Baby Makes 7: A Military Reverse

Harem Romance (Her Glow Up Harem

Series Book 3) Kai Lesy
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 BABY MAKES 7

A MILITARY REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE

KAI LESY
 CO N T E N T S

Author’s Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue I
Epilogue II
Tapped Out Single Mom (Preview)
 DESCRIPTION
A family of seven!? How did I get this freaking lucky?”

Before meeting Kellan, Fallon and Luke, I was a homeless single mother.
Escaping an abusive ex, with two small children to feed.
The gorgeous men of my dreams offered more than just shelter in their spectacular mansion;
They gave me love, a sense of belonging, and…
A beautiful baby boy.
Yet just when I find peace my younger sister goes missing.
She’s caught up in a dark world that threatens to swallow her whole - and anyone that gets in the way.

Can our newfound happiness withstand this storm that threatens to tear us apart?
This is book three and the final chapter in Avery's glow up. It's a single mom's reverse harem romance filled with humor,
danger, and generous amounts of love. It also contains blistering hot MFMM, ménage fun times, in single and multiple
partner scenes so HOT they're bound to melt your kindle! HEA guaranteed.
 AUTHOR’S NOTE
Dear readers,
Please be aware that the following content addresses the topic of human trafficking, and abuse within the context of discussions and non-graphic descriptions.
Please proceed with care if you find this subject matter sensitive. Remember, your well-being and mental health are important.

With Love,
Kai Lesy
 1

A VE RY

"I can’t believe this," I whisper under my breath.

I'm facing my estranged mother after what feels like an eternity.
The years have not been kind to her. Once a beacon of beauty and brilliance, Louella Smith's glow has dimmed. Her once
radiant presence, celebrated for its charm and intelligence, now feels like a shadow of its former self.
The tragedy of Dad's cancer was a storm that no one could have prepared for. His death left a gaping hole in our family,
plunging Mom into a downward spiral. Alcohol, prescription drugs, and nights lost to the city's underbelly became her refuge,
leaving my sister Lauren and me to fend for ourselves.
Despite being barely a tween, I took on the role of caretaker, ensuring we didn't go hungry with whatever I could muster from
the frozen food aisle. Mitch's arrival only compounded our troubles, ushering in a new era of chaos.
“I’m telling you, honey, I haven’t seen Lauren in at least seven years. Could be eight. I’m not even sure anymore,” Mom says,
looking like a deflated beach ball in her pale yellow and green dress, lounging on a sofa in dire need of a deep steam cleaning.
Her blonde hair is mostly white now, wiry and unkempt, loosely captured in a scrunchie. Deep wrinkles have added too much
depth to her face, making her look older than she is, and the dark circles under her eyes speak of constant self-abuse.
“She left about a year after you and Danny got hitched, and that was the last time I saw her. How is Danny, by the way?”
Kellan clears his throat in an uncomfortable fashion, occupying one of the guest chairs.
I’ve got the other one, and a cluttered coffee table reigns chaotically between us and the sofa my mother is seated on. The more
I observe, the more depressing this whole place feels. This isn’t my home anymore. It hasn’t been home since Dad died. I
always felt like an unwanted guest here after he was gone. Maybe that’s why it was easier for me to leave it all behind.
“Dead,” Kellan replies bluntly, looking dashing as always in his dark green sheriff’s uniform. “He was a serial abuser and a
homicidal maniac.”
“Oh, no,” Mom gasps. I’m sure she’d clutch pearls had she been wearing any. “How did that happen?” she looks at me,
seemingly surprised.
I wish I had more sympathy for this woman, but I realized a long time ago that I loved a mother who died along with my father.
The mother that lived on wasn’t a mother at all. She was merely a shell of who she used to be, and Lauren and I were left to
pick up the scattered pieces of the life we once had.
We didn’t deserve what she and Mitch put us through. We were just children, innocent kids who needed love, affection, and
protection. Instead, we were Mom’s swear jar and Mitch’s punching bag, on a daily rotation. If I got smacked around, then
Lauren would be called horrible names and vice versa. What a way to grow up. No wonder I ran off and married the first prick
that would have me.
Unfortunately, I had to leave Lauren behind, and now, nobody knows where she is.
The guilt is enough to eat me alive.
“Forget Daniel,” I tell Mom. “We’re here to talk about Lauren. We’ve been looking for her for weeks, now. She’s off the grid.
No bank account, no listed address, nothing.”
“Well, I don’t know, honey, she—”
“Wait a minute now. You were responsible for her. ” I cut her off, the blood boiling in my veins. You’re her mother! Let’s set
aside how badly you failed me, Mom, and let’s talk about Lauren, because you’re making it sound like she left and abandoned
you. And we both know that’s not what happened.”
Mom narrows her eyes at me. “That’s exactly what she did. She left me to handle Mitch all on my own. He got worse with age,
Avery. A hard man to put up with.”
“You’re the one who married him and brought him into this house!”
“I had to cover our expenses somehow!” she defends. “What, did you think your father’s life insurance policy would keep us
cozy for the rest of your adult lives? Don’t be naïve.”
“Right, because working for money was always such a chore for you,” I shoot back with a dry scoff. “You needed Mitch for the
money. You brought him in to beat us and belittle us because hey, at least he paid the gas bill on time. Right?”
Kellan cuts in before Mom can respond. “We should stay focused on Lauren,” he says, his voice firm and unwavering as his
gaze darts between the two of us. “Now, you said you saw Lauren seven or eight years ago. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Mom sighs and leans back into the sofa. Apparently the battle with me knocked the wind out of her. “She said goodbye
and left. I haven’t seen or heard from her since.”
“Did she take anything with her?” I ask.
“Just a suitcase. The cherry red one your father bought for you,” she says. “The one he wanted you to have for college. How’d
that work out, by the way?”
There’s a tinge of contempt in her question, but once again, Kellan steers the conversation away to avoid further tension.
“Did Lauren tell you where she was going?”
I can only love him more for navigating through this shit show so calmly.
“No. She said she had some friends from school who moved to Ohio, and that she was going to stay with them for a while. She
didn’t leave a forwarding address, and about a month later, she disconnected her cell number.”
“How old was she when she left?” Kellan asks.
I quickly calculate the numbers. "Sixteen."
Kellan throws a disapproving glance at my mother. "You just let her walk away like that?"
"What was I supposed to do, chain her up?" she retorts, her voice laced with indignation.
"She was underaged. That implies she was your responsibility no matter what you had to do to keep her safe!" I snap, rising to
my feet. The proximity to her is too much; I fear I might lose control if I stay any closer.
Seeking refuge, I distance myself, finding solace by the window. As I look out, a wave of guilt washes over me. The role of
protective older sister weighs heavily on my shoulders. I chastise myself for letting my tumultuous relationship with my
abusive ex cloud my judgment and distract me from my sister's needs.
For weeks, we have been trying to find Lauren. Luke has a dedicated team of Wolfhound Security tech specialists scouring the
internet and government databases, looking for her. Fallon reached out to friends of his across three different counties to help
us, sending them old photos and any information we could provide in order to help narrow the search down. Kellan and I
decided to come to Arcadia and talk to Mom about Lauren, hoping she might be able to steer us in the right direction.
But hope dims with each passing moment in this godforsaken house.
I feel myself spiraling.
I fear for Lauren.
Memories flood back, reminding me of a childhood overshadowed by neglect, pushing me towards Daniel Madison—a path I
dread Lauren might also take in her quest for freedom. Mitch's toxic legacy still lingers here, a stark symbol of the escape we
both craved.
“We need to leave,” I tell Kellan.
“But you just got here,” Mom whines. “Stay for lunch, at least. I’m makin’ short ribs.”
"We're leaving. I can’t rest until we find Lauren," I counter firmly.
"She'll turn up," Mom dismisses, unconcerned.
Years of self-doubt, shaped by believing I deserved no less, crash over me as I face my mother. Her failures as a parent are
undeniable—her refusal to accept blame for our broken family and her absence when we needed her most.
Her existence, once fully defined by the men in her life, now feels hollow. Looking at her, I can hardly reconcile this shadow
with the woman who was once my world.
"Stay for lunch," she pleads.
"I need to leave," I respond, moving towards the door. "Goodbye, Mom." The resolve to never see her again solidifies with
each step.
Her presence alone triggers unease.
With a new family that includes a baby, two little girls, and three incredible men, I'm committed to leaving the past behind,
keeping it as distant from my new life as possible.
The ride back to North Platte offers a gradual return to calm. Kellan drives silently, occasionally casting concerned glances my
way, respecting my need for silence as I grapple with my emotions.
Dammit. It's been a long time since I've confronted the vulnerabilities stemming from my mom's neglect and the false comfort
found in Daniel's arms.
The remorse over Lauren weighs heavily on me. The difficulty in finding her only deepens my guilt.
"I failed my sister," I whisper, my eyes watering with tears as I gaze at the blur of greenery along the road to Brady. "I should
have reached out, kept in touch."
“Avery, you were still a kid yourself,” Kellan says.
“I wasn’t. I was eighteen, Kellan, and old enough to know what I was doing.”
“That’s a myth,” he says, half-smiling. “We’re all dumb kids until our mid-twenties, at least. Our brains don’t fully develop
until the age of twenty-five, on average.”
“It’s no excuse. I still left and I abandoned my little sister. My brain was developed enough to understand that wasn’t the right
thing to do.”
Kellan's voice softens. "You need to forgive yourself, Avery. Believe me, I get the weight of guilt, the sting of regret. But the
past? It's unchangeable. We don't get do-overs. What we do have is the chance to do better. And that's exactly what we're
aiming for by searching for her now."
I let out a heavy sigh, fingers threading through my hair, my thoughts drifting to my children. Marcus, likely nestled in his crib
dreaming, while Miley and Annie learn and play at school. By the time we return to the mansion, it'll be nearly noon—just a
little while longer under Helen's watchful eye before it's time to collect the girls.
A wave of self-doubt washes over me, casting a shadow on my spirit. If I faltered as a sister, what does that say about me as a
mother?
My children are the most important thing to me and I am determined to be a better mother than mine ever was to us.
“What if she’s dead?” I ask the one question I’ve been dreading to ask out loud.
After speaking to my mother and learning that Lauren moved out at such a young and vulnerable age, I’m beginning to realize
that I haven’t acknowledged the worst of the worst-possible case scenarios yet. My sister, dead, in an unknown location, left in
a ditch or Lord knows where else. The mere thought makes my skin crawl and my heart ache. Kellan can sense the chilling shift
in my mood, and I feel his hand on my knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Don’t overthink this,” he says. “We know she hasn’t shown up in any morgue in Nebraska over the past seven years, at least.
We can expand the search to surrounding states and check there, too. But I’m confident that she’s alive, Avery.”
“How? Why are you confident?”
“Because we’ve got the best people looking for her,” he replies. “And dead people pop up much faster on the grid than people
who don’t want to be found.”
“So you’re saying she doesn’t want to be found.”
“I’m assuming, based on what we know so far.”
It’s not nearly enough to soothe my frayed mind, but it’ll have to do as a temporary emotional remedy. When we get home I’ll
pour myself a cup of coffee and eat something—if I can muster up an appetite—then go back to the drawing board and note
how much we really do know about Lauren at this point. It’s all I can do without frying my circuits.
“Avery, we’ll find her,” Kellan says. He and the guys have been by my side through all of it, keeping me close and giving me
more comfort than I could’ve ever asked for. I am trying to stay strong for them; I am so grateful for all of their efforts to find
Lauren, for their devotion and love. “She’s out there somewhere, and my guess is she might’ve fallen in with the wrong crowd.
It’s what usually happens to teenage girls who leave an abusive home.”
“I think I’d rather find her stripping somewhere for cash than in a morgue,” I say, a heavy sigh rolling from my chest as the
mansion rises in the distance, peaking over secular pine trees and oaks with sprawling emerald crowns.
I know it’s a terrible thing to say, but it would be the lesser of the two evils.
At least she’d be alive.
I desperately hope Kellan is right about that part.

ONCE WE’ RE HOME, I slip into the shower and let the hot stream of water wash over me and soothe my senses. I lather myself
with vanilla and coconut soap, then close my eyes and stand a few more minutes in the heat and steam, desperate to cleanse my
body and soul of the visit with my mother. I actually felt dirty walking back into the mansion, as if I’d brought something
undesirable from Arcadia, something I’d sworn I’d left behind years ago.
I find Kellan waiting on the edge of the bed for me dark, burning look in his eyes as I come out of the bathroom wearing nothing
but a towel. Not that it matters. He knows my body inside and out and loves every inch of it. Every curve and subtle
stretchmark, every scar and faint expression line, every freckle on soft skin. I lose the towel as I approach him.
“How are you feeling?” he asks as he takes off his uniform jacket.
“Better,” I say. “Nothing like a hot shower to calm my soul.”
“I’ve got something that trumps that,” he replies with a playful smirk, fingers deftly at work, unbuttoning his shirt.
I kneel before him and lick my lips while my hands get busy unbuckling his belt. “Oh, yeah? And what’s that, Sheriff Cassidy?”
“How about I show you instead?” he shoots back.
Less than a minute later, I’m giggling and laying on my belly on the bed, the cool air brushing over my slick pussy just before
Kellan slides his tongue through. My laughter turns to moans of raw pleasure as he eats me out, tongue penetrating me
persistently while his thumb works my clit into a frenzy. I love this position, even though I can’t see my man going down on me.
I can feel him, his soft lips, his naughty tongue, his hot breath tickling my folds as he explores me, as he devours me and pushes
me closer to the edge of reason.
“I needed this,” I groan as he pulls back for a moment. “Oh, no, don’t stop, baby.”
“I’m not stopping. I just wanted to admire you from this angle,” Kellan says, his voice low and gruff, each word dripping with
desire.
He dives back in, adding fingers into the mix. One, then two, stretching and priming me for what’s to come. His lips close
around my clit and suckle it harder and harder, tongue flicking over it until there’s enough tension gathered in my belly to make
me explode.
“That’s it, Avery. Come for me, baby. Come hard.”
He doesn’t have to say it twice. He sucks my swollen nub so hard, I can only cry out in ecstasy, , my pussy aching to be filled
as juices flow freely down the insides of my thighs. Kellan licks me a few more times before I feel his fingers dig into my
flesh, gripping my ass tightly while he positions himself between my legs.
“Oh, Kellan. Yes, take me, my love,” I gasp as he spears me with his full and glorious length.
His magnificent cock stretches me as he goes deep, and I welcome every inch, enjoying the pulsating veins along his shaft
while my pussy still ripples from the first of many orgasms I know he’ll give me.
“Harder,” I manage as he starts thrusting, skin slapping skin with each motion.
I love it when he takes me from behind, that’s when I feel him the deepest. Tilting my ass upward to better receive him, I hold
on to the bed covers as Kellan pounds into me, harder and deeper, faster and faster, as I clench myself around him, tighter and
tighter.
He brings a hand around and rubs my tender clit as he continues to thrust. I close my eyes and take deep breaths, my full breasts
bouncing with every push, my nerve endings on fire and my core screaming to the high heavens for another release.
“Let go,” Kellan growls. “Let go for me, baby.”
“Fuck me harder!” I moan and throw my head back, the pressure gathering in my belly as Kellan wrecks me to the core. “Yes,
don’t stop… oh, Kellan… don’t… stop…”
I hold my breath as his finger flicks my clit with just enough pressure to send me into madness. Thousands of lights explode
before my closed eyes as the heat surges through me and dissolves between my legs, as Kellan possesses me. I feel him come
deep inside me, his hot seed flowing within.
“You’re fucking perfect, Avery,” he groans with each thrust, squeezing my ass so hard bringing a subtle, glorious ache, yet I
don’t want him to stop.
 2

