Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 711

She pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to rub away the tiredness clinging to her. It felt like she hadn't slept at all her mind was foggy, buzzing with scattered memories she couldn't quite catch.

All she really wanted was to crawl back under the covers, but Charles's voice cut through her daze.

"So, who's after you this time? How many people did they send?" he asked, sounding way too upbeat for this conversation. "Sis, since your big brother's here, why don't we go settle the score? You don't look so great, either. Come on, let's get some air."

It took Clara a second to really see him, her brain slow to catch up. "Bro?" she echoed, puzzled.

Charles, as clueless as ever, didn't notice anything off about her. He just grinned, eyes shining. "Yeah! So are you coming or not? I swear, those guys' clothes looked familiar... Like, I've seen them before-maybe when I was out, uh... doing my thing."

He talked about killing people like it was nothing, then suddenly slapped his forehead. "Wait, that's it! Sis, I think I've got a lead. Want to go get even?"

Clara glanced down at the diamonds in her lap-she wasn't sure what was going on, but figured she might as well take what she could get.

She managed a small smile. "Alright."

Charles practically dragged her out of bed and over to the table.

Ryan, totally in sync, scooped up the diamonds and tucked them away.

on Mitch's territory in North America. Normally, Mitch wouldn't care about small-time guys like that, but this idiot started bragging when he was drunk-said he'd hooked

A rehab center?

she

and suddenly, a memory flickered to life. She

and hurried

bubbling pot. She pulled out her earbuds as soon as she saw

she hadn't heard anything

herbal soup, blowing gently on the surface. "This is for Clara. Good for her, whether she's hurt

wake up?"

in one go, then picked

moving in with Ryan, Emily's life had gotten a lot better. She was smart enough not to bother him, spending her days tinkering with old remedies around the

Ryan for trusting her for giving her

her new life, and she worked hard to pay them back

to the other room, her eyes lighting up when she saw Clara

important she was forgetting. Her

really knows her stuff when it comes to alternative medicine.

the empty bowl aside.