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.

and launched into his story. "A few years ago, I took someone out. Can't remember his name-there've been too many. He tried to move in 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 up with the Chester family's princess. Bad move. She's off-limits. Mitch

A rehab center?

felt like she should remember

memory flickered to life. She turned

and hurried to the

out her earbuds as soon

heard anything

a bowl of herbal soup, blowing gently on the surface. "This is for Clara. Good for her, whether she's hurt or not. This one's yours-it'll

Clara wake

his medicine in one go, then picked up Clara's bowl. "Come with me," he

was smart enough not to bother him,

for trusting her for giving her money to buy herbs and letting

she worked hard to pay them back by getting better at what

Ryan to the other room, her eyes lighting

something important she was forgetting. Her memories were all jumbled

front of her. "Drink this, Clara. Emily really knows her stuff when it comes to alternative medicine. I've been drinking her soups lately,

finished it in a single gulp, setting the empty bowl aside. "Emily, what's the name of your