

She had no idea why those four women had really left.

One had tried to scam her way into marriage. One had stolen the family's safe key. One had manipulated my brother into putting a house in her name. Another had called him nothing more than an ATM behind his back.

I hadn't destroyed good relationships. I'd gotten rid of disasters waiting to happen.

I was done wasting words on her. Annoyed, I shoved her toward the doorway.

"What? Jealous?" I said flatly.

Instead of backing off, she grabbed my shoulder and shoved me hard.