A VE RY

“I ’ve been so busy worrying about Lauren these past couple of weeks that I haven’t even considered other aspects of our
lives,” I say as I settle into one of the guest chairs in the Wolfhound Security office. “How is your Black Pearls
investigation going?”
Luke sits at his desk, eyes focused on his computer, as he combs through image files and scanned documents. A glass of scotch
sits next to him. I like how his blonde hair falls around his face, messy curls adorning his chiseled cheeks, bringing out the
blues of his eyes.
“None of the connections we’ve been able to make are strong enough to build a case where Elizabeth and Bill are concerned,”
he says, a subtle frown pulling his brows together. “Keep in mind, however, that we’ve barely scratched the surface so far.
We’re still waiting on some DOD approvals, thanks to Andrew. Maybe they will yield more once we get access to the
classified documents pertaining to previous investigations into the Cassidy’s.”
“We’re getting there,” Kellan says, standing by the window, holding his own glass of scotch. He leans into the frame as he
gazes outside, where the blue sky begins its gradual, colorful descent into the evening. “But it’s all circumstantial. Not enough
to prove that our parents are involved in trafficking.”
“It’s never just circumstantial with Mom and Dad, though,” Fallon scoffs, sitting the closest to me. “They’re involved, I know
it. And if we ask them about it, they’ll bitch and moan about harassment and throw out some fancy words they learned from
their lawyers.”
“What is Andrew saying so far?” I ask, referring to Wolfhound’s new Director of Operations.
“He’s determined to dig up whatever he can from within the DOD,” Luke says. “Fortunately for us, he’s got the right
connections in there who owe him big favors. But it takes time, maybe more than we have.”
“We do have an advantage, though,” Kellan says. “The Black Pearls don’t yet know that we’re investigating them. I’ve been
keeping an eye out from the sheriff’s bullpen, and their activities across Nebraska haven’t dwindled lately, so they’re
comfortable enough to proceed with their usual operations.”
“I don’t understand how they can sleep, doing what they do,” I mutter, disgust gathering in the back of my throat with a terrible,
sour taste. “They have to be stopped.”
“What’s worse is they aren’t the only ones, and they’re not only across the United States,” Kellan replies. “These people exist,
Avery, whether we like it or not, and we can’t stop all of them. What we can do, however, is nab my parents and maybe get
enough evidence to put them behind bars. That’s a start, and hopefully that will cut off some of the supply for the Black Pearls,
if only to weaken them and push them out of their comfort zone. The Feds have been hard at work all along, trying to catch
these bastards.”
“So what do you have on your parents and the Black Pearls, then?” I ask.
Luke frowns as he sifts through more files, letting a heavy sigh escape his chest as his shoulders drop. “Property deeds pointing
us to shell corporations, mostly. We’re still elbow deep in financial forensics, though, trying to trace each shell corporation
back to the original owners, but we keep tripping on other shell companies—some that were opened in the Bahamas—so that’s
making the whole process twice as hard.”
“They’re being cautious,” Fallon says. “Mom and Dad have always been careful in covering their tracks.” He pauses and looks
at Kellan. “You know, now that I think about it, Charlene could be useful.”
“Charlene?” I croak, the mere mention of her name sending chills down my spine. “Charlene Maddox needs to rot in prison for
the rest of her life.”
“I don’t disagree with that,” Fallon says. “But she does know more about our parents’ business than we do. If she’s having a
hard enough time in that supermax she might be willing to negotiate some kind of agreement. I don’t know, I’m just thinking out
loud here.”
As much as I hate the idea, it could yield some information. Charlene and her assistant Toby put us through hell. They’re
responsible for the death of Wolfhound Security’s previous Director of Ops, and our son’s namesake, Marcus. Helen damn near
died. And I ended up tied to a chair with a gun to my head for the second time. I don’t ever want to live through such
nightmares again. “What could Charlene possibly know?” I ask, briefly entertaining the thought.
“She has used our parents’ shell companies before,” Kellan says, shrugging slightly. “She could have a couple of LLC’s in the
back of her head that might ring a bell, enabling us to connect to properties leased by the Black Pearls. We are aware of a few
LLC’s supposedly belonging to Black Pearl lieutenants, listed as tenants for spaces we know are owned by our parents.”
“We just can’t prove they’re owned by them,” Fallon grumbles.
“Not yet,” Luke says.
He’s still the most optimistic among us, and that’s a good thing. He is driven and determined to see this through, if only to see
Fallon and Kellan finally and fully free of their terrible, toxic parents’ influence. The Cassidy’s have been an established force
in Nebraska for far too long, their financial empire having left thousands in ruin while they kept lining their pockets and
blackmailing the local police and governments to do their bidding.
Things started going sideways for the Cassidy’s when Kellan was first elected Sheriff of Lincoln County. But he alone cannot
stand against them forever, nor does he have the resources and the connections required to do a deep dive into the hidden parts
of their shady businesses. We’re hoping that if an undeniable connection to the Black Pearls can be established, it’ll be enough
for indictments that will actually stick.
There’s a quick knock on the door before it opens, one of the Wolfhound Security agents entering with a manila envelope in his
hand.
“This just came for you, ma’am,” the agent says as he hands it to me. “By courier.”
“Who’s it from?” I ask.
My men are instantly activated. Kellan crosses the room and snatches the envelope from my hands before I get a chance to open
it.
“There’s no sender listed but the courier said it came from Lincoln County,” the agent replies. “That’s all the information he
had. But I checked him out—he’s legit, the courier company is big and well-known across the state, so no funky business
there.”
“Did you check the envelope before bringing it up here?” Luke asks, while Kellan turns it over a couple of times, reading and
analyzing the labels and the handwriting on the back before tearing it open.
“Yes, sir. No suspicious particulates,” the agent confirms. “We ran it through the scanner, too. It’s just documents, likely photos,
judging by the size and weight.”
“Thank you,” Luke says and waves him away.
The agent nods before leaving the room. Fallon gets up, joining Kellan in inspecting the envelope further. Unfortunately, we
have had past and deeply unpleasant experiences with mail coming to our home, especially with unknown senders.
“What is it?” I ask, practically on the edge of my seat.
Kellan takes a couple of photographs out of the envelope. The last time someone sent me photos they were candid and
infuriatingly explicit shots of Kellan, Fallon, Luke, and Charlene Maddox’s past sexual exploits—sent here to rattle me, to fill
me with doubt, and to sow discord between us. But Kellan’s expression as he looks at the photos suggests a different subject
matter.
“Well?” I insist, my nerves stretching past their limits.
“You should see for yourself,” Kellan says and hands me the photos.
I gasp as I recognize an older version of my sister coming out of a place called Crimson Oyster, according to the red neon sign
hanging above the wide double doors. The images were captured at night, but it’s definitely Lauren. Her hair is dyed ginger
red, her eyes filled with apprehension, and her clothes way too skimpy for what I would prefer my little sister to be wearing.
She’s in her twenties now but it’s definitely Lauren. And the sight of her fills me with dread.
“I don’t get it,” I say, breathlessly staring at the images in front of me. “Who sent these?”
“Someone who knows you’re looking for her,” Fallon replies, checking the envelope again.
“It is Lauren, isn’t it?” Kellan asks me, and I reply with a faint nod.
“I know the Crimson Oyster.”
“You do?”
“Every man in Keith and Lincoln counties knows the Crimson Oyster,” Fallon sighs deeply. “It’s a high-end massage parlor. Or
so it’s advertised as such, though we all know there’s more than just massages being offered in that place.”
“I have to see her,” I tell my men. “Now.”
This is the closest I’ve been to finding Lauren since I left her behind in Arcadia. I don’t know who sent these photos or what
their endgame is, but at least I know where to find her. I’m no longer staring into the darkness of a dead end where Lauren is
concerned. We have a lead.

KELLAN , Fallon, and Luke don’t hesitate to help me follow up on this precious lead. We jump in one of the Wolfhound Security
SUVs and drive up to Keystone. It’s outside of Kellan’s jurisdiction since Keystone belongs to Keith County, but we’re only
going there to check it out, to make sure that Lauren really is there. Naturally, my mind is once again flooded by all kinds of
possibilities, some worse than others, but I keep myself calm as we cross county lines and make our way into town.
I left Helen in charge of my little ones back at the house. I hope we’ll get back in time to put them all to bed ourselves but I
know if we don’t, Helen has it covered.
“Gah! I can’t believe she could be working here,” I say as Luke parks the car across the street from the massage parlor.
“Maybe she was just visiting,” he replies.
“And someone just happened to snap a photo of her coming out of the place?” Kellan scoffs. “No, she most likely works here.
It would certainly fit the pattern of the teenage runaway.”
I used to appreciate patterns in people because it helped me figure them out faster. I hate patterns now because they’re showing
me a side of my sister I never imagined existed, and I can’t help but feel at least partially responsible. Had I been there for her,
had I stayed or at least kept in touch, maybe she wouldn’t have ended up here. But Daniel did a good job of gradually isolating
and cutting me off from everyone and everything I ever knew. By the time we were married, I couldn’t even see anyone else
around us. It wasn’t until Miley was born that the fog was eerily lifted, and my eyesight was restored.
“It looks busy at this hour,” Fallon says, checking his watch.
It’s almost eight in the evening, the streetlights glowing amber up and down the road. Cars roll by, mostly sedans and pickup
trucks, but the street itself looks pretty and clean. There are plenty of storefronts lining the wide sidewalks—boutiques and
fashion stores, jewelry shops, and a couple of cafes. The Crimson Oyster seems out of place here, with its smoked glass
windows and brilliant red neon sign.
“It’s a Friday night,” Kellan replies, his eyes scanning the street. “And this is a public establishment. I’ve checked their
authorizations and whatever else was readily available online. They seem legit.”
“Keyword here being ‘seem’,” Luke says. “We’ll need to do an in-depth analysis when we get back.”
“Okay, so how are we going to do this?” I ask. “Do we just go in there and ask about Lauren?”
Kellan looks at me from the front passenger’s seat. “That is the last thing we should do at this point,” he says. “We’ll go in
there, but we won’t be asking about anybody. We’ll book ourselves a massage room and see who comes in for the session.”
“That’s… ugh, skeevy,” I grumble.
“But it’s the only way for us to get eyes inside without spooking anybody, including your sister,” Kellan says.
“We’re going to pretend we’re customers then,” I say as I start to get out of the car.
“I think the three of us would fare better in there,” Luke replies. “It might appear a little more legit with guys looking for a
masseuse.”
“There’s no way in hell you’re going in there without me,” I snap. “If Lauren is in there, she has to see me.”
“Avery, Luke does have a point,” Kellan tries to convince me, but it doesn’t take long for him to understand that I’m not backing
down.
“Fine but let us do the talking,” he concedes.
I can hear music from inside the Crimson Oyster, a high-intensity electro-beat with heavy bass, the tune blaring loudly
whenever someone goes in and out of the place under the bodyguard’s watchful eye. It seems an odd choice for what’s
supposed to be a relaxing massage place.
“Hey, there,” Luke says to the guy at the door. “We need a room and a girl for the three of us. You got anything available
tonight?”
“I’m counting four of you,” the bodyguard replies dryly.
Luke gives me a nonchalant glance, then looks back at him. “Who, this? Oh, no, Annie here is our personal assistant.”
“She’ll have to stay in the reception area, then.”
“Fine by me,” I mutter, instantly remembering how the guys just asked me not to say anything. I cringe inwardly for a moment
but breathe a sigh of relief when the bodyguard steps aside to let us in.
“Thank you,” Luke says.
We walk into the Crimson Oyster and I am instantly stunned by the sleek beauty of the establishment. The walls are covered in
black silk wallpaper and the floors are shiny black marble. The pendant lights are expensive pieces from London—I’d
recognize the perfect copper spheres anywhere, and there isn’t a single knockoff in the world that can replicate this particular
design. I’m expecting it to be a while before I see Lauren, but as I glance over to the reception desk I suddenly freeze, my knees
buckling as I recognize my sister.
She’s chatting and laughing with the receptionist. I can tell they serve different roles—the receptionist is a petite brunette, her
long hair combed over one shoulder, and she’s tightly fitted into a black satin pencil dress that keeps her breasts overflowing
above a deep V-shaped neckline. Lauren, on the other hand, is wearing her ginger hair combed into a bun resting on the back of
her neck, while her dress is short and as red as the neon sign outside. Both wear ridiculously high-heeled pumps and intense
makeup, and they both notice me and my men at the same time.
“Keep your cool,” Kellan whispers.
It’s too late, though. Lauren recognizes me, and her smile fades into something akin to sheer horror. “Lauren,” I manage as I
cautiously approach the glass and black steel reception desk. “Wait.”
“Good evening and welcome to the Crimson Oyster. How may I be of service?” the receptionist cuts in with a warm smile, her
brown eyes hungrily scanning my men.
“We were hoping to book a massage session tonight,” Luke plays his part.
But I’m already way off the deep-end and unable to stop myself as Lauren takes a few cautious steps back, one hand already on
a service door. I’m afraid if she goes through the door I might lose her for good, so I decide to push forward.
“Lauren, it’s me, Avery,” I say.
“I know who you are,” she replies, lips twisted with displeasure. “I don’t care, though. Please, leave me alone.”
“You can’t be serious,” I gasp. “Lauren, I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
Fallon takes me by the shoulder and tries to hold me back, but I yank myself free as I struggle to keep Lauren in the reception
room with us. “Avery, stop it,” he hisses.
“Lauren, I’ve come to take you home,” I tell my sister.
She raises a contemptuous eyebrow at me. “This is my home,” she says. “Listen, I’ve got a good life and a good job here, so
don’t come bothering me again. There’s no room in my life for a sister who didn’t give two shits about me when she bolted.
You left, alright? Stay gone.”
“Lauren!” I call out, but she’s already disappeared, the service door slamming behind her.
I’ve been so entranced by her presence up to this point that I didn’t even notice the horrified look on the receptionist’s face.
The air in the room feels different all of a sudden, cold and thick, almost unbreathable. Kellan and Fallon flank me closely, and
I realize that we’re not alone—four bouncers the size of commercial refrigerators have joined us, and none of them look happy.
“You need to leave,” one of them says.
“We just wanted to get a massage,” Luke tries again, wearing a pleasant but tight smile.
“No, you just wanted to badger one of our girls,” the guy shoots back. “Leave now on your own, or we’ll help you.”
“I’d love to see you try that,” Fallon mutters, but Luke is already headed for the door.
“Come on, fellas. We’ll go somewhere else for our fun tonight,” he says.
I give Kellan a pleading, desperate look, though I’m not sure what he can do at this point. “She’s in there.”
“I know, baby, but tonight isn’t the night for us,” he replies.
My stomach churns as I let my men escort me out of the Crimson Oyster, the four bouncers glowering at us well past the doors.
The guy outside gives us a curious glance, but I reckon his colleagues will fill him in on what happened after we leave. We
cross the street and get back inside the car. I’m shaking like a leaf and close to crying as I try to deal with Lauren’s ruthless
rejection.
“I guess I had that coming, huh?” I mumble, blinking back tears.
“We’re not giving up on her,” Kellan replies.
I look up and see the three of them eyeing me intently. “You heard her,” I say.
“But you didn’t see everything that was going on in there, did you?” Kellan asks.
“What do you mean?”
“You were too focused on your sister,” Fallon says. His brows pull into a deep, dark frown. “Avery, that place may be legal on
paper, but there’s definitely some shady stuff going on there. The receptionist was downright paralyzed when she saw you
recognized your sister. The bouncers were carrying weapons. And Lauren wasn’t rejecting you per se, she was fucking
terrified. That’s why she got out of there as fast as she could.”
I give him a confused look. “How do you know that?”
“I’d recognize that fear in anyone’s eyes,” Fallon sighs deeply.
“Like Kellan said,” Luke interjects from behind the wheel, turning the key in the ignition. “We’re not giving up on Lauren. But
we’ll have to dig deeper into the Crimson Oyster, its owners, its clients and employees, everything. We’ll have to do a proper
investigation and go through back channels using every surveillance method at our disposal until we figure out what that place
is about.”
“That level of fear isn’t natural,” Fallon says, shaking his head. “Something stinks to high heaven in there.”
These men are former Navy SEALs. They’ve dealt with terrorist attacks and hostage situations, ambushes and bombings, war
zones and other extreme events overseas. If they’re able to take one look at the Crimson Oyster and conclude that it’s
suspicious and likely dangerous, I have no choice but to believe them and follow their lead.
It also increases my level of worry about Lauren. What did my sister get herself into, and how can I get her out of it? What if I
can’t reach her? What if something happens to her now that we’ve made contact? There had to be cameras in there. Someone
must’ve seen and heard me aside from the receptionist.
“What if I got Lauren into trouble by going in there?” I manage, the fear tightening its grip on my throat. “What if she gets hurt
because of me?”
“We don’t know anything for sure yet,” Kellan tries to assure me. “Lauren rejected you because that clearly wasn’t the time or
the place for a sisterly reunion. If I’m right about her profile and based on her absence from the grid up to this point, it’s likely
that Lauren is indebted to someone, and that someone has got a hold over her.”
“Maybe she was trying to protect you by keeping you out of that place,” Luke adds.
“Or maybe she just hates my fucking guts because I abandoned her,” I say, my voice trembling.
It’s the worst thought I’ve had since the moment I discovered that she’s still alive. She’s alive, but she hates me. She despises
me. I left her behind with those people. With our awful mother and her shitty new husband. And for what? For Daniel, a
psychopath who almost destroyed me, who almost killed me and my little girls.
I’m gonna have to sit with it for a while, and the hurt is on a whole other level.
 3

A VE RY

y restlessness doesn’t subside in the following days.

