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“Shoes speak louder than words.”

– Jimmy Choo

Eight years earlier…

Sierra Lourde reached up with trembling fingers and touched the delicate chain around her neck.

The breath stuttered in her lungs, making it difficult to grab a deep inhale.

With half closed eyes, she fought for control.

This was the most important day of her life. She could not lose her shit.

The white wedding dress itched her skin.

The veil tickled her nose.

Her pearl-encrusted Jimmy Choo shoes—which she’d scored for fifty percent off—pinched her feet.

And she felt moments away from doing the runaway bride thing.

Mom, am I making the right decision?

The desperate question pinged from her thoughts into the universe. Sierra waited for an answer. A sign. Anything to help her calm down, open the door, and walk down the aisle to the man she was supposed to desperately love.

After a few precious moments, her eyes flew wide open as her answer echoed in the small waiting room of the chapel.

Nothing.

What had she expected? Neither of her parents had given any type of sign they were still with her over the past year. All of those people who gushed about feeling energy and receiving signs were liars. Or even worse?

Mom and Dad didn’t care enough to stick around to watch over their daughters.

The pain flared, raw and messy, but as usual, she had stuff to deal with and little time for self-reflection. In a few minutes, she was set to marry Patrick. Her first serious boyfriend. Her first love.

He was a good man.

They’d met in college, and he was easy to be with, easy to care for.

Besides being kind, he was ambitious and would provide a good financial foundation.

God knows, since there wasn’t much life insurance after her parents’ death, she needed a solid plan to keep taking care of her sister, Aspen.

The bitterness mixed with her grief, offering a cocktail that didn’t taste like champagne.

Once, she’d been like Aspen, and believed her parents were living the ultimate love story.

All of her friends dealt with divorce or conflict.

They were jealous of her parents’ constant honeymoon phase, even if the physical affection was sometimes embarrassing.

It was only later Sierra began to lose the rosy blinders and realize the cost of such an intense love was ranking second. Or third.

Mom and Dad always chose each other first.

Sierra and Aspen were often left alone.

Her parents were on a lifelong adventure that didn’t seem to include their children.

How many times had she woken up to find Mom and Dad packing to leave for a big outing, confident Sierra and Aspen could take care of themselves? How many times had they forgotten to leave groceries, or pay bills—too focused on their next big experience?

Sierra was in fifth grade the first time they decided she could handle a long weekend by herself.

She’d tried so hard not to be a baby and cry; to be adult enough to take care of Aspen while her parents took a vacay.

At night, she’d been terrified of the dark and the creepy noises coming from the basement, dreaming of monsters snatching them forever.

When her parents called Sunday night to let her know they were delayed, Sierra dealt with breakfast, packing lunches, and making sure they made the bus for school.

Mom and Dad declared she’d done so well, they felt comfortable doing it again.

And now, those exact pursuits had caused their deaths.

A last-minute island trip on a small single engine plane ended in disaster.

The crash killed the pilot and her parents instantly.

Once again, leaving Sierra alone and in charge.

She paced back and forth, her long train trailing behind her.

This past year had been a blur and nonstop roller coaster ride.

Endless nights crying with her sister and puzzling out their next steps.

Struggling to make sure Aspen had what she needed to continue college.

Packing up her parents’ belongings and quickly becoming the adult she needed to be.

When Patrick proposed everything had suddenly made sense.

She’d have both stability and a way to keep Aspen in college.

It was time to grow up and make some tough decisions for her life.

Who cared if she was suddenly having doubts about how much she loved him?

Sierra grew up knowing love was the most important thing to live for.

Mom always advised to choose a partner who completed your heart and changed your life.

She’d show them endless movies and cite books where love saved everyone in the end.

Aspen had fallen into the dreamy goal, and was now embroiled in a relationship with her English professor.

Sierra disapproved of the whole toxic affair, but Aspen insisted Mom would’ve understood.

Sierra may not feel the magical butterflies with Patrick, but it was a decision best made with her head rather than heart.

After all, look what had happened to her parents.

To Aspen.

To anyone who sacrificed everything to go after a reckless longing of the heart.

Disaster.

Pain.

Death.

She’d be different.

Marrying Patrick would be the start.

The breath suddenly rushed into her lungs as she confirmed her decision.

Sierra listened to the mocking silence.

Her hand rose to her neck again, running her index finger across the smooth white gold surface, the slight bump of rubies spelling out the word LOVE.

Her mother’s favorite necklace burned her skin in a sense of betrayal.

Slowly, she unclasped the chain and tucked it into her beaded clutch.

It didn’t feel right to wear Mom’s bold motto.

She was choosing a different type of relationship, with a man who was steady, trustworthy, and safe.

A better type of love. Sierra would commit all she had to make him happy and build a life of stability for both of them.

Calmness settled over her.

The final door within slammed closed, shutting out the remnants of hope that her mother would appear and give her all the answers.

The tears of grief stuck in her throat as she swallowed them back.

From now on, she’d focus on the things she could control and move forward.

