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Craig leaned against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest. "I remember you, you know."

"What?" I asked, looking up from the file in my hand.

"From when we were kids. I pretty much grew up here in the center, and I remember you and your mother."

"Mom loved this place." I sighed. "She spent so much time here. I can't really say I'm surprised you remember."

He moved into the room, settling into the other chair. "Prudence meant a lot to a lot of people. So did you. I'm sure you probably don't remember how we actually met." His voice trailed off, his eyes growing distant. "I think some of the girls were giving you shit. I don't really know. I just remember findingyou as they were running away from the big tree in the old playground and your hand was cut pretty bad."

A memory surfaced as if summoned by his words. I was maybe eight or nine and desperately wanted to be accepted by a group of girls who came to the center every day after school. They had told me I didn't belong, that I would only be good enough for them if I could climb to the top of the old oak on the playground and carve my initials into its branches.

Like any other child my age, I couldn't let it go. One of them had handed me a knife they'd stolen from the kitchens, and I had carried it all the way to the top. I'd been proud of myself for not backing down right up until I was nearly back on the ground. I couldn't recall exactly what happened, but I had cut the palm of my hand just before I reached the bottom of the tree. The girls had scattered the moment they saw my bleeding hand, unwilling to face the consequences they knew would come.

A boy around eleven had been drawn by their hasty departure. I could clearly remember the way his blue eyes focused on my injury, his lips pursed in concentration as he pressed the bottom of his shirt against it to stem the bleeding.

"That was you?" I asked, my voice hushed.

"That was me." He chuckled. "You were pretty worried about what your mom would do if she found out what happened. It took longer to calm you down and convince you that falling on glass was a believable lie than it did to patch up your hand."

"I honestly thought my mom would keep me from coming back, and I loved spending time here after school. The kids were just so much morerealthan the stuffy private school kids I was used to." I laughed. "I never did figure out how a kid only a couple years older than me knew how to patch up a cut like that, though. You were so sweet and patient with me."

"You sound surprised by that." He chuckled.

"Well, I mean, you guys are… you. I know everyone thinks I'm some dumb naive girl, but I'm not stupid. I've been around the center since I was a kid. I know how to spot a criminal when I see one." I replied with a pointed look.

"I know what you think of us, Princess, but we aren't the bad guys." He replied, causing me to roll my eyes. "Okay, we are the bad guys, but we're not bad men and we weren't always gangsters."

His words echoed Joey's from the day before. I opened my mouth to respond, intending to make a snarky comment about how Az had tried to kidnap me. Then, the five of them had inserted themselves into my life. But, I was interrupted by Mrs. McMillan strolling into the office.

"Sorry that took so long," she smiled down at Craig. "Here's the supply room key. I really appreciate you doing this for the center."

"Any time, Mrs. McMillan." Craig replied, standing from his seat and taking the key from her outstretched hand. "Gotta make sure this place stays a safe space for the kids."

They left the office, discussing the new security measures Craig planned to implement, closing the door behind them. Part of me wanted to chase him down and demand he explain himself. I didn't understand how these men could keep insisting they weren't evil when one of them had sabotaged my gala and tried to abduct me.

Huffing, I forced my thoughts aside and turned my focus back to the file I'd laid on the desk. With the gala going up in flames, there hadn't been as many donations as usual, and the center was running low on funds. The file had the information of everyone who had ever donated to the center. Taking a breath to center myself, I flipped it open, placing my finger under the first line, and began making calls.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Az

With Leighton out on the hunt, I'd found an uneasy peace with Victoria. We had an unspoken agreement to avoid one another. It didn't hurt that our legitimate businesses kept me busy, and Victoria seemed to be on a mission to antagonize Rich over his rules. I almost felt sorry for him, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't find the power play between them amusing.

I was enjoying some much-needed downtime, watching a game on the TV in the great room when arguing in the foyer caught my attention. With a frustrated sigh, I stood from the couch and strode from the room to see what was happening.

"What part of I'm a grown ass woman and I will go where I please, when I please, did you not understand?" Victoria shrieked.

Rich looked fit to explode, his jaw tensing as he worked to keep his temper under control. "The part where you continue to act like a spoiled fucking brat, Princess." He snarled.

Victoria stomped toward him, jabbing him in the chest with one perfectly manicured finger. "I am going to the center. You can't fucking stop me. I don't give a shit that Craig isn't here to take me. I. Am. Going."

Rich grabbed her wrist and tugged her closer so that her chest brushed his with every heaving breath she took. "You'renot leaving the manor, Victoria. Not without an escort and I am too fucking busy to babysit you today." He seethed.

"Fuck you,dad." She snarled, jerking free of his hold. "What are you gonna do, anyway? Spank me?"

I couldn't stop the laugh that tore from my throat. Their heads whipped toward me, two sets of angry eyes narrowing on me.

"I didn't think you'd be here today," Rich said, his expression slowly changing into something that told me I'd made a grave mistake. "Since you are. You can take her." He grabbed Victoria's wrist and dragged her toward me, practically tossing her to me before he turned on his heel and stormed away.