M Even my kids can’t keep me from constantly thinking about Lauren, wondering and worrying about her. Over the years, I
have always hoped that she’d done alright for herself. Finding her in a good job, with a good man by her side would’ve
tempered some of the guilt that I’ve been living with for so long. But she’s working at a massage parlor, one that could possibly
be harboring some unsavory characters and activity. She was angry and probably scared and that makes me feel worse than
before I even set foot inside the Crimson Oyster.
One Saturday afternoon, while the guys are out on a field mission concerning their investigation into the Cassidy’s, I leave
Helen with my little ones while I make my way back to Keystone in my new Prius. I kind of miss my old, beat-up Citroen that
brought me to Kellan in the first place, but the poor thing finally decided to die on me a few months ago. The Prius is nice and
it’s anything but ostentatious, so I can drive around without drawing attention which is exactly what I need under the
circumstances.
Keystone in the daytime feels slightly different. Drab and greyish, despite the sun being out and with spring in full bloom.
Cherry and apple trees delight my eyes with their white and pink petals, while the local flower shops display an abundance of
fragranced seasonal blossoms.
I know I can’t expect Lauren to welcome me with arms wide open. I was foolish to think that would be the case upon first sight.
But I can at least make sure she’s okay and tell her that she can always reach out to me, no matter what.
The massage parlor is already open for business. Sitting behind the wheel, parked across the street, I’ve got a good view of the
place. People are coming in and out, predominantly men. I can’t help but notice broader smiles when they leave. It’s making my
stomach churn. I catch glimpses of some of the girls, too, when they come outside, presumably on their breaks.
I’m nervous, but I stay and keep watching until I finally see Lauren come out. She’s wearing jeans and a grey hoodie, her ginger
hair pulled back in the same tight bun. She looks tired and wary, constantly glancing over her shoulder as she heads for the
back alley. This is my shot, so I get out and go after her.
“Lauren,” I approach her cautiously.
She whirls around, as if surprised to hear her own name. The twinkle of recognition in her blue eyes makes my heart ache.
“What the hell are you doing here, Avery?” she hisses, nervously scanning the alley. “I told you to leave me alone.”
“I know you did but I can’t do that. Listen, I know I left you behind but I am ready to spend the rest of my life apologizing and
making it up to you,” I tell her. “And now that I have found you again, I can’t just walk away.”
“But that’s exactly what you should do. It’s not your job to mother me.”
“Lauren, please, I just want to talk to you. I just want to make sure that you’re okay.”
“I’m okay. Now, go.” She’s skittish. Scared. She doesn’t want anybody seeing us together, that much is obvious. “Seriously,
go.”
I rush over before she can get in her car and position myself between her and the driver’s side door. “No, no, you’re not okay.
It’s written all over your face that you’re not okay. What’s going on?”
“My God, you can be annoying,” Lauren groans, rolling her eyes for good measure. “Nothing is going on. I’m sorry I’m not
working a more high-profile job. I’m sorry I don’t have a career, a white-picket fence outside my house and kids by now. I
must be such a disappointment to you.”
“That’s not what this is about,” I reply. “And don’t think for a second that I had it any better after I left. If anything, it went from
bad to worse. It wasn’t until I left Daniel that my life started to turn around, and even that wasn’t smooth sailing. I barely
survived him.”
Lauren stills, a slight frown tugging at her lips. “You were head over heels for the guy. You said he was the one, your knight in
shining armor.”
“Well he turned out to be my worst nightmare,” I chuckle nervously. “And I will tell you all about it if we could just go
somewhere and talk. Just talk. I wanna know more about you, Lauren. It took me so long to get to you because I was stuck in a
hell of my own making.”
“I can’t,” she sighs. “Just go, Avery. I promise, I’m okay. Just please go.”
“No.”
“You never quit, do you?” she narrows her eyes at me.
I can’t help but smile. “Every time I quit, every time I gave up, somebody got hurt. I gave up on you, remember? And I’m so, so
sorry, Lauren. How long have you been working at the Crimson Oyster?”
“A couple of years.”
“And… um, I don’t know, do you like it? Do they treat you well?”
Lauren looks around again. For a moment, I think she’s about to unwind, but then she sees someone, somewhere behind me, and
I see her tense up as she gives me an angry scowl. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you need to leave me alone.”
“What is…” my voice trails off as a man joins us.
A tall man with blonde hair, sharp green eyes and broad shoulders, clad in a custom-tailored suit that must’ve cost more than
my Prius. The Rolex on his wrist sparkled with every movement, and the smile on his face was that of a predator, a tiger baring
his fangs as he’s getting ready to pounce on his prey. To most people, he’d probably come across as the assertive business type
who knows what he wants and goes out of his way to get it. To me, however, he reeks of a familiar danger—especially when I
see the instant effect that he has on Lauren.
“Hey, babe,” he says, never taking his eyes off me. “Who’s this?”
“Nobody,” Lauren replies.
He puts an arm around her shoulders and pulls her close, squeezing tightly enough to make her squirm. “Come on, babe,
introduce me.”
“I’m Avery Madison,” I say. “Lauren’s sister.”
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he replies, smiling only with his lips. “I’ve never met any of Lauren’s family.” He looks at
her. “You never mentioned a sister.”
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen one another. Avery, this is Gage Lancaster. My fiancé,” she says, her tone flat.
But the dread in her eyes speaks of something far more sinister. I recognize that look on her face. I know it all too well. And the
fact that Gage seems so comfortable while she’s clearly terrified makes me want to claw his eyes out with my bare hands. But I
know I can’t do that. He’s clearly a powerful man, an influential figure around these parts. This is unknown territory for me,
and I cannot be oblivious to Luke’s earlier warnings.
“Your fiancé. Congratulations,” I say, forcing myself to smile and play along. I offer my hand. “I hope you’ll take good care of
my sister.”
He shakes my hand, his grip uncomfortably tight, but I do not flinch. I can’t let him think he’s intimidating me and I know that’s
what he’s going for. “I love Lauren more than anything. We have a good life here, and we plan to live out the rest of our days
together,” Gage says. “Heck, we might even start a family at some point.”
“That’s nice,” I say with a tight smile.
“So what brings you to Keystone?” Gage asks. “You’re not from around here, I can tell that much.”
“How can you tell?” I ask.
“I know everybody in town,” he shoots back with a cold smirk.
I nod slowly. “I just came to see my sister. It’s been a long time.”
“Avery was just about to leave,” Lauren cuts in. “She knows I’m okay, so she’ll be going back to her life now. See, Sis? I’m
happy, in love, and thriving. There’s no need for you to worry anymore.”
“Working at a massage parlor is thriving?” I raise an eyebrow.
Gage chuckles dryly. “It’s one of my most successful businesses in Keith County. A fully-equipped, legitimate, tax-paying
business that supports the local economy and gives jobs to women who need a stable and safe environment,” he says. “I don’t
know when you last saw Lauren, but when I met her, she was living on the streets without a penny to her name. I picked her up
and brought her here. I saved her, and she loves me for being such a good and caring provider. Isn’t that right babe?”
“That’s right,” she whispers, unable to look me in the eyes.
“So do me a favor and don’t look down on what your sister does for a career. There’s no shame in working as a masseuse,
especially in this economy. Besides, Lauren is one of my best girls. A client favorite,” Gage adds with an arrogant smirk,
fingers digging into her shoulder.
“I understand.”
“You should really leave,” Lauren says with a trembling voice.
“I agree,” Gage adds. “There’s a hint of hostility coming off you that isn’t good for my Zen, Avery. And Lauren doesn’t seem
comfortable with you here, either.”
I could say something, clap back in a way that would have his ears burning red. But I remind myself of where I am and that I
don’t yet know who it is that I’m dealing with. I also remind myself that in order to get my sister back, I need to earn her trust,
first. So I smile politely and back off, choosing to walk away—for now.
“Take care of yourself, Lauren,” I say and give her my card. “This is my number, in case you ever need to reach me.”
“I don’t—”
“Take it, honey,” Gage interjects as Lauren is about to give the card back. “You never know.”
She mumbles something and slips the card into her jacket pocket, but she doesn’t have any strength left to look at me. Not
anymore. She’s worn out and terrified, stuck in a Stockholm Syndrome situation that will take a long time to heal—provided I
figure out a way to get her away from this man.
“I’ll see you around,” I tell Gage, looking him in the eye as I turn to leave.
I can feel his glare drilling burning holes into the back of my head and I walk a little faster toward my car. It’s only when I
leave Keystone behind that I feel like I can breathe again. My God, that man is a fucking menace. And that expression on
Lauren’s face is tearing me apart on the inside. I recognize it all too well. I wore it once. I had the same look on my face when I
was married to Daniel.
He was a monster, and I barely saved myself and my girls from that situation.
Hopefully I can do better for Lauren.
By nightfall, the guys and I are in the study, having a few drinks and talking about the Black Pearls investigation. I haven’t told
them about my solo visit to Keystone yet, and I don’t think I will. Not unless I have to. I don’t like keeping things from my guys,
but I know they’d be furious if they knew I went over there on my own. Hell, I’m mad at myself but I had to. I couldn’t help it.
“I have to admit, I do like Andrew’s perseverance,” Luke says, swirling the golden scotch in his glass, ice cubes clinking with
each movement of his wrist. “But I worry he’s a tad too close to the whole thing.”
“What do you mean?” Kellan asks.
I’m comfortably lounging in his arms on the main sofa, my feet resting in Fallon’s lap.
“He’s nowhere closer to finding Evelyn, his sister,” Luke says. “And I can tell it’s tormenting him. He gets aggravated and
anxious, sometimes. He hasn’t gone out of his scope of work yet, but I have to admit, I worry that he could get out of line as we
get deeper into this.”
“Do you think he’ll jeopardize the investigation?” Fallon asks. He looks so good in that black shirt, the jeans hugging his
muscular thighs and giving me a full view of his bulge, while his fingers deftly massage my bare feet. Our eyes meet for a
moment, and I feel his cock twitch against my ankle. It does things to me.
“He might. I don’t know him well enough yet,” Luke says. “His record is spotless, and the folks at the DOD have nothing but
good things to say. But we will have to be careful going forward. Just in case he is tempted to go off the rails, that is.”
Luke glances our way. He sees the sexual tension rising between Fallon and me. Slowly, he relaxes in his chair, leaning back as
his gaze travels up and down my body. There’s plenty for him to see, too, since I’m only wearing my pale pink lace lingerie
underneath a satin robe. The third pregnancy left my curves a tad more generous than when we first met, but they love it. They
love every inch of me.
“I trust Andrew will do the right thing when the time comes,” Luke says. “But this investigation is too big and too important for
us to leave anything to chance. How are you two holding up, by the way?” he asks Kellan and Fallon.
“We’re good,” Kellan says, one finger absently tracing the contour of my ear. “Focused on getting to the truth but it’s maddening
how well our parents have covered their tracks over the past few years.”
“You getting elected Sheriff kind of put them on edge,” Fallon chuckles. “Son or not, their fortune and their empire are too
important to—like Luke just said—leave anything to chance. And after what happened with Toby and Charlene, you bet your
ass they’re gonna close ranks even tighter. They know we’re coming for them.”
“When are we due to meet with the forensic accountants again?” Kellan asks Luke.
His hand travels downward, fingers gingerly following the soft line of my neck before they slip beneath the satin and find my
breast. I pull in a breath and stay still, mellow against his body while Fallon’s fingers do some searching of their own as they
travel up my calf. Luke’s eyes never leave us as he lets his knees slide further apart, a dark and ravenous look taking over.
“Monday morning. Around ten. I added the appointment into our calendars. You’ll get reminders,” he says. His voice is lower.
Heavier. Vibrating with arousal.
“Are you getting closer to Bill and Elizabeth in that sense?” I ask, exhaling sharply as Kellan squeezes my breast, fingers
playfully pinching the nipple until a sweet stinging sensation works its way down to my core.
“Almost,” Luke says. “I’m confident we’ll nail them soon enough. We just need hard evidence that ties them to the Black
Pearls, though I worry we’re going to have to approach the issue from the traffickers’ side, not from the Cassidy’s’ side.” He
pauses and gives Fallon a subtle smile. “I’d like to see her come while I finish this whiskey.”
“Sounds reasonable enough,” Fallon replies.
“Oh…” I gasp as his hand slides upward between my thighs, fingers testing the softness of my lace panties, only to discover the
hot wetness he loves most.
Kellan sets his glass aside and brings in his other hand to massage both my breasts, the satin robe now slipping down my
shoulders as I shift my position so I’m facing the ceiling. Fallon peels the panties off me and spreads my legs, adoringly gazing
at my pussy while his fingers probe and explore it.
Apparently, we are done talking about work and I don’t mind one bit. It’s been a difficult day for all of us, and nothing takes the
edge off better than one of our lovemaking sessions.
My breath hitches as Fallon inserts two fingers, penetrating in a perfect rhythmic motion. My hips sway to the same beat.
“Would you like me to have you for dinner tonight, baby?” he asks.
“Yes, my love. Please. All of me,” I manage.
“And what do you want me to do?” Kellan asks, our gazes locked for a long, sweet moment.
“Let me suck you dry,” I reply with a ravenous grin.
Luke’s zipper goes down. “I think I’m gonna watch for a minute or two.”
“I like it when you watch,” I say.
Kellan gets up but only to get out of his pants and kneel on the sofa, looking down at me as he gives me his massive cock to lick
and suck and play with as I please. I like this position the best because I’m able to effortlessly deepthroat him into a frenzied
madness. He massages my breasts, squeezing and pinching while I bring my hands up to stroke the base of his cock and play
with his hardened balls, my lips wrapped around the tip as I suckle the salty precum like it’s ambrosia. I listen to Luke’s ragged
breathing as he pleases himself, watching Fallon go down on me.
“Oh, God, yes,” I gasp as I feel his tongue sliding between my slick, tender folds.
His finger-fucking unravels a ball of lightning within my core, and I clench myself around his fingers as he intensifies each
thrust and presses his left palm onto my belly. The tension is incredibly delicious. He sucks my clit, harder and harder, while I
take all of Kellan into my mouth, relaxing the back of my throat for the full experience.
“That’s it, honey, take it like a good girl,” Luke grunts.
Kellan squeezes my breasts. I see him watching Fallon, and when their eyes meet, when I’m close to the edge and about to
come, they synchronize their attack on me—Kellan pinches my nipples until I muffle a cry against his massive cock, while
Fallon fucks me with his fingers and sucks my clit. He adds more pressure to my lower belly until I explode, coming apart at
the seams, groaning and writhing against the both of them, reveling in the delicious ecstasy that envelops my whole body.
Fallon drinks every drop of my juices, licking and priming me for the best part yet. “I need you,” I say as Kellan gets up, the
taste of his cock lingering on my lips. “I need all three of you tonight. Inside me.”
“Good, because that’s all I’ve been thinking about,” Kellan replies.
A split-second later, Luke joins in, his clothes off and his erection staring me in the face as he sits up on the sofa’s back, knees
planted into the cushions. Kellan sits between his legs, and I get to ride this magnificent man while Fallon takes me from
behind.
“Oh, yes,” I growl as I feel their cocks fill me to the brim, stretching my tender pussy until tears emerge from my eyes—tears of
mindless pleasure, of complete surrender, of the sweetest kind of abandonment. “Yes, all of it.”
I take Luke in my mouth, gripping the base tightly while he runs his fingers through my hair. The tenderness soon turns to rough
possession as he clutches my head with both hands and pushes me down, his cock going deeper into my mouth. I hold my breath
and look up at him, our gazes locked while my clit inadvertently rubs harder against Kellan’s groin. The pressure of both of
them inside of me is insane.
Sweat drips down my body as I lose all sense of time. I’m wrapped in their arms, taut muscles tightening as I’m filled and
overflowing, as I listen to the sensual sound of skin slapping skin. Fallon loves spanking my ass when he’s pounding me into
oblivion, while Kellan loves digging his fingers into my hips to amplify my incoming orgasm. They can feel me coming, and I
can feel the veins twitching along their impressive shafts as they fuck me harder, deeper, and more ferociously than ever.
Luke watches me as I suck him.
Harder. Faster.
“All of it,” he says.
“All of it,” I reply with a half-breath before taking him in again. I tighten my grip on his shaft and suckle on the tip, feeling the
pressure mounting.
Fallon growls from behind and slaps my ass again. I whimper as I come undone, as I ripple outward like a supernova, blinded
by the light and unravelling like a ball of yarn. I welcome the explosions that follow as Kellan and Fallon fill me with their
seed, my pussy quivering with each final thrust.
I taste the salty cum of Luke’s release and welcome every drop.
Kellan takes my left breast in his mouth, licking and kissing it, then does the same to the right. I ascend to the heavens as I let
my men love me, tease me, share me and consume every last part of me. Fallon bites into my shoulder, arms wrapped around
my waist as the last of him twitches inside me. I’m so tender, turned inside out as I melt in his embrace. Luke cups my face and
kisses me tenderly on the lips. Fallon nuzzles the nape of my neck while Kellan rests his head against my chest.
I could stay like this forever, wrapped safely within the love and security of my men.
 4

