Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

A smug smile crept onto her face, and she didn't even bother to hide it.

"Simon, I've been moving up while you've been stuck in the same place for ages. Didn't you say you were going to take Clara and start a new life somewhere else? So what happened? Haven't gotten around to it? Or is it just that you don't have a chance—makes sense, since you can't even get into Palm Bay anymore, and you've pretty much lost your voice in the Ferguson family. Lately, the old man can't get enough of Dylan—amnesia or not, Dylan's clearly his favorite now. The rest of you? Just background characters."

Her words landed right where Simon was most sensitive.

Simon's face flushed, a wave of humiliation washing over him.

But he and Megan were in this together; no need to blow things up.

He swallowed his anger and forced his voice to stay steady. "I asked you here because I wanted to know if you found anything new in Palm Bay. Remember what I said—if we could pin Clara's boyfriend's death on Dylan... Did you find anything? Even the smallest lead?"

Megan's lips curled into a slight smile. Of course she'd found something, but why should she share it with him? Wasn't he always the one who looked down on her?

She took a slow sip of coffee, then stood up. "I haven't found a thing. Let's not meet again. I thought you might have something useful for me, but it turns out you're just here to dig for my info. I'm not about to put myself at risk-Clara still trusts me, and I plan to keep it that way."

She moved to leave, but suddenly everything went black. She nearly collapsed, grabbing the edge of the table for support, staring at Simon in disbelief.

"Are you out of your mind? Did you drug me?"

Had Simon really hit rock bottom? He'd actually put something in her coffee-was he that desperate?

As she started to lose consciousness, Simon's voice drifted over, soft and almost calm.

"You said Clara still trusts you. If I kidnap you, she'll come to save you. That means you're my best shot. Megan, you should be grateful you're still useful— otherwise, I would've gotten rid of you a long time ago."

of satisfaction. He slammed a cup down, itching to call Clara right then and there, wanting

his expression dark as he stared at Megan's unconscious

*

the night to her phone ringing. This

kidnapped Megan-he wants you to come save her." Clara thought she must have misheard.

to

me himself. I guess he figured out I've been meeting with

a deep breath. No wonder she'd felt like she was

her forehead.

close

been before

Megan had always treated her

up and headed downstairs. "Where did he

cliff on the edge of town. He tied Megan's rope to his own-if anything happens to him,

against the wall, anxiety burning in her

to

as she started her car, Palm Bay's security team appeared beside her.

head. This was between her

Simon was a little unstable, but she never thought he'd go this far-risking even his own

drove to

family matriarch