He typed one response. Cancel the meeting. Then he turned off the phone.

Chapter 4 — Grandma’s House

Cassandra’s parents lived in a modest ranch house in Lakewood, where colored lights framed the roof and a crooked inflatable snowman leaned toward the driveway.

Damon arrived in a black SUV behind Cassandra’s rental car. He had expected wealth to make him feel powerful in every situation. Instead, standing on the front porch while Luke rang the doorbell repeatedly, he felt like a frightened twenty-year-old meeting a girlfriend’s parents for the first time.

The door opened. Margaret Hayes barely had time to smile before both twins rushed into her arms. “Grandma!” Cassandra’s father, Robert, appeared behind her in a red apron dusted with flour.

He hugged the children, then looked over their heads at Damon.

Cassandra inhaled. “Mom, Dad, this is Damon Prescott.”