L UKE

ometimes I feel overwhelmed and stretched too thin. But Avery has a way of replenishing my energy simply by being close
S to me when I need her.
I had her all to myself last night. Over and over until we were both tangled between the sheets, drenched in sweat and a sated
afterglow. I’ll never get tired of her. And I’ll never stop working to keep her happy. Which is why I’m doing all I can to help
ease the situation with Lauren and get to the bottom of what is going on with her.
The four of us work better together when we’re happy and free of the skeletons in our closets. Putting Daniel to rest and
throwing Charlene and Toby behind bars, Charlene for the second time, served to make us stronger and to bring us closer. I
owe it to myself and the people I love to make sure that no one ever tries to come between us again.
It’s early afternoon when Andrew and I meet in my office to go over recent developments. Things at Wolfhound Security are
running smoothly—we’ve got plenty of government and private contracts to keep our operatives and our chief strategists busy,
which allows me to focus on the Cassidy investigation without feeling like I’m cutting into precious financial resources. The
cashflow in the past year has been spectacular, I never thought our company would grow so big in such a short span of time.
“The forensic accountant sent us a follow-up after the Monday morning meeting,” Andrew says as we sit around the coffee
table in my office. “He believes that these specific shell companies can be traced back to the Cassidy’s. We already know
they’ve been listing known Black Pearl lieutenants as administrators or tenants for some of the properties we’ve been looking
into, but he needs to dig into the Bahamas legislation to figure out the right channels for us to access the other end of the paper
trail.”
“And does he believe it’ll work?” I ask, pouring a cup of coffee.
“Yes. He’s got a couple of Bahamian lawyers and accountants working on it,” Andrew says. “They’re trying to reach some kind
of agreement with the local authorities there, since trafficking is an international issue. If we can prove that the Black Pearls
have ongoing activities in the Bahamas and not just here in Nebraska, we might have a better shot at persuading a Bahamian
judge to grant us a warrant for the rest of the files.”
“How long before that happens?”
“I’m not sure,” he replies, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “It might be longer than we can afford. But it’s the only thing we can do
from a legal standpoint through Wolfhound Security. Our other option is, as you know, less savory though far more effective.”
“You mean bribing Bahamian officials to grant us direct access to their financial records within their equivalent of our IRS.”
“Yes. I’m fine with doing that, by the way. My guys in Nassau are more than happy to give it a shot. I could wire them the cash
as soon as tonight if—”
“Andrew, no. Kellan and Fallon won’t allow it, and neither will I.”
He gives me a curious look as he leans back into his chair, the grey suit bringing out the sharpness of his features and the
silvery specks in his hazel eyes. “Are you sure? Why won’t any of you allow it? I thought they were itching to put their parents
away for life,” he asks.
“They’re dedicated to that scope of the mission, yes, but the idea is to do it legally,” I reply.
“Are you sure?”
“What are you trying to ask me, Andrew?”
He shrugs and stares at the numbers on the screen for a minute. “I don’t know, Luke. I’m thinking that maybe they’re too close to
the investigation, what with Bill and Elizabeth being their parents and all.”
“That’s not even an issue,” I say, shaking my head. “Kellan and Fallon are the ones spearheading the investigation. They’ve
provided us with most of the original intel.”
“Maybe they do have the best intentions. I’m not saying they’re not devoted here. Not at all. But maybe, somewhere deep
down, they could be biased enough to render them potentially problematic going forward.”
“I could say the same thing about you,” I shoot back, not liking the direction in which the conversation is being steered.
Andrew gives me a troubled look. “What do you mean?”
“Your sister, Evelyn,” I say. “She’s reportedly with the Black Pearls, and not of her own volition. Professionally speaking, that
has you carrying a subconscious bias, also. Should I consider you potentially problematic, too?”
“Not at all. My goal is to find her and get her away from them.”
He’s getting angry. It’s the first sign that his patience indeed has run thin, and I need him calm and focused, not so easily
triggered. So I take deep breath and choose my words carefully.
“Andrew, let me be honest here. We’re all emotionally invested in this, one way or another. Kellan and Fallon because of their
parents. You because of your sister. And me, well, because of all of you put together, and because this is my business, my
brainchild going to war against two incredibly powerful people and one of the most dangerous trafficking rings on this side of
the planet. There’s a lot at stake,” I say. “But we need to do this as law-abiding citizens. We need to exhaust every single legal
resource at our disposal before we consider other avenues. It may take more time, but it will lead us to a favorable and just
conclusion.”
“And what if the Cassidy’s get away?”
“We won’t let them. Not this time. I need to know I can count on you, Andrew.”
“Of course.”
“I’m serious, Andrew,” I insist. “When push comes to shove, I need to know that you won’t let your feelings regarding Evelyn
get in the way. I understand wanting to save and protect your sister, but the investigation has to come first. It’s the only way
we’ll be able to bring the Cassidy’s and the Black Pearls down. To end their reign of terror across the Midwest.”
Andrew gives me a stern look, his lips briefly pressed into a thin line. “You’ve got my word,” he says. “I am, and will continue
to be, a professional through and through, Luke. I have no interest in jeopardizing this investigation. If anything, I’m devoted to
seeing it to the end.”
“Legally.”
“Yes, legally,” he laughs nervously.
“No bribing in Nassau.”
“No bribing in Nassau,” he repeats.
“I’m serious, Andrew. We’ve all got too much to lose if this thing goes sideways. We have an upper hand now because the
Cassidy’s and the Black Pearls have no idea that we’re looking into them, that we’re aware of a connection between them. It’s
a precious detail that may prove vital to our investigation. The last thing I need is to keep an extra eye on you in case you go
haywire over your sister.”
Andrew nods in agreement. “I just want her safe, Luke. I just want her back. But I do understand that this is bigger than me. I get
it.”
“Alright, then. We’re on the same page.”
“Absolutely. But I’m serious, too. You need to make sure that Kellan and Fallon are with us. All the way to the end.”
I have no doubt about that whatsoever. There is no one more determined among us than the Cassidy twins in taking their parents
down for good. We’ve been working toward this for years, and I see their dedication on a daily basis. The subtle threats issued
against Avery and her daughters only served to stoke a fire that had already been burning since Kellan and Fallon were young.
They see Bill and Elizabeth for the monsters that they truly are. They are well aware of what’s behind the masks and they are
bringing their full force against them. We will do whatever it takes to protect our peace, our family, and our future together.
 5

A VE RY

he situation with Lauren continues to haunt me. I’ve resisted the temptation to go see her again—for now, at least. I don’t
T know how much longer I’m going to be able to keep this up, though. I’ve been Googling the crap out of Gage Lancaster,
and most of the information I’ve managed to gather about him is generic. So generic, in fact, that it’s practically useless. A
LinkedIn page that hasn’t been updated in eons, a private social media profile with just a handful of followers, and a couple of
newspaper articles from Keith County about a successful businessman coming in to buy up properties in Keystone. Nothing
else. Nothing about how he got his success, where he hails from, where he’s been, his education, nothing. It’s odd and
unsettling, especially when I think of the dread in Lauren’s eyes when she saw him approaching us that day.
I take comfort in what I have built with the guys, the family we have created. It keeps me going while I think of other ways to
approach her. I’ll try again, but I reckon I’ll have to talk to my guys about it first.
I drive Annie and Miley to school while Helen stays back with Marcus. The girls are looking forward to this year’s spring
break, since Luke said he’s taking us to the Caribbean for some sun and sea fun. It’s Annie and Miley’s first time out of the
country. I’m just as excited as the girls but also a little nervous. The nerves dwindle quickly as I remind myself that I’ve got
three fiancés and that my kids have three dads. Three strapping, handsome, strong and reliable men.
I walk the girls to their classrooms then head back to the mansion. For a brief moment, I’m tempted to turn the car around and
make my way back into Keystone, if only to catch another glimpse of my sister. She hasn’t called. Not a single text, either. I
don’t like the fact that Gage also has access to my number but I had to leave her some way of being able to reach me. My phone
buzzes, and my heart jumps. It’s not Lauren, though. It’s Kellan. They need me at the mansion as soon as possible. Something
tells me it’s going to get hairy pretty quickly, but I don’t know the extent just yet.
Twenty minutes later, I’m walking into Luke’s office in the Wolfhound Security wing of the mansion. “Hey, guys. What’s up?” I
ask, trying to mask my frayed nerves.
I find them seated around the coffee table, each wearing a hard look and a deep frown as I close the door behind me. Luke is in
his usual dark blue suit, blonde hair combed back into his signature bun and his beard freshly trimmed. Kellan is in uniform,
and Fallon sports a plaid shirt over his work jeans. Whatever this is, it brought the Cassidy brothers back here in a rush.
“What happened?” I ask, my voice trembling as I brace myself for a well-deserved berating, assuming they found out about my
little rogue trip into Keystone the other day.
“We’ve got some fresh intel about the Black Pearls,” Luke says, then motions to the empty seat next to him. “You need to sit
down for this.”
“Okay,” I say, and join them around the coffee table.
Only now do I notice the images on the wall-mounted flatscreen TV. Photos of various Black Pearl lieutenants at several
locations, open in different windows and overlapping one another. The air in the room is so heavy, it’s adding tension to my
shoulders as I try to analyze the men’s expressions.
“We’ve been able to track some of the movements of Black Pearl lieutenants across Nebraska,” Luke begins. “And we’re
narrowed some of their preferred spots in several counties, including where Bill and Elizabeth own properties.”
“That’s good, right?” I ask.
Kellan nods slowly. “It is. For the investigation, it’s really good. We’re getting closer to the hard evidence that we need.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Fallon doesn’t take his eyes off me, and I see a look of grief and concern in his green eyes. It makes me shiver on the inside.
“One of my parents’ properties is the massage parlor currently operating as the Crimson Oyster in Keystone,” he says. “They
own the space, but the business is leased out to a known Black Pearls lieutenant.”
My stomach drops. Gage Lancaster.
“On paper, he’s Gage Lancaster,” Kellan adds, each of his words smacking me in the head like bricks. “But we’ve only found
very little information about him, which leads us to confirm that it’s definitely an alias. We’ve expanded our online search to
all of Nebraska, but still, it’s not enough to draw a clear connection.”
“How do you know he’s a BP lieutenant, then?” I ask, my blood running cold.
“We’ve got photos of him associating with other members of the ring. We’ve got him on paper listed as the business owner of
the Crimson Oyster, and a tenant there,” Kellan says. “It’s more than enough to confirm some suspicions, but not enough to
secure indictments against my parents.”
“Good grief,” I mumble, trying to keep myself from fainting.
“Lauren is likely involved with the Black Pearls,” Luke says, trying to get ahead of my conclusion.
As much as I hate it, I know it’s time for me to come clean with what I already know. Honesty is always the better policy where
Kellan, Fallon, and Luke are concerned, so I take a deep breath and decide to rip the band-aid off as smoothly as possible.
“She’s not just involved with the Black Pearls,” I reply, shaking in my seat. “She’s engaged to Gage Lancaster.”
My three men stare at me with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. No one is blowing up, though, so I inhale and exhale
slowly, waiting, wondering if the explosion is imminent. But Kellan just clears his throat and eyes me intently.
“How do you know that, Avery?”
“I went to see her a few days ago,” I tell him. “I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have, but she’s my sister. I was worried, and I just
wanted to see if—”
“You don’t have to justify your decision,” Kellan cuts me off. “But we would’ve appreciated knowing about it, Avery. Luckily,
you’re here with us and not locked up in some basement.”
I let that sink in for a few seconds.
“Just don’t do it again,” Fallon warns me. “How the fuck are we supposed to protect you if we don’t know what you’re up to?”
There it is. The muted anger. “I know.”
“Avery, it’s okay,” Luke cuts in with a gentle, forgiving smile. “Just seriously, don’t do it again. We wouldn’t have stopped you,
but we would’ve made sure there was at least one person with you there, that’s all.”
“I should’ve told you.”
“Hey, it’s fine,” Kellan assures me. “You’re safe and that’s all that matters. We’ll spank you upstairs in the playroom later,” he
adds with a wink.
My cheeks burn red. My ears are hot as I look at each of these men and thank the universe for having brought them into my life.
I reckon I’d be dead without them, and my girls would be—I don’t even want to think about it. Kellan is right. What’s done is
done. What we do next matters most.
“So what did you gather from your encounter with Lauren?” Luke asks. “Did you actually meet Gage Lancaster?”
“And then some,” I breathe, shuddering as I recall the moment. “I can tell you one thing for sure—Lauren is terrified of him.
She might be there by his side, but she’s terrified. I’m willing to bet she’s in a similar situation to the relationship I had with
Daniel and I believe Gage is holding something over her head. Whether it’s money or—”
“Could be narcotics,” Kellan suggests.
“Oh, God,” I manage, tears pricking my eyes. “I was trying to talk to her before she got in her car to leave. I think I would’ve
had a chance to get through to her if Gage hadn’t shown up. The man has money, he dresses well, wears expensive, custom-
tailored suits and the kind of Rolex that tells you he’s the big Kahuna. He had his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulder the
entire time. Lauren looked so small and scared, barely able to speak.”
“What did Gage say to you?” Luke asks.
“He told me that he saved Lauren from the streets. That they love each other, and that she’s grateful to be in his life. Sounded a
lot like Daniel, to be honest. It made my blood boil,” I reply. “He also said that he’s running a perfectly legitimate, tax-paying
business. Oh, and that I wasn’t welcome there anymore because I make Lauren uncomfortable. She didn’t disagree, but I’ll
attribute that to the Stockholm Syndrome. She’s clearly trapped there, Luke. She’s trapped and she’s scared and probably thinks
there is no way out for her.”
“It’s what traffickers usually do,” Kellan sighs deeply. “They love-bomb their victims, catching them at their most vulnerable,
and then push them into a vicious cycle where the girls depend on them for everything while performing various services for
them.”
He doesn’t need to go into the details of what that means. I know what it means, and it horrifies me to know that Lauren is stuck
there, in that place, with those people. My skin crawls as I try to think of ways to get her out of the Crimson Oyster, but then I
remember I gave her my number and I feel even worse. “I gave her my card with my number,” I mumble, lowering my gaze.
“Which means Gage has it, too.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Fallon grunts, but Kellan gives him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
“I’m sure Avery used her work number. The one we first got her, listed under that fake name,” he says, then calmly looks at me.
“Right?”
“Yes. Precisely. So they can’t trace it back to me, to this place.”
“For now,” Luke says. “But that’s not the issue. As far as Gage is concerned, you’re just Lauren’s sister. The issue is that they
had CCTV in that place. I noticed it when we first walked in. Which means our faces are probably in their system and they
most likely know who we are since facial recognition software is easier to come by these days.”
“They don’t know we’re investigating the Black Pearls, though,” Kellan reminds him. “So we still have the upper hand there.”
“I need to go back to the Crimson Oyster,” Luke says.
“You just said they had your face on CCTV,” Fallon scoffs.
“I need to go back there, too,” I interject, a thousand thoughts shooting through my head at once. “I have to see Lauren again,
talk some sense into her, get her to come home with me.”
“Hold on,” Luke raises his voice. “Let’s take a deep breath here and address this one issue at a time. First and foremost, no,
Avery, you’re not going back there. You were already seen and registered as unwelcome. It’s too risky.”
“But—”
“No buts,” he cuts me off. “End of discussion.” He then looks at Fallon and Kellan. “Second, yes they got my mug on their
cameras, but that’s easily resolved. Remember that I have some excellent undercover kits, and I intend to use one just for this
occasion.”
Kellan and Fallon exchange amused glances.
“What’s he talking about?” I ask.
“We’ve got a friend in the CIA,” Kellan explains. “He hooked us up with some makeup and prosthetics from one of their high-
end suppliers, the kind of stuff they use to infiltrate embassies and private compounds that have top-of-the-line facial
recognition systems. These undercover kits are good enough to get past them.”
“Does it have to be you, though?” I ask, now worried about his well-being too. “Why not send one of your agents?”
“Because none of them have my training,” Luke says.
Fallon can’t help but smile. “I’ll give you that, you slippery motherfucker.”
“Luke is brilliant in espionage, though he rarely uses his knowledge and skills in the field. He used to, back in the early days of
Wolfhound,” Kellan explains. “We only had a handful of agents back then and couldn’t spare a single one for certain missions,
so Luke had to step in.”
“It’s been a while,” Luke says. “But I’m confident.”
“So then, what is the plan, exactly?” I ask him, sitting on the edge of my seat.
“The plan? Well, I wouldn’t call it a plan per se,” he replies, leaning back into his chair. “I wanna go back in there, pose as a
client on my own and scope out the place, get a feel for what kind of vibe is going on there. And I want to take a look at the
employees—who they are, where they came from, what they’re like. If it’s a Black Pearls holdout like we suspect it is, then
it’ll be a useful exercise. Besides, if I see Lauren again, I can at least make sure she’s okay. I’ll study the dynamic while I’m in
there, get a feel for the girls and their interaction. There’s a lot I can do undercover.”
It sounds reasonable enough, but it still doesn’t soothe me. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Not if the business is as legitimate as they claim it is,” Luke replies. “On paper, it appears legit. Therefore, I’d need a much
deeper undercover persona to get to the real nitty gritty. As a client, I’ll be able to observe things better than I would as an
official investigator.”
“Deep undercover would be far too complex and dangerous,” Kellan says. “You’d have to approach a Black Pearls operative,
and you would need verifiable street credibility in order to get their attention. That takes months to set up. So, yeah, having you
go in as a client might work.”
Fallon nods slowly. “We’ll be right outside. You know that, right? Anything goes wrong, anything feels off, you call us. You
hear me?”
“I hear you,” Luke shoots back with a smile.
I’m worried about Luke and I am scared for Lauren. Does she know who it is she’s dealing with? She has to. Oh, God, what if
she’s in as deep as Andrew’s sister, Evelyn? Trapped in their sick system, forced to perform and unable to leave? Lauren
didn’t have a mark on her—at least none that I could see—so I don’t suspect physical violence. What if Kellan is right, and
they’re keeping her doped up on something? The worst thoughts gather between my ears, voices screaming with concern and
anguish as I try to shut it all out.
Lauren needed me when we were kids and instead of protecting her all the way into adulthood like she deserved, I left. I left
with Daniel and spent years regretting that decision. If Luke can get into the Crimson Oyster and help us get her out, however, I
might have a second chance. I might find redemption in her forgiveness. Provided she’s willing to listen.
 6