Sierra adjusted her veil.

Smoothed her palms down her dress.

Stepped through the door where her sister waited.

And got married.

One year ago…

Kane Masterson sat in the holding room and waited for the lawyer to spring him from jail.

He clenched his fists to stop the shaking. It was just a mistake. He’d done nothing wrong, and eventually he’d be back in his office while John laughed his ass off about the whole experience, telling him it’d be a great story to tell one day.

His sluggish mind kept repeating the words thrown at him.

You have the right to remain silent…

You have the right to an attorney…

Fraud…

Embezzlement…

A shudder wracked him. He hated the way he felt at this moment; just like he did when he was a kid dealing with filth and violence.

Shamed. Dirty.

A failure.

Kane drew in a breath and calmed his mind.

He was a grown-up, dammit.

He closed million-dollar deals, wore Armani suits, and was a power player in the most competitive city in the world.

He’d worked for Global Investments as the top property developer for a few years now. One mistaken night in jail couldn’t take away his accomplishments.

God, he hoped his brother didn’t find out. Derek needed to focus on himself during rehab, and this would set him off.

The door flung open and a guy in a sharp charcoal suit walked in. His whole presence stunk of lawyer—from the slicked back hair, conservative clothes, and sharp-eyed, predatory gaze. He placed his leather briefcase on the crappy table and reached out his hand.

“Gary Parkers. John sent me.”

Relief coursed through him.

“Kane Masterson. Thank God, you’re here. Did you talk to them about the charges? None of them are true—I’m not sure what the hell is going on but I spent the night in here.”

Gary didn’t seem bothered by him locked in a cell with a toilet and dirty cot. He took a seat on the folding chair across, opened his case, and began shuffling papers. Kane would have felt better if the guy had a laptop and immediately apologized about the misunderstanding, but at this point, he didn’t know what was going on in this Black Mirror hell.

“I’ve gone over the charges and spoken with the partners at Global. I’ll be honest here. There aren’t many great options.”

Kane blinked.

“What? I’m innocent. I never touched any funds—they’re all John’s accounts.”

Gary looked up. Ice trickled down his spine as Kane realized there was something else going on. Something bigger that he never even considered. And in this moment, his whole life was going to change.

“You had full access,”

Gary said sharply.

“You were able to move money around and the trail clearly shows large amounts of money being withdrawn and disappearing. Global wants to press full charges. With the evidence they have and their legal team, you’re looking at serving ten to fifteen years.”

Kane shut down the threatening panic and forced his brain to work. It took him a few moments to begin looking at the whole situation with cold rationale.

“Gary, are you my lawyer? Or Global’s?”

“Neither. I’m John’s lawyer. I’ve come to offer you a way out.”

He stared at the man’s neutral features; his perfect hair; his thin lips. But it was his eyes that finally gave it away. Shrewd. Manipulative.

The truth hit him like a tsunami.

He’d been framed.

Kane clenched his fists tighter as the room spun. John, his mentor, his boss, had set him up. The man he trusted with his life had stolen those funds and had sent his shark to make sure the truth never came out.

He’d been so stupid. Hadn’t he learned not to trust anyone in this fucked-up world? And now he’d pay.

Kane let the numbness wash over his body, even as his mind fired up.

“I see. You’re here to cut a deal.”

Gary continued without answering.

“John thinks highly of you. Doesn’t want something like this to ruin the rest of your life, or take away your freedom. He’ll talk to the partners and make this whole thing go away. The charges will be dropped. You’ll leave Global. And everything will stay quiet. You’ll just need to agree not to talk about the situation with anyone, or work at another competitor here in New York.”

Yes. It made sense now. John could cover his crime by framing him, but it would only work if Kane disappeared.

“Is there a payout?”

he asked coldly.

“No. You walk away with nothing. Everything gets wiped away.”

Holy fuck. All of his money was tied up in the company, and he’d just used all of his cash to invest in a high-risk deal John had encouraged him to do.

Still, in that moment, he didn’t care. He’d fight. He’d expose the truth. He was innocent and damned if he’d let another monster ruin him.

“Fuck you,”

he said calmly.

“You tell John I’ll be his worst nightmare.”

Gary didn’t even flinch. A small smile played upon those thin lips.

“Too bad. I’m sure your brother will be disappointed to be thrown out of rehab.”

Shock hit him. Derek. He’d forgotten about Derek. He was finally at a top-notch place that cost thousands after almost losing him brother to drugs and suicide. How could he pull him out of the first rehab that was actually working?

It was over then. Kane knew it. So did Gary.

John had played his trump card. There was only one vow Kane would never break; a vow that had kept him surviving through it all.

Protect his brother at all costs.

His life wasn’t a movie of the week. It was reality, and the ones with the most money and power always won.

Slowly, Kane nodded.

“If I agree, Derek’s rehab needs to be paid in full. I’ll want it in writing.”

“Understood. So, you agree?”

A part of him died in that moment; the last ounce of innocence and hope he’d been holding onto, but there was only one answer.

“I agree.”