Arranged to the Don, Freed from the Lie novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Phoebe

We ran.

I had my coat over my nightgown and my feet bare on the gravel, and Santino had his hand clamped around mine.

His men were already spreading out across the lawn.

The black sedan from Providence sat at the far end of the drive, under the oak tree, with its parking lights on.

Harrison stood beside the sedan's back door in his shirtsleeves.

He had one hand on the handle.

"Harrison!" I shouted.

He turned, and for a moment his friendly face was back.

"Helena. Go back to bed. Everything's under control."

"Where's my sister?"

"She's perfectly fine."

The sedan's back window slid down two inches.

I saw a pale hand press against the glass, and Phoebe's braid.

Her mouth was taped, and her eyes were furious.

My temper went cold and clear.

"Open the door," I said.

"I can't do that."

"Open it."

"Helena, it's a safeguard. The man from Providence wants collateral until Sunday. It's only a night, and she's safe. I'd never let anything happen to her."

"You gave my sister to a stranger."

"I gave the Council's debt a guarantee."

Santino let go of my hand.

He walked across the gravel toward the car without hurrying, and six men moved with him.

The front door of the sedan opened, and the man in the camel coat got out.

"Mr. Carraro," he said. "Good evening."

"Open the door."

"I'm afraid it's not your debt."

"I know whose debt it is. Open the door."

"Then you can see the problem. This girl is Crowninshield property. Her family has put her up as surety. If I let her go, I'm out two million dollars and a promise."

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