L UKE

he transformation really is quite something.

T I take one last look in the rearview mirror of my black SUV before I get out. I’ll miss my long hair, but this short style
suits me more than fine. Avery thinks it makes me look younger. I’ll miss the beard, too, but the clean-shaven look helps with
my disguise. It’ll grow back fast enough, though I wonder how Avery will like the smoothness later tonight. We’re supposed to
meet in the playroom, just the two of us, while Kellan and Fallon stay on in Keystone after I’m done. They’ve decided to stake
out the place, observing from the outside.
The contact lenses I’m wearing contain tiny micro-circuits. They’re embedded onto the lens and will only affect the cameras,
scrambling their signal enough to cause a flare on the screen, which will disallow identifying me in case they do have any
facial recognition software. I’m wearing a black silk shirt and Ralph Lauren jeans, along with my classiest wristwatch and my
most expensive cologne, though I don’t normally like pulling this kind of weight into a place. But I need to come across as
filthy rich and influential enough to have my whims addressed in there, so I have to step out of my comfort zone.
I think I’ll pass the “rich prick” test.
Looking both ways and noticing Kellan and Fallon’s civilian car parked a few yards farther down the road, I cross the street
and approach the Crimson Oyster bouncer. It’s a chilly spring night. It’s also a weeknight, so there’s not much traffic and I like
that. The fewer people around me, the easier it is to tune them out and focus on the mission.
As I approach the entrance, I notice that it’s not the same guy standing outside from the first night we came here, so hopefully
it’ll be easier for me to get in. You never know with these bouncers—some are as dumb as a bag of rocks but brawny enough to
do the job, and others have the kind of mnemonic memory that would scare the daylights out of MIT scientists.
“I’m interested in a good backrub from a beautiful woman tonight.”
“Sure, go on in,” the security guy replies and opens the door for me.
Smiling, I walk in and analyze the reception area more closely this time. It seems more tranquil, for some reason. The same
receptionist is at the front desk but I can tell she doesn’t recognize me from the other night. In fact, she greets me with a most
lascivious smile as she perks up and says, “Good evening and welcome to the Crimson Oyster.” Her voice is as sweet as
honey though her eyes are devoid of any sparkle. “How may I help you?”
“Good evenin’ darlin’,” I reply, one hand in my pocket as I casually approach her, mindful of my Southern drawl. I keep it
subtle, though, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. “I hear this is one of the best massage parlors in the county so I
reckon I just have to try it.”
“We dare say we’re the best in the state,” the receptionist giggles, tapping at her computer keyboard while keeping one eye on
me. She’s a beautiful girl with a preference for oriental perfume and acrylic nails that make typing a tad difficult. She’s
supposed to stand out with just a hint of the kind of impropriety that entices and draws the men in, wondering what exotic
wonders the rest of this place holds. “I’ve got a room available for you right now. Shall I book you an hour?”
“Please do,” I reply with a playful wink.
“Will that be cash or card?”
She shows me the screen, and I hand her one of my undercover cards—a Black Platinum with a credit line that covers basically
anything without a hitch. She raises an eyebrow and smiles as she puts the card through the reader and confirms the extravagant
sale. This place is anything but cheap, yet I did notice that I wasn’t offered a wider set of services and options with my
massage.
“I’ll keep your card on file for any additional fees,” the receptionist says.
“What did I just pay for, then?”
“The privilege of walking past those doors,” she replies, nodding at a set of silvery double doors with S-shaped handles.
“Everything else will be charged at the end, once you’re done. Our massage therapists will give you the menu with all the
options available. You pick what you desire, and they will gladly provide. Once you’re finished, you’ll come back here, and
we’ll complete the sale with the updated fees.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I chuckle softly and slip the card back into my alligator-skin wallet. “Through there, then?”
“Not yet, your massage therapist will come and get you in a minute. You can take a seat in the meantime.” She walks me over to
a posh waiting area. “Can I offer you a drink while you wait?”
“Nah, I’m good, thank you. I think I’m saving myself for later.”
She laughs lightly before heading back to her computer. Of course, she always has one eye on me. I don’t mind. She’s supposed
to stay cautious, especially in a place like this. On paper, Gage Lancaster listed it right—legitimate, clean, fully authorized and
with every single work contract drawn in accordance with state and federal laws. At first sight, there isn’t a single violation
that comes to mind, at least where the reception is concerned. Everything seems designed and outfitted to keep the inspectors
happy and the customers satisfied.
Soft music plays somewhere in the background. Judging by the blueprints I looked over before coming here tonight, we’re
dealing with twelve rooms that are likely used for “massage therapy.” Twelve rooms and just as many bathrooms, along with a
back office, a storage area, and a basement space that I would love to get into given the chance. If they’ve got anything hinky
going on here, the basement is a good place to start to look for evidence.
A few minutes pass in relative silence while I keep stealing glances at the receptionist. She definitely doesn’t recognize me,
and I feel a little more relaxed to proceed with the plan.
The double doors open, and my massage therapist arrives. It’s Lauren. Much like her colleague, she stares at me for a short
second, then smiles and motions for me to join her.
“Good evening, Mr. Jones,” she says, as sweetly as any girl would welcome a man into a most private space. I can see the
resemblance to Avery so clearly, now. “Come, let’s go loosen you up a little.”
Lauren’s hair may have been dyed ginger, but I bet she’s more beautiful in her natural shade of blonde. Slimmer and slightly
taller than Avery, she carries herself with a certain kind of ephemeral grace, her blue eyes scanning me from head to toe. She’s
wearing a lot of makeup though I wouldn’t expect her complexion to need so much coverage. That is, unless her skin bears the
scars of illicit substance abuse, in which case she would require it to hide the effects.
Right away I can tell she’s putting on a show for her clients, playing a role that she doesn’t want to be in.
“Good evening. I didn’t catch your name,” I say as I follow her through the double doors and into a wide, dimly lit hallway
with black wallpaper and chrome-plated wall sconces shaped like clams.
“Lauren,” she replies, leading the way.
The tight, red wrap dress she’s wearing complements her figure, black pumps clicking across the marble floor. There’s not a
hair out of place, and she smells of Greek springs with blossoming mandarin trees and a hint of salt from the sea . Everything
about Lauren is meant to inspire seduction and tranquility, certainly not what I would expect from a massage therapist—not a
legitimate one, anyway. It makes my heart ache. No wonder Avery is so nervous and worried about her little sister. Lauren
certainly doesn’t belong in a place like this.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lauren,” I say.
We go into one of the many rooms lining the hallway. It’s small enough to feel cozy and intimate but with enough breathable
space. The walls are painted a dark red, the floor a smooth walnut hardwood. The windows are shuttered and covered by tall,
black velvet curtains, and a single brass chandelier hangs from the ceiling, casting a soft light.
“I need to ask you a couple of questions before we proceed with your massage session,” Lauren says, standing at the head of
the massage table. “Please be advised that each of our rooms features a CCTV system complete with audio recording
capabilities.”
“Oh, wow, you’re serious,” I chuckle nervously, playing my part.
“We’re a legitimate business, Mr. Jones, and the safety of our employees is paramount,” she replies mechanically, repeating
phrases I’m certain she has memorized by heart. “Do you consent?”
“I do. Lauren, I just wanna blow off some steam. I don’t care who’s watching.”
“The basic service will cost you two hundred for twenty minutes,” she says. “Every additional service is another twenty
minutes, the cost varying between four and fifteen hundred dollars. Please take a moment to look over the price list on the
credenza for details and tell me what you would like for me to do.”
Her eyes look hollow. It’s as if she left her spirit in the hallway, and only her body is present. I give her a wry smile as I go
over the list, inwardly disgusted by what I’m reading. “Lauren, what if I want something that’s… let’s say, off the menu. And
with the cameras off?”
“What would that be?” she asks, frowning slightly. “Like I said, the security of our staff is paramount.”
“I need to whisper it in your ear.”
Lauren hesitantly obliges, coming closer with uneasy steps. I lean in and whisper so the cameras won’t capture my message.
“Avery is worried about you. I’m only here to make sure you’re okay and I’d like to talk to you without the cameras. Will you
do that for me? I’ll be gone and you’ll never see me again, I promise. She just needs peace of mind.”
She stiffens and takes a couple of steps back, nervously gazing at one of the cameras.
A moment later, Lauren nods. “It’ll be two thousand for ten minutes.”
“Wow.”
“It’s a special request.”
“You drive a hard bargain,” I laugh lightly. “Alright, deal me in, Lauren. I’ll take the special for just ten minutes, then.”
She smiles lasciviously, then heads over to the side table and takes a small remote out of a slim drawer. I glance up and see the
blinking lights on the cameras turn off as she presses a button. She sets the remote down then slowly walks over to the door,
locking it. Without warning, she whirls around with a furious look on her face.
“Are you insane?” she hisses. “If management finds out she’s still snooping around—”
“Lauren, I need you to take a deep breath and understand that your sister is genuinely worried about you,” I say. “Furthermore, I
can see why she’s worried, and I share her concern. I’m a little more seasoned, and I can tell from a single glance that this is
anything but a legitimate massage parlor. I also know how this place operates and why the cops haven’t come crashing through
the doors yet.”
“Then why are you doing this? Just tell Avery to leave me alone, for her own sake.”
“I’d love to be able to do that, Lauren, but let’s be honest here. You’re not okay,” I say. “You can’t hide it anymore—it’s
written all over your face.”
“You’ve got it all wrong,” she insists. “I’m good, I’m really good. I’ve got a job here, a fiancé who loves me, a roof over my
head—”
“Is that what you tell yourself to sleep at night?” I cut her off. If your fiancé really loved you, he wouldn’t put you in a position
where you’re doing what you’re doing on a daily basis.”
She lowers her gaze, her voice fading with shame. “It’s too late for me.”
“It’s never too late to get out.”
“I don’t know how. There’s no point in trying.”
“Let me help you.”
She looks at me in sheer confusion. “How could you possibly help? Who are you? Do you even know who it is you’re dealing
with?”
“Yes. I know who I’m dealing with. All I need you to do right now is to let me meet some of the other girls. I need a clearer
picture of what this place is really like on the inside.”
Lauren shakes her head. “I can’t give you a tour of the parlor. The rooms are private.”
“Don’t you have a lounge area, a breakroom, somewhere for you and the girls to just chill in between clients?” My skin pricks
all over as I think of what these women must be going through, forced into this life by men with power and money, violent men
who love tormenting and abusing the innocent. I see it in her eyes. The fear, the doubt. Avery was right. “Just show me that
room, let me see some of the girls, and I’ll know what to do next.”
“Why do you need to see other girls?”
I give her a soft smile. “Because your faces tell me more than your words ever will, Lauren. The more I see, the better I
understand the situation and how to approach it in a way that keeps you and the other girls safe.”
“Who are you?” she asks again.
“Consider me a friend,” I tell her. “Avery is my soulmate. I love her more than anything in this world, and I have the resources
and the knowledge to make sure that her sister is safe. Let me help you, Lauren, and I promise you will be okay. There is a
better life waiting for you outside of these walls, but your so-called fiancé would never let you see it, because then you
wouldn’t depend on him anymore.”
She gives it a minute, mulling over the possibilities. I’m sure she’s considered going to the police or the Feds more than once,
but the Black Pearls are keeping a tight lid on the whole operation. Their reign is defined through terror, dread, and
manipulation. Yet if Lauren is inclined to help me, then all isn’t lost—not for her, at least. There’s still a chance.
“Okay,” Lauren sighs deeply. “But just a peep. I’ll tell them you were looking for the bathroom and got lost. They’ll spot you
on the cameras, so you’ll only have maybe a minute before one of the bouncers comes over to get you.”
“It’s more than enough. Tell me where to go,” I say. “And thank you, Lauren.”
“Don’t thank me yet. They’ll have eyes on you after you leave this place, too.”
“I can lose a tail, don’t worry.”
Lauren’s eyes shrink to sapphire-colored slits. “You’re using a fake ID, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been around the block.”
“Good.”
“And that’s all I can tell you. The rest is plausible deniability. You’ll need it, just in case,” I tell her.
She nods in agreement and unlocks the door. “At the end of the hallway, you’ll see a black door with an administration sign on
it. Go in, have a look, then excuse yourself, say you’re looking for the bathroom. Depending on which of the girls are in there
right now, you might get the information you need, or you might not. It’s all I can do without getting myself in trouble.”
“Roger that.”
“Then head straight back to reception and pay what you owe,” Lauren says. “Otherwise, they won’t let you leave. And I will
definitely get in trouble.”
“I’ve got your back, Lauren, don’t worry.”
“And tell Avery to stay away. If Gage sees her again, he’s gonna get mad, and that’s the last person she wants gunning for her.”
I give her a subtle nod and walk out of the room. She closes the door behind me, choosing to stay back while I analyze the
hallway carefully. I note the cameras mounted in strategic points along the corridor, so I pretend to look around in confusion,
gradually but swiftly making my way down to the end. I walk past other rooms and hear spine-tingling sounds oozing out of
each of them—the kind of grunts and groans that don’t belong in a massage parlor. Not at that level or that intensity. I quiver,
shaking the sickening thoughts away and focus on my mission.
Once I reach the black door with the admin sign on it, I knock once and go in. Three girls stare at me in shock and confusion,
their wide eyes filled with fear and apprehension. They can’t be older than twenty, maybe twenty-two. All of them are wearing
skimpy dresses and high-heels like Lauren’s, albeit in different colors. One blue, one lilac, and the third a vibrant green. It’s the
third one that catches my eye—she looks awfully familiar.
“Evelyn,” I whisper to myself, recognizing the girl from the few recent photos that our investigators were able to gather of her.
She has lost so much weight from what I saw in the photos, it makes my throat burn. “Sorry, ladies, I was just looking for the
bathroom,” I quip with a nonchalant smile.
“It ain’t here,” the girl in blue says, flicking a lock of curly black hair over her shoulder. I notice tattoos, bruises, and needle
marks up and down her arms, along with dark circles under her eyes that no amount of concealer can hide.
Evelyn is worse. Her brown hair is braided down her back, and she’s wearing too much makeup. Her eyes are faded and
sunken in, her collarbone protruding visibly above the dress. Her arms are sickly skinny, and her skin way too pale. I can’t tell
Andrew about this. If I do, there’s a chance he’ll try to come see for himself. I know we agreed to do things by the book, and
I’m sure he has every intention of keeping his word, but if I tell him about Evelyn’s current condition, he may go off the rails.
“Is she okay?” I ask, nodding at her.
She can barely sit up in her chair, head lolling to the side. She is clearly under the influence of something, and judging by her
labored breathing, it’s something bad.
“Mind your own beeswax,” the girl in blue says. “And get out. You’re not supposed to be in here!”
“I’m sorry,” I reply and politely withdraw from the room.
I now know what I wanted to find out, and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture. I close the door and head back to the other end of
the hallway, then straight into the reception room. The receptionist is surprised by my final bill but she runs my card through
and completes the sale, bidding me a fond farewell. It’s over in less than a minute, which is perfect, because by the time the
inside bouncers come looking for me, I’m already walking out of the parlor and crossing the street.
It’s cold out, but the shivers I’m dealing with come from what I witnessed inside.
Carefully, I look over my shoulder and notice the bouncer by the door. He’s quiet, watching me with dark eyes, but nobody else
comes out. I think I’m in the clear, so I make my way down the road and in between parked cars until I’m out of his sight. Once
I find Kellan and Fallon in their unmarked vehicle, I feel relieved.
“You good?” Kellan asks, rolling down the window on his side while Fallon keeps an eye on the parlor from afar.
“Yeah,” I say. “There is CCTV in every single room, so, you know…”
“No sneaking in after curfew, got it,” Kellan smirks dryly.
“I talked to Lauren. We may be able to flip her, but it’ll take some time. I’ll go back to the office and go over the blueprints
again, and add all the intel I’ve gathered so far,” I tell them.
“We’ll stick around for a while and watch, see what else we can find out,” he says.
“You keep Avery warm tonight,” Fallon adds.
“I will.”
I absolutely will. I need her loving arms around me, now more than ever. What I saw in there… it’ll take a while to unsee it, to
scrub it out of my mind’s eye. It’s a dirty, awful world we live in. We thought the Cassidy’s were only in the drug trade, but it
looks to be so much worse. We have to take the Black Pearls down. We have to take the Cassidy’s down for what they’re
allowing to happen in our own backyard. It’s disgusting, unfathomable, and wrong on so many levels.
Most importantly, we have to get Lauren and Evelyn out of that place, sooner rather than later. Especially Evelyn. I don’t think
she’s going to last much longer.
 7

KE L L A N

he night feels particularly long.

