“You’re obviously hysterical from exhaustion, Cassie, so let your uncle deal with the legal mess,” he said.

“You’ve been meddling in our lives twenty years too long, Patrick,” I said, my voice ringing off the walls.

Just behind me, the kitchen door creaked open, and Lucas strode into the dining room.

Patrick’s smug smile disappeared at once, replaced by a pale, savage fury that twisted his polished features.

“Get that filthy bum out of Joanne’s house before I call the county sheriff,” Patrick snarled, jabbing a finger.

I stepped right into the space between them, standing shoulder to shoulder with the man from the alley.