Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

The air in the room got heavy, tension crackling just beneath the surface.

No one wanted to be the first to speak. It wasn't that they didn't want to call Dylan out-everyone was thinking it—but no one knew for sure if this was the end for him or just another bump in the road. If they stepped out of line and Dylan came out ahead, they'd be the ones paying for it later.

Only Aaron dared to break the silence.

"Grandpa, the reason I haven't been around the Ferguson house lately is because Dylan's had me locked up. If your men hadn't dragged me here today, I'd still be locked away right now."

People started glancing at each other, whispers breaking out at last.

"Dylan, you've gone too far. No matter what Aaron did, he's still your nephew. How could you treat him like some kind of enemy?"

"Exactly. He's family, and you're supposed to set an example as an elder."

Aaron just snorted, a cold, bitter laugh. None of them had the guts to say what they really meant.

He shot to his feet, voice sharp and loud. "And another thing I think Dylan had something to do with my brother Lincoln's death!"

The room froze. Dead silent.

When Lincoln died, Walter himself had ordered an investigation, but it turned up nothing. After Aaron came back from overseas, he'd butted heads with Dylan again and again—always losing.

Now he was accusing Dylan of murder. Maybe he finally had proof.

the first time, something flickered in his eyes. "Do you

steady and unafraid. "Dylan's in a rush to send Eden away—isn't that suspicious enough? Eden's stuck to him for years and never got close to anyone else. Who knows what she's been wrapped up in with Dylan? If

hit the

thing was he was right. Eden really did know

all these years, Dylan had never let anyone at the Ferguson estate see what he was really feeling. That unreadable calm made

but Dylan was the one

his fingertips to his temples, brow furrowed tight. "Dylan, did

sleeve, voice casual. "For the

།

mocking. "What a hero you are, Dylan. Weren't you the one who leaked

me?" Dylan's eyes swept the room, calm and steady.

looked at each

course, they

turned

only one in this family who knew about Eden's

brother knew," Dylan

words, but the entire

uncomfortable from the start, and now his face burned red. But when he met Dylan's gaze, all his fight just drained

and sharp. "Michael, did you

Maybe Dylan had told

face was hot

facen