T It’s probably because nothing worth noting has happened in the four hours that Fallon and I have been staking out the
Crimson Oyster. It’s past midnight, and the street is mostly empty. Cars roll in but they don’t stick around. They either drop off
a customer or pick one up, while the security guard carefully watches every john that goes in and out of the place.
“They’ve got the local cops in their pocket,” Fallon concludes.
He seems too big for the passenger seat, but then again, he’s too big for most seats. When push comes to shove, my brother’s
massive size comes in handy. I’m big, but not Fallon-big. I’ve got the badge, the taser, and the gun on my side. He doesn’t need
more than his fists and the crushing force of his bodyweight.
“How can you tell?” I ask, though I already know the answer. I noticed the pattern, too.
“The deputy’s car passed by twice. They don’t even bother to slow down,” Fallon says. “What do your deputies do when
driving past suspicious venues? Even the supposedly legit massage parlors?”
“My boys slow down, always. Massage parlors, nightclubs, bars, even tattoo parlors.”
“Any place known to be affiliated with or frequented by criminal elements, right?”
“Right. No, I see it, Fallon. You’re making a fair point. This means we won’t be able to rely on the sheriff here when the shit
inevitably hits the fan,” I say. “We’ll have to gather evidence on our own and take it straight to the Feds.”
“I agree. I don’t know how much more evidence we’ll be able to get from out here, though. Luke had all of what, twenty
minutes inside?”
“Yeah.”
Fallon lets out a heavy sigh. “It’ll be like this until morning. Dudes going in, getting their rocks off, then leaving. It’s useless if
we don’t have more permanent eyes in there.”
“You read Luke’s text, didn’t you?”
“The one he sent before he got home? Yeah.”
Luke made sure we were aware of who he saw in there, aside from Lauren. He gave us clear descriptions of the receptionist
and the three other girls, including Evelyn. I shudder to think what Andrew would do in this situation, which is why the three of
us agreed to keep it from him, at least for the time being.
“Maybe we can get Evelyn out before it’s too late,” I suggest.
“How the fuck are we going to do that?” Fallon asks. “The girls are constantly watched. Those BP fuckers probably follow
them around. You know how quickly Gage caught up with Lauren when Avery went after her.”
“We could try a grab and snatch.”
Fallon chuckles dryly. “Yeah, we’ll keep an eye out and as soon as Evelyn pops out for a quick smoke, we’ll just roll by, drag
her into the backseat, then drive off like frickin’ kidnappers.”
“Technically speaking, I could do that,” I reply, half-smiling. “There’s a missing person report out on Evelyn Stanton. I could
retain her for up to twenty-four hours—long enough for Andrew to at least try and get through to her. Judging by what Luke told
us, she doesn’t have much time left.”
“You’re insane,” my brother says, but I can tell he’s flirting with the idea as hotly as me. “Worth a shot, I guess.”
We keep our eyes on the front door of the Crimson Oyster for another thirty minutes or so before we spot suspicious movement
from the alley where we know Lauren usually parks her car. It’s about ten yards away. “It’s like we summoned her,” I mutter,
watching Evelyn as she stumbles out into the street in the green dress that Luke described her in. Except she’s not alone.
“Shit…”
It only takes a couple of seconds for Fallon and me to realize what’s going on.
Evelyn is about to pass out, unable to stand on her own as two bouncers clad in black and khaki drag her away from the
Crimson Oyster’s back door and into a dark red van. A driver is waiting behind the wheel, and he doesn’t look like the friendly
type, either.
“Shit,” Fallon echoes. “See the driver?”
“Yeah, I see him.”
He quickly flips through a few photos on his phone and shows me a familiar mugshot. We know that fucker. “Anderson Stone,”
Fallon says. “BP lieutenant. Low-ranking, but one of the few we’ve seen around these parts.”
I didn’t even notice him earlier, probably because he had the van parked farther down, keeping the headlights and the engine off
while waiting for Evelyn. We’d been too focused on the parlor’s front door and almost missed this particular operation.
“What do you think they’re going to do with her?” I ask.
“Nothing good. Look at her.”
Evelyn’s head falls back as the bouncers hoist her up and throw her into the van. I can almost hear the thud of her body,
followed by the side door sliding shut. One of the guys slaps the passenger door, giving the driver the signal to drive away,
while the two of them go back inside. In the meantime, the front door bouncer pretends he doesn’t see anything, looking more
our way than theirs.
“What do we do?” Fallon asks. “It’s your call, Kellan. Do we stay here and keep watching the place, or do we follow the
van?”
I need a second. “Hold on, I’m thinking.”
“Think fast. We don’t have time,” he says.
And he’s right.
I curse under my breath and turn the key in the ignition. “Fuck it, let’s do this.”
“Wait, do what?” Fallon asks, slightly alarmed. “I need to know what I’m gearing up for.”
“We’re getting Evelyn away from these fuckers.”
“Well, then,” my brother quips as he digs through the glove compartment and takes out his 9 mm pistol, checking the safety and
the magazine clip. “It’s about to get ugly.”
“It might. Or it might not. Let me try the badge, first,” I reply and shift into drive.
The van makes its way south, and we follow from a reasonable distance, a thousand possible scenarios racing through my
head. Adrenalin courses through my veins as I brace myself for the worst, and the best, possible outcomes. Like Helen always
says, prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Though I’m not quite sure what the best looks like in this horrid situation.
“You try the badge, bro, but I’ll be ready, just in case,” Fallon says.
“I’m really hoping it doesn’t get to that,” I tell my brother. “I’m wearing my vest,” I add, following the van as we leave
Keystone behind.
“You’re not wearing Kevlar on your head, though. If I see a muzzle, bro, I’m taking the shot,” he insists, eyes on the road ahead.
“Where the hell is he taking her?”
We stay on the van’s tail, but soon enough, we’re forced to get closer as we drive into Ogallala. There’s way too much traffic
at this hour, and it’s bound to stay busy till much later. Lights flash past us. Red. Blue. Stoplights. Streetlights. Neon signs. I
focus on the van, memorizing the plate number while also trying to keep my car close enough without drawing the driver’s
attention.
“You’re gonna have to pull him over if he doesn’t stop anytime soon,” Fallon says. “You do have the emergency police light,
right?”
“Yes. It’s not my favorite scenario, though. If he sees cop lights coming for him, he might floor it.”
“Looks like he’s flooring it now!”
And Fallon is once again right. Midway down the main road through Ogallala’s bustling center, the van swerves into a tight left
and speeds off with a rabid screech of the tires, forcing other cars to hit the brakes in order to avoid a collision.
“He must’ve spotted us,” I mutter.
Next thing I know, I’m speeding through Ogallala and putting myself and my brother in considerable danger since we’re not
sporting the police lights. As far as the other traffic participants are concerned, we’re fucking maniacs driving way too fast for
anybody’s safety. But I can’t lose the van. I can’t lose Evelyn. We cannot let the Black Pearls take her away and do who knows
what to her. Andrew will never forgive himself if she slips through his fingers again. I doubt he’ll ever forgive us if we don’t
do everything in our power tonight to get her back.
Somewhere behind, a squad car turns its red and blue lights on. The siren soon follows as it comes after us.
“Oh, great. That’s the last thing we need,” I groan, my hands gripping the wheel tighter as I floor it. The engine roars as we
slide through traffic, narrowly missing several cars as I stay close to the van.
But the fucker takes another tight turn, and I find myself yanking the wheel as I hold on for dear life, as Fallon curses under his
breath, and as we barely make it without a fucking dent. The squad car is hot on our trail, which means I need to think fast
about what I’m going to do next.
I can’t lose Evelyn.
“Kellan, they definitely know we’re after them,” Fallon says.
“Which is fucked, because now it’ll get ugly. But we have to get her. They’re not taking her anywhere good.”
He knows it, and I know it.
A bright light floods my field of vision, my boot pressed into the floor, the engine roaring as we speed through narrower and
narrower intersections. Who the fuck uses their long-range headlights in the middle of city traffic? I exhale a slew of expletives
but as soon as the light fades and I’m able to see ahead of us again, I realize we’ve just passed a red light. There’s a truck
coming from the left. The loud horn makes my ears hurt.
“Fuck!” I hear Fallon gasp as the truck clips the back of our car.
We’re spinning, and I’m yanked left and right as I struggle to regain control, wheels screeching as I gradually pump the brakes
until we stop, ass first into the traffic light’s pillar. The van is long gone, red taillights fading into the night, as my worst fear
becomes a blistering reality. We lost Evelyn.
Even if I continue with my pursuit now, we’ll never catch up.
“They’re gone,” I whisper.
Red and blue lights get brighter, the siren louder, as the cop car makes it over to our position. Fallon mutters something, but I
can barely hear him. The blood works its way up into my head, the slight dizziness overwhelming my senses. We’re going to
have to talk our way out of a hefty fine, or worse, because we suspect the local sheriff of being in cahoots with the Black
Pearls.
We’re going to have to go home and look Andrew in the eyes. Fuck.
“We can’t tell him,” Fallon briefly concludes as the deputy jumps out of his car, hand already on his gun while the confused
driver wobbles beside his truck, steam rolling from under the hood. “We can’t tell Andrew.”
 8

