Page 155 of First Chance

“Until the day I die, darlin’.”

She tries to hide it, but I feel the sadness sweep over her. We both know that tomorrow, she won’t be here for me to protect.

* * *

Jo: I told them what Conrad did, and they don’t believe me. They’re taking his side.

Jo: They took my car. They won’t let me leave.

Lochlan: I should have come with you.

Lochlan: Jo?

Lochlan: Missed Call

Lochlan: Missed Call

Lochlan: I’m coming for you.

The twisting in my gut increases every mile closer I get to her father’s estate and every minute that I don’t hear from her…

They wouldn’t hurt her. They wouldn’t.

Politicians are the worst type of criminals.

Would they hurt her?

I’m not taking the chance. I’ve already almost lost her this week, and I refuse to let a hair be harmed on her head.

Her BMW is sitting in the driveway when I pull up to the gates. They’re more secure than mine, with a guard standing in a booth.

“How may I help you, sir?” The guard asks. He’s an older man, wearing a ball cap over his graying hair.

“I’m here to see JoAnna.”

“Ah, friends with our Jo girl, huh? I haven’t seen her much this summer.”

“I’m her fiancé.”

“Well, I’ll be. Why didn’t you say so?” He buzzes the gates, and they swing open. I nod him my thanks and drive through.

Pulling the fiancé card might have been unnecessary, especially since our charade has come to an end, but it rolls off the tongue too easily.

I meet more resistance at the front door, except this man is wearing a suit. He’s either a nicely dressed security guard or a butler of some sort.

“How can I help you, sir?”

If one more person asks me that damn question before I set my eyes on Jo, I’m going to lose my fucking mind.

“I’m here for Jo.”

“JoAnna?” He asks curiously as if he’s never heard her nickname.

That’s all the reason I need to push past him, forcing my way inside. He calls after me as I stride down the long marble hall.

Raised voices are coming from a room with double wooden doors, and I don’t hesitate to blow them wide open.

I find Jo first, sitting by herself on a small sofa. Her father is standing behind a desk, her mother standing behind him on one side, as her brother paces in front of the desk.

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