A VE RY

t’s late when I wake up to a soft knock on the door. I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep in the playroom waiting for Luke.
I We’d agreed to meet at around ten in the evening, but I must’ve dozed off. Given the day I’ve had, it doesn’t exactly come as
a surprise. What does surprise me is the torn look on his face when he comes in.
I’m on the massive bed, snuggled into the soft covers and wearing nothing but the pearl necklace he got me for Christmas. It’s
his favorite, and I know he loves it when I wear it on our solo nights in particular.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he says, slowly coming closer.
“Are you okay?” I ask, sitting up with a warm smile.
Luke stills at the foot of the bed, slipping out of his clothes without taking his eyes off me. “My God, you look spectacular,
Avery. You’re the reason I’m always looking forward to coming home,” he whispers.
“That’s good to know,” I giggle, my hair flowing over one shoulder.
“I’m not okay, baby, but I will be soon enough.”
“What happened?”
“I wouldn’t even know where to start,” Luke says, now naked and gloriously hard. My fingers are itching to feel every inch of
him, of his hardness. “Can I hold you?”
I nod and move closer, getting up on my knees as his arms wrap around me. “Of course,” I whisper.
“I missed this.”
“What?”
“Being here, just the two of us,” he says.
I melt in his embrace, breathing him in with every inhale. He smells of a warm summer morning on a Greek island, of citrus
and sunshine, of sea and salt. We kiss, and it feels so deep, so intimate and precious as our lips meet shyly in the heart of the
night. Our tongues play, swirling and tasting, while his hands work their way up my bare back, his touch leaving tendrils of fire
running down my spine.
“I missed it, too,” I mumble in between kisses, but the flames burning in our hearts soon take over, our bodies doing the talking
for us.
Luke’s grip on the back of my head is firm as he trails kisses down the side of my neck, wet and hot and simmering with desire,
his hand traveling down my body until it finds my breast, full and soft to the touch. Squeezing it gently, he listens to my growing
whimpers as he subtly bites the skin stretching over my clavicle, liquid fire quick to gather between my legs.
“Lay down, my love,” he says, then watches as I oblige.
I stare at him for a while, still standing and hard as a rock between my parted legs, my breath hitched with anticipation. He
smiles, and it’s as if the sun itself is beaming down at me. Slowly, he gets on the bed and tastes my pussy, his mouth making
love to each slick fold, his tongue tracing the sizzling droplets of arousal as his lips close around my swollen clit.
“Oh, yes…” I gasp as he suckles the nub with growing intensity.
I’m holding on to the bedspread as he goes down and deeper on me. He squeezes and massages my flesh, fingers pinching the
nipples until the deliciously stinging pain sends bolts of lightning through my whole body, my hips rising to meet his mouth.
Tension gathers in my core as he continues to lick and suck everything I have to give while his fingers dig deeper, holding me
down, possessing me, claiming me as his, forever.
It’s so intimate, so tender yet so fucking intense, I can’t hold on for much longer.
I’m close to the edge when his tongue slides inside me.
But then he devours my clit, sucking it harder and harder, and I can’t take it anymore.
“Oh, Luke, yes, baby, YES!” It’s all I can say as I come undone, unraveling like a ball of yarn thrown across the entirety of the
cosmos.
His breathing is ragged, his heartbeat echoing mine as he positions himself between my legs and penetrates me with his full
length. I’m filled to the brim as my pussy still quivers from a shimmering climax.
“Fuck, you’re so hot, Avery,” Luke manages as he starts moving—slowly, at first, his massive cock stretching me, priming me,
preparing me for what is yet to come. He slips an arm around my waist, supporting his weight onto his elbow as he holds me
close.
We kiss, our eyes locked on each other, while his other hand grabs my breast, tightly, mercilessly, as he starts fucking me
deeper and harder. The rhythm is our own, my hips rising as I suckle his lower lip and welcome each thrust.
“Touch yourself,” he commands me. “I wanna feel you come again.”
It’s my favorite thing to do, and he knows it. My hand sneaks between us, fingers pressing and massaging my sensitive clit as he
fucks me into another world. Deeper. Harder. He’s pounding into me as I bring my knees higher to better receive him, as I lock
my legs around him so he can go even deeper.
I’m rubbing myself harder, fingers slick with my own arousal as his pulse accelerates. His kisses grow hungrier, ravenous as I
surrender to him. I clench myself tightly around his magnificent cock, veins throbbing along the shaft as I listen to the sound of
skin on skin, as sweat drips down our bodies, as he lets himself go and thrusts himself so deep that I nearly explode.
“Fuck me!” I cry out, my pussy tightening as the electrical surge becomes unbearable within my core. His eyes darken as he
takes me, consumes me, as he pushes harder and harder.
“That’s it, baby, come for me.”
“Come for me,” I mirror his words as we look deep into each other’s eyes.
I feel him as he explodes inside me and spills his seed, the sudden release making me shudder in his embrace. Each thrust is
now complete and raw abandonment, our souls dissolving into each other, as the orgasm envelops us and we become one.
“I love you so much, Avery, you’re so perfect,” he whispers against my lips.
“I love you,” I manage, feeling every inch of him, every glorious fucking inch as though he’s always been a part of me, the
missing piece of the puzzle that I’ve been dying to feel inside of me.
Each of my men makes me feel whole again. When I’m with all three, I’m the queen of the universe. But there is something
special about the intimate one on one nights that carry a magic and distinctive pleasure of their own. Luke is so sweet and
loving tonight, so present and all-consuming, yet I can’t help but feel a touch of worry. There’s something off about him, an
underlying pain that I can’t quite touch. Not yet anyway.
As we come down from the heavens, I feel his pain throbbing against my chest as though it were my own. As we melt into the
afterglow, kissing and breathing each other in, I know he’ll tell me what it is when he’s ready. Until then, however, I will hold
my man close, showering him with love and affection, with the sweet kisses and soft touches that he deserves.
“I need to tell you something,” Luke finally says, staring at the ceiling.
My head rests on his shoulder, my finger drawing invisible circles across his broad chest. I’ve been waiting to hear those
words. He just needed to unwind first, to lose himself completely before he could tell me. I am worried about what it is he has
to say to me, probably because I know it can’t be anything good. Luke has always struggled with the bad news, always
protecting me.
“What is it?” I ask, my voice soft and hopefully reassuring enough to take some of his edge off.
“It’s about Lauren.”
Instantly, my body stiffens. “Is she okay?”
“For now, yes,” he says.
“You went undercover tonight,” I mumble, remembering the earlier conversation we had about him going into the Crimson
Oyster for a proper reconnaissance mission. Not that I’d forgotten anything of what was discussed, but I knew Luke would tell
me once he was ready. He’s ready now. “Did you see her?”
“Yes,” he replies, his gaze slowly traveling from the ceiling downward to meet mine. “She’s undoubtedly suffering from a
severe form of Stockholm Syndrome, Avery. The Black Pearls have had her for years, now, and she can no longer imagine a
life outside of those walls. But she did help me with what little she could.”
“And what about Gage?”
“He’s definitely a high-ranking lieutenant, if not more,” he says. “And he’s the one who conditioned Lauren, I’m sure of it. She
is torn between dread and gratitude. The trauma bond runs deep with her, and I don’t know how we’ll manage to get her out of
there without going to war with the Black Pearls.”
I shudder to even imagine the ordeals that Lauren has had to endure over the years. The conditioning. The breadcrumbing used
to reel her in, to keep her hooked and dependent upon these monsters. The more I think about it, the deeper my pain and guilt
run, ripping through me like rusty, unsharpened scythes.
“There has to be a way to make her see the truth,” I manage, swallowing back tears.
“She’s a victim of the Black Pearls. All the girls there are victims.”
“You saw other girls?”
“A few more, yes. Thanks to Lauren, actually. She took a chance to show me, which is why I know she means well; she
understands that none of what’s happening in there is okay,” Luke says. “The reason I’m sharing this with you, Avery, is for you
to know that she’s not all lost, not yet anyway. Despite her abrasiveness, despite her rejection, the old Lauren is still very much
there, and well aware that she can still turn things around.”
“What do we do, then?” I ask him.
“I’m not sure yet,” he replies. “Patience is a must. With victims of such conditioning, we can’t move too fast, and we can’t
overwhelm Lauren, either. She could run back if we force her out of there. She might need to return to what is familiar, no
matter how awful it actually is because change can be scary, especially for a young woman in her situation. For Gage to trap
her the way he did, she must’ve been in terrible shape when he first found her. It’s how they hold power over their victims—
making them feel like there is no safety, no life, and no way to survive outside their cage.”
“How much patience? Like, how long are we talking about? Every day that Lauren is in there is one day closer to… I don’t
even want to think about it!”
Suddenly restless, I sit up, shaking like a leaf as I try to get out of bed, but Luke pulls me back and holds me close, the warmth
of his body seeping into mine and melting my anxiety like butter in a hot pan. “Avery, take deep breaths, my love. You’ve only
just found her. She’s endured years of this. First, there was the inevitable resentment of you leaving, but do not fault yourself
for that anymore, please. You did what you had to do, alright? It was your mother’s job to protect you both. You were only
trying to save yourself and don’t forget you were just a kid.”
“I left her behind.”
“Yes, you did, but you had no choice. Remember that. After she left, Lauren had hard choices to make too. Much like you, she
sought comfort and protection in the arms of the wrong people. She could’ve ended up dead by now, but she’s still alive, and
there’s a part of her that still desires freedom. All hope is not lost here, and I need you to hold on to that while we figure out a
way to extricate Lauren from the Black Pearls.”
“How will you even go about it? Gage is on her like white on rice, he won’t let her out of his sight unless she’s inside the
Crimson Oyster, working.”
He nods slowly, taking a deep breath as he thinks about it. “We’ve taken people out of bad situations before,” he says. “We’ll
need a good angle and some time to figure out the worst-case scenarios. We’ll need to chisel away at her defenses, too. Her
conditioning runs deep, and we don’t want to risk Lauren running back to Gage once we do manage to get her out of there. But
most importantly, Avery, we can’t keep hovering around that place. It’ll tip the BP off, and if they close up shop in Keystone, I
don’t know if we’ll manage to track them again before it’s too late. They have a tendency to disappear when they feel the cops
or the Feds are getting too close.”
The idea of losing Lauren again fills me with dread. “We can’t let them take her away.”
“Which is why I went undercover tonight. Why Kellan and Fallon are still watching the place. We’re looking for ways to latch
onto the Black Pearls without them knowing. We have the upper hand for the time being. But I need you to stay away from
Lauren while we devise an appropriate plan.”
I give Luke a worried frown. “I could talk to her again, though. I could try to get through to her.”
“No, Avery. The last time you went over there, you met Gage fuckin’ Lancaster, and I don’t even want to imagine what
would’ve happened if you’d crossed him. These aren’t people you want to mess with. They’re infinitely worse than Daniel or
Toby or any other psychopath, for that matter. They’re running a multi-million-dollar business at the expense of innocent
women’s livelihoods. They’ve got too much to lose. Tell me you understand how dangerous it is for you to go back there.”
“I understand.”
I really do. But it doesn’t mean I accept any of it. Maybe I should take a step back and think about it, long and hard, until I
gather the patience I need to stick it out like Luke wants me to. But the years I’ve spent away from Lauren, the years I’ve spent
letting her down while she struggled to survive on her own… those are years that I will never get back, years that I will never
be able to erase, and they weigh heavily upon my shoulders, upon a heart that has already been broken in more ways than one.
It's not fair that Lauren has to keep living in that horrific hell while I lavishly explore a new life with three wonderful men and
my kids in this gorgeous mansion, growing my career and healing my soul. It’s not fair that I’m getting the lemonade while she’s
still getting pummeled with lemons, so to speak.
I know I should listen to Luke and follow his advice.
But part of me already knows that it will be close to impossible.
 9

A VE RY

couple of days go by in unsettling silence. Kellan and Fallon have been out of sight, keeping busy with their day jobs and
A actively avoiding the mansion during the day. Luke won’t tell me why, either. But they only seem to come around after
seven p.m., after Andrew has left for the day. Helen thinks that’s just a coincidence, but I have my doubts. Luke told me
that he saw Evelyn while he was undercover, drugged out of her mind. He also asked me to keep that information to myself,
since he and the guys were worried about how Andrew might react. I know how I reacted upon realizing where Lauren was so
I totally get it.
“Have you seen Luke today?” Andrew asks as we cross paths downstairs in the main lobby.
He’s on his way out, laptop bag on one shoulder as he runs a hand through his short brown hair. I give him a wary smile as I
shake my head. “He’s been really busy,” I say. “I haven’t seen much of any of them myself.”
“I see…”
“Is there something you’d like me to tell them?”
“Nothing I can’t tell them myself,” Andrew says. “I’ll give them another call, maybe one of them will answer this time.”
He’s about to walk out the door, but my guilt won’t let me just turn away from him, and I can’t betray the guys, either so the
only thing my conscience will allow is a little white lie to keep Andrew close and calm for a while longer. “Andrew, they have
days like these, sometimes. Their jobs, their issues with the Cassidy’s, their clients—all of this you’re aware of, I know. It can
be overwhelming, that’s all. But they will be back soon enough, I promise. They trust you enough to run their company while
they’re away.”
“You’re right,” he replies, smiling over his shoulder. “You have yourself a wonderful evening, Avery.”
“You, too, Andrew.”
Kellan, Fallon, and Luke make their way up the front steps of the mansion just as he’s about to head out. I can see them through
the open door, and the looks on their faces fill me with gloom and crippling fear. I’ve seen that darkness in their eyes before,
and it’s making my stomach tighten with anxiety.
“Hey, guys,” Andrew says, taking a couple of steps back. “I was just looking for you.”
“Andrew, we need to talk,” Kellan replies.
As soon as those words leave his lips, I already know what he’s about to say. The grief and the horror are quick to wrap
themselves around me as I follow the four of them into the study. Andrew doesn’t say anything as Kellan sits him down and
Fallon gives him a double shot of scotch. I break into a cold sweat while Luke stays close to me, his arm slowly coming up
around my shoulders.
“There’s no easy way to say this,” Kellan finally declares, taking a deep breath. “They found Evelyn’s body earlier today.”
“What?” Andrew murmurs, his voice a whisper.
His eyes widen, pain glistening as tears quickly gather, overwhelming his ability to respond. He slips into a state of shock as
Kellan proceeds with the details, though I can tell he’s leaving a lot out of his account.
“We tried to get her away from them, Andrew, I swear. We did our best. We even got in trouble with the local sheriff over it,
but we failed. I’m sorry.”
“Wait, you knew she was there?” Andrew manages, his gaze stuck on the floor.
“We’ve spent the past few days looking for Evelyn, scouring through every piece of CCTV footage that we could get our hands
on,” Kellan adds. “I had my deputies searching the whole county. Luke sent agents out into Keith County, as well, but we
couldn’t find anything.”
“The Black Pearls are very good at covering their tracks. We knew that going in,” Luke says. “For what it’s worth, Wolfhound
Security will cover all of Evelyn’s funeral expenses. Whatever else you need, Andrew, we’re here for you.”
He nods slowly, but I know that look of grief too well.
I understand. This is his worst nightmare come true. He probably feels like he let his sister down, he probably feels
responsible for her death—and that isn’t something one easily can come back from. It’s as if I’m looking at my own future. It’s
too much to bear, and Luke’s embrace isn’t enough to soothe my shocked senses.
“Did she suffer?” Andrew asks.
The air in the room suddenly feels cold and thick. There is something shifting deep within him. I feel the chills as they tumble
down my spine, and I can almost hear the wheels turning in his mind, a mechanism of revenge clicking through, each piece
fitting the other with sharp and frightening precision.
“We spoke to the coroner,” Kellan says, exchanging brief glances with Fallon and Luke.
“It was an overdose,” Fallon takes over, and I can tell from Kellan’s subtle frown that it wasn’t an overdose at all. “She passed
quickly. She didn’t suffer, more than likely passing out into what must’ve felt like a deep sleep.”
It’s a lie, I know it.
But it’s meant to help Andrew. It’s meant to make him feel better.
I doubt it does much.
“Thank you,” Andrew says and gets up, downing the scotch before he sets the glass on the side table. “I think I need some air.”
“One of us can drive you home,” Luke replies.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll call a cab.”
“There’s no need for that. Fallon can give you a ride,” Kellan insists.
“I said I’m fine!” Andrew snaps and storms out of the study.
A few seconds later, we all hear the front door banging shut behind him. As soon as he’s gone, I feel like I can breathe again,
but the thoughts that flood my mind are anything but comforting. After Evelyn, Lauren could be next. Minutes pass in unbearable
silence as we stare at each other.
I’m not sure that my men fully understand how deep this pain runs.
How easily it can cloud one’s judgment.
“He’ll do something stupid,” Fallon concludes bluntly.
“He just lost his sister,” I tell him, my tone clipped.
But the look that Fallon gives me sets me back a bit. “He lost her years ago, Avery. And he knows it. Unfortunately, Evelyn was
far too deep within the Black Pearls’ clutches. Even if we’d managed to get her out of that van, I’m not sure how long she
would’ve lasted.”
“It’s what the Black Pearls do. They get you hooked, they make you do things that eat away at your resolve, your self-esteem,
your physical and mental health until there’s nothing left of you, until you don’t even know who you are anymore,” Luke says.
“I’ve seen this happen one too many times,” Kellan adds. “The truth is, Evelyn was lost a long time ago. It would have taken
years of rehab to even bring her close to being able to live a somewhat normal life.”
“Will you say the same thing about my sister, then?” I ask, the anger coursing red-hot through my veins. I don’t want to be in
Andrew’s shoes later down the line. “Have I already lost her?”
Kellan exhales sharply. “Lauren is still conscious and aware of her surroundings, for now, anyway. Whatever Gage is using to
keep her by his side hasn’t destroyed her yet. ”
“So she still has a chance,” I say.
“I hope so.”
“Dammit, Kellan, that’s not good enough!” I reply, pulling myself away from Luke. He tries to hold me again, but I push him
back a few steps. “No! Evelyn is dead, okay? The Black Pearls had her, and now she’s dead! They still have Lauren. I need to
get my sister out of there before she meets the same fate. I’m not working with hope, I’m not working with maybe, I’m not
working with anything other than the certainty that we will get Lauren out of there. You hear me?”
Tears stream down my cheeks, hot and salty and in unending rivers as the reality of the situation slams into me with the strength
of a tidal wave. I can’t watch the same thing happen to Lauren. I let her down before, but I still have a chance to do right by her
now. I couldn’t be there when she needed me the most, I couldn’t be there to protect her, to keep her away from the likes of
Gage Lancaster, but I’m here now, and I’ll be damned if I will let that fucker destroy her the way he destroyed Evelyn.
Fallon, Kellan, and Luke surround me, their strong arms snaking around to hold me, to keep me from falling apart. I feel like a
wall made of bricks, the mortar dried and crumbling, pieces of me slipping and crashing against the hard ground.
“We’ll get her out,” Kellan says, then presses his lips against my temple. “We’ll get her out, Avery. We just need a little time to
find the best way forward, that’s all. A little time. Give us that, please.”
“We need to box Bill and Elizabeth in,” Luke says. “If we get them under enough pressure to force a confession, if we get them
to at least try and negotiate a deal with the Feds, I’m sure they’ll give us the kind of information we need to bring down a heap
of hellfire over the organization. Enough to get Lauren away from them. Trust that we’re closing in on them babe, we need you
to hang in there a little bit longer.”
“Okay.”
I don’t believe myself when I say it, but they don’t need to know that. I’m in too much pain, suffocating in this anguish, and I
will continue to suffer until Lauren is free, until she is safe and sound beside me. I will not accept any other outcome. I will not
allow further harm to come to my sister.
 10

A VE RY

’m angry with myself.

I Not for letting Lauren down—I learned to live with that over the years. The past cannot be changed, and I can’t go back to
undo or fix anything that’s already been done. I’m angry with myself because despite Kellan, Fallon, and Luke’s pleas, I’m not
able to give them the little bit of time that they asked for. At least not without trying something on my end.
With Miley and Annie in school and Marcus in Helen’s care while I’m out “surveying a new remodeling project”, I get in my
Prius and drive back to Keystone the next morning, determined to talk to my sister again. It’s nice and sunny outside, warm
enough for me to stick to jeans and a light jacket, my hair in a ponytail and under a black baseball hat.
It's close to noon by the time I reach Keystone. I park my car a couple of blocks down from the Crimson Oyster and make my
way up the road sticking to the other side of the street, occasionally going into stores or cafes to stay out of sight whenever I
feel uneasy. If there is one thing I’ve learned since I first came to North Platte, it’s that my instinct rarely fails me.
Keeping a coffee cup close to my lips, I casually walk farther up, my eyes scanning the outside of the Crimson Oyster. It’s
closed at this hour, the doors locked and the smoky windows shuttered, but there is movement on the alleyway where their
service exit is. Taking advantage of folks moving up and down the street, I mingle between them and hide behind a newspaper
tower next to the florist shop, watching carefully as a couple of men in brown uniforms carry crates of drinks through the
Oyster’s service door. I recognize the bald-headed bouncer overseeing the operation, but he can’t see me from where he’s
standing. Besides, he’s too busy counting crates and checking the delivery bill.
After about five minutes or so, I’m starting to think it could be a while before I get to catch a glimpse of Lauren. But then I see
her slipping through the same door, wearing jeans, sneakers, and a thick denim jacket. She waves to the bouncer and heads
north, up the main street.
Giving the bouncer one last glance to make sure he doesn’t spot me, I slip out of sight and follow Lauren through town for a
while, keeping a reasonable distance. She’s got a nervous habit of constantly looking over her shoulder, though, and it makes it
hard for me to tail her without worrying about being seen, but I manage.
She takes a left turn down a narrow alley. I go in after her, but she’s not there.
“Where the hell did she go?” I mumble, finding myself alone between two tall brick buildings lined with foul-smelling
dumpsters.
“I told you to stay away from me,” Lauren’s voice slips through from behind.
I whirl around with a gasp, startled to find her standing in the middle of the alley, hands in her jacket pockets and a furious
frown drawn on her face.
“Lauren,” I mumble. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t know how else to reach you.”
“There’s a reason for that, Avery. You can’t be this stupid.”
“Hey, I’m trying to protect you.”
She snorts a dry chuckle. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I heard about what happened to Evelyn,” I say, and her bitter humor fades. I point at her dark sunglasses, noting with dismay
the outline of a bruise they don’t quite cover over her left eye. “Did Gage do that?”
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 Friends being to encourage a school in this [Sidenote: Friends
town, and in order hereunto they have agreed school set up
with George Keith to assure him a certain salary under Geo. Keith]
of 50 pounds per year to be paid quarterly, with
house rent, convenient for his family and school, with the
profit of his school for one year, and for two years more to
make his school worth to him 120 pounds per year, if he shall
think fit to stay in this place, the said George also promiseth
to teach the poor (which are not of ability to pay) for nothing.
The abovesaid Keith having heard the proposals of Friends,
readily assented and agreed thereto, his salary beginning
from the time school begins. It is agreed that it be also
mentioned to the next Quarterly Meeting for their concurrence
with the same, as also agreed that Anthony Morris give notice
to the several monthly meetings in this county.[149]

The number of children who attended this school [Sidenote: A

is not known, but it is clear that it grew rapidly. In larger school
January, succeeding the first establishment, the needed]
new master complained of the “inconvenience and [Sidenote: Makin
straitness” of his school and Anthony Morris and hired as usher]
Samuel Carpenter were appointed to consult with
Robert Turner for a more convenient situation.[150] The first
interpretation of “straitness” would undoubtedly be that it was
crowded, and that might well have been true without there having
been an increase in the size of the school; more conclusive proof of
the rapid increase in numbers is to be found in the fact that Thomas
Makin was hired as usher to assist Keith,[151] probably about
February, 1690.[152] A more convenient room for the school was
arranged for with John Fuller at thirteen pounds per year, three
pounds more than was paid for the first.[153]
In the 3rd month, 1691, Keith made known his [Sidenote:
intention of leaving the school,[154] whether Thomas Makin
recommended by
because of dissatisfaction with the school itself or Keith to be
the beginning of the feeling against the Quakers master]
which resulted in his rupture with them,[155] it is not [Sidenote: Makin
known, and recommended to the meeting the chosen]
appointment of his usher, Thomas Makin, to take
his place.[156] It was Keith’s desire to leave on 4th month, 10th and
he may have discontinued teaching at that time, but it appears that
his account against the meeting was not settled until the eleventh or
the twelfth month, 1691.[157] According to his suggestion concerning
Makin, the meeting appointed a committee to consult with him,[158]
the outcome of which was a satisfactory agreement. It would appear
from numerous references to the subject, that the matter of getting
the subscriptions and keeping them paid was a chief source of
trouble, which required their constant energies and attention.[159] In
1693 Thomas Makin brought in a bill against the meeting for
£12/15/7, which was still owing for his services as usher in 1690.[160]
The last four years of the century saw greater [Sidenote: Penn
strides made in the better establishment of said to have
education as a system. In 1696 it was agreed that written letter to
Lloyd about the
there should be established four meetings a year, school]
the chief function of which was the religious
education of the youth in the principles of Friends.[161] Steps were
shortly taken for the establishment of the so-called “free school.”
Penn had written to Thomas Lloyd, President of the Council, in 1689,
advising that a grammar school be set up (that of George Keith)[162]
and it was this same school which in 1697 the meeting desired to
make a “free school.” On 10th month, 31st, 1697:

A paper for the encouragement of a free school was this

day read, whereupon Samuel Carpenter and James Fox are
desired to treat with Daniel Pastorius and Thomas Makin
concerning the same, and—they desire the Friends of the
town to meet together this day week, about the 1st hour at
this meeting house to consider further of it, and that Daniel
Pastorius and Thomas Makin be present.[163]
 In the month following (11th month) Samuel [Sidenote:
Carpenter reported to the assembly that the Pastorius and
committee had met with Daniel Pastorius and Makin in the
school]
Thomas Makin and agreed to pay each of them
forty pounds per year for keeping school.[164] The means of support
was the familiar subscription blank, Samuel Carpenter and James
Fox being the first appointed to take them. School was to begin the
first of the following month, in the room over the meeting house,
which had been prepared for that purpose.[165] In the 12th month a
petition was sent to the Governor and Council, requesting the
ordaining and establishment of the “Public School.” The text of the
petition is as follows:
[Sidenote: Petition
The humble petition of Samuel Carpenter ... to Council to
in behalf of themselves and the rest of the incorporate the
people called Quakers, who are members of the school]
Monthly Meeting, ... showeth that it has been and is much
desired by many that a school be set up and upheld in this
town of Philadelphia, where poor children may be freely
maintained, taught and educated in good literature, until they
are fit to be put out as apprentices, or capable to be masters
or ushers in the same schools. And forasmuch as in the laws
and constitution of this government it is provided and enacted
that the Governor and Council shall erect ... public schools ...
reward the authors of useful sciences and laudable inventions
... therefore, may it please the Governor and Council to ordain
and establish that in the said town of Philadelphia a public
school may be founded, where all children and servants, male
and female, whose parents, guardians and masters be willing
to subject them to the rules and orders of the said schools,
shall from time to time with the approbation of the overseers
thereof for the time being, be received and admitted, taught
and instructed; the rich at reasonable rates, and the poor to
be maintained and schooled for nothing. And to that end a
meet and convenient house or houses, buildings and rooms
may be erected for the keeping of the said school, and for the
entertainment and abode of such and so many masters,
ushers, mistresses and poor children, as by orders of said
meeting shall be limited and appointed from time to time. And
also that the members of the aforesaid Meetings ... make
choice and admit such and so many persons as they think fit,
to be masters, overseers, ushers, mistresses and poor
children of the said school, and the same persons ... to
remove or displace as often ... as they shall see fit. And that
the overseers and the school aforesaid, may ... be ... in name
and deed, a body politic and corporate, to have continuance
forever by the name of the Overseers of the Public School
founded in Philadelphia at the request of the people of God
called Quakers. And that they, the said overseers, may have
perfect succession, and by that name they and their
successors may hold and enjoy, all lands, tenements and
chattels, and receive and take all gifts and legacies as shall
be given, granted or devised for the use and maintenance of
the said school and poor scholars, without any further or other
license or authority from this Government in that behalf;
saving unto the chief Proprietary his quitrents of the said
lands. And that the said overseers by the same name shall
and may, with consent of said meeting, have power and
capacity to devise and grant by writing, under their hand and
seal and of said lands and tenements and to take and
purchase any other lands ... for ... advantage of said school.
And to prescribe such rules and ordinance for the good order
and government of the same school ... successively, and for
their and every of their stipends and allowances, as to
members of the said Meeting for the time being ... shall seem
meet; with power also to sue and to be sued, and to do and
perform and execute all and every other lawful act and thing,
good and profitable for the said school, in as full and ample
manner, as any other body politic or corporate more perfectly
founded or incorporated, may do.[166]

[Sidenote: The
petition granted
 This request was immediately granted by the and charter
issued by Penn in
Council,[167] and the school thus incorporated in 1701]
1697.[168] In 1701 Penn confirmed its incorporation
by the following charter:

William Penn True and absolute Proprietary and Governor

in Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and territories
thereunto belonging. To all to whom these presents shall
come sendeth greeting. Whereas Charles the Second, late
King of England by his letters patents bearing date the fourth
day of March in the three and thirtieth year of his reign did
grant unto me my heirs and assigns the said Province And
Absolute Proprietary thereof with full power to me by the
assent of the freemen there to make laws for the good and
happy government of the same with divers other powers
preheminsures jurisdictions, privileges and immunities therein
specified. And Whereas I with a great colony of the People of
God called Quakers for the free enjoyment of liberty of our
consciences in matters of religion as of other privileges and
advantages in the said patent granted as well to me the said
Proprietary and Governor as also to the said people did
transport ourselves unto the said Province and at our own risk
costs pains and charges settled and planted the same the soil
also of the said Province being first by me purchased of the
Indian Natives. And forasmuch as by the laws of the said
Province since enacted the Governor and Council have power
to erect and order all public schools of literature and science.
And Whereas Samuel Carpenter—Edward Shippen—Anthony
Morris—James Fox—David Lloyd—William Southby and John
Jones in behalf of themselves and the rest of the said people
called Quakers Members of their Monthly Meeting at
Philadelphia in the said Province by their petition to the
Governor and Council of the said Province and territories at
Philadelphia the tenth day of the twelfth month Anno Domini
one thousand six hundred ninety seven (eight) set forth that it
was the desire of many that a school should be set up and
upheld in the said town of Philadelphia where poor children
might be freely maintained taught and educated in good
literature until they should be fit to be put apprentices or
capable to be masters or Ushers in the said school requesting
the Governor and Council in the said petition to ordain that at
the said town of Philadelphia a Public School might be
founded where all children male and female whose parents
guardians or masters might be willing to subject them to the
rules and orders of the school should from time to time with
the approbation of the overseers thereof for the time being be
received or admitted taught and instructed the rich at
reasonable rates and the poor to be maintained and schooled
for nothing. And that to that end a meet and convenient house
or houses buildings or rooms might be erected for the keeping
of the said school and for the entertainment and abode of
such and so many Masters Ushers Mistresses and poor
children as by the order and direction of the said Monthly
Meeting should be free from time to time limited and
appointed and also that the members of the aforesaid
meeting for the time being might at their respective monthly
meeting from time to time make choice of and admit such and
so many persons as they should think fit to be Overseers
Masters Ushers Mistresses and poor children of the said
school and the same person or any of them to remove and
displace as often as the said meeting shall see occasion, and
that the overseers and school aforesaid might forever
thereafter stand and be established and founded in name and
in deed a body politic and corporate to have continuance
forever by the name of the Overseers of the Public School
grounded in Philadelphia at the request cost and charges of
the people of God called Quakers. And that the said
Overseers might have perpetual succession, and by that
name they and their successors forever, have hold and enjoy
all the lands tenements and chattels and receive and take all
gifts and legacies that should be given granted or devised for
the use and maintenance of said schools and poor scholars
without further or other license or authority from the
government on that behalf. Saving unto the Chief Proprietary
his quit rents out of the said lands and that the said Overseers
by the same name might with consent of the said Meeting
have power and capacity to demise and grant by writing
under their hand and common seal any of the said lands and
tenements and to take and purchase any other lands and
tenements and hereditaments for the best advantage of the
said schools and to prescribe such rules and ordinances for
the good order and government of the said school and of the
masters ushers mistresses and poor children successively
and for their and every of their stipends and allowances as to
them members of the said monthly meeting for the time or the
major part of them should seem meet, with power also to sue
and be used and to do perform and execute all and every
other lawful act and thing good and profitable for the said
school in as full and ample manner as any other body politic
and corporate more perfectly founded and incorporated might
do and by the said petition which I have seen may more fully
appear whereupon my then lieutenant Governor and Council
did grant and order that the said schools should be founded
and erected with the incorporation privileges and powers as
desired. Now forasmuch as those of the said petitioners that
are living have made fresh application to me in Council for
confirming the said lieutenant Governor and Councils order
and grant upon the said petition which being well weighed
and considered by me I greatly favor the good inclinations
and just and laudable desires and conscientious regards of
the said petitioners and people for the education instruction
and literature of their children and posterity and more
especially their care and concerns for the poor on that
behalf....
Therefore Know Ye that pursuant to the powers to me
granted as aforesaid and to the laws of the said Province
already enacted I have (by and with the consent of my
Provincial Council) granted and confirmed all and every
request matter and thing ... contained in the said petition and
do by these presents for me my heirs and assigns grant
ordain and establish that the said Public School shall be
erected and founded, and I do grant, ordain and found the
same to be kept forever hereafter in the said town of
Philadelphia or in some convenient place adjacent as the
overseers of the said school for the time being shall see meet
and I do likewise grant and ordain that in the said school all
children and servants as in the school petition requested shall
from time to time (with approbation of the said Overseers) be
received admitted taught and instructed as in the same
petition is mentioned and desired and to the end that all meet
and convenient houses, rooms, chambers and buildings may
be erected for keeping of the said schools and entertainment
of the masters ushers mistresses and poor children to be
therein admitted as hereinafter mentioned. I do by these
presents for me my heirs and successors grant and ordain
that from the day of the date of these presents forever
hereafter the members of the Monthly Meeting of the said
People called Quakers in the town of Philadelphia for the time
being shall have full and absolute power and authority and the
same power is hereby given unto them in their respective
monthly meetings from time to time to make choice of and
admit such and so many persons as they shall think fit to be
Overseers Masters Ushers Mistresses and poor children of
the said school and the same persons or any of them to
remove and displace as often as the said Meeting shall see
occasion and likewise that the said Overseers shall have like
powers and authority (with the direction and consent of the
said Meeting) from time to time to frame and erect or cause or
procure to be framed and erected such and so many houses
and buildings as they shall see meet for the use and service
of the said schools. And moreover I do by these presents for
me my heirs and successors grant and ordain that the
overseers and schools aforesaid shall forever hereafter stand
and be established and founded and are hereby founded
erected and established in name and in deed a body politic
and corporate to continue forever by the name of The
Overseers of the Public School founded in Philadelphia at the
request cost and charges of the People of God called
Quakers. And also that they the said overseers shall have
perpetual succession and by the said name they and their
successors shall forever have hold and enjoy (to the use of
the said school) all the messuages lands tenements
hereditaments goods and chattels and receive and take all
gifts and legacies already given granted and devised or that
shall be hereafter given granted or devised to the use and
maintenance of the said school and masters ushers
mistresses and poor scholars thereof without further or other
leave license authority or power whatsoever from me my heirs
or successors or from this government or any therein on that
behalf saving unto me my heirs and successors the
respective quit rents and other duties and payments out of the
said messuages lands tenements and hereditaments and
every of them reserved and payable in and by their several
original grants and patents and furthermore I do by these
presents for me my heirs and successors give and grant unto
the said Overseers by the name aforesaid full power license
and authority to give grant bargain sell alien enfeoff or demise
with the consent of the said meeting by writing under their
hands and common seal (or the hands and said seal of so
many of them as shall make a quorum) to such person or
persons his or her heirs or their heirs executors administrators
and assigns as shall be willing to purchase or rent the same
all or any of the aforesaid messuages lands tenements and
hereditaments goods and chattels and likewise to purchase
receive and enjoy all or any other messuages houses lands
tenements and hereditaments for the best advantage of the
said school. And also to frame make and prescribe such rules
orders and ordinances for the good order and government of
the said school and of the masters ushers mistresses and
poor children thereof successively and for their and every of
their stipends salaries and allowances as to the members of
the said Monthly Meeting for the time being or the major part
of them (in their respective meetings) shall seem meet with
power also to the said overseers by the name aforesaid to
 sue and be sued and to do perform and execute and suffer to
be done all and every other lawful act and thing good and
profitable for the said school in as full and ample manner as
any other body politic or corporate more perfectly founded
and incorporated may and can do. And I do for me my heirs
and assigns ordain and grant that the said school and the
masters ushers members officers and scholars and all other
persons placed or to be placed in the said school shall forever
hereafter be accepted and freed from all visitation punishment
and connection to be had used or exercised by any person or
persons whatsoever other than the said Overseers for the
time being and their successors. In Witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand cause the Great Seal to be affixed
dated at Philadelphia the five and twentieth day of the eighth
month in the thirteenth year of the reign of William the third
over England etc. King etc. and the one and twentieth of my
government Anno Domino one thousand seven hundred and
one 1701. Recorded the 5th 10th 1701.[169]
Wm. Penn.
For Aaron K. Dunkel, Sec’y of Internal Affairs,
W. B. Huston.

The charter of 1701 was confirmed and enlarged [Sidenote:

by another of 1708,[170] according to which the Rechartered in
1708, and 1711,
corporation was to consist of fifteen persons extended
(Quakers) by the name of “The Overseers of the privileges]
Public School, founded in Philadelphia, at the
request of, cost and charges of the people called [Sidenote: Made a
self-perpetuating
Quakers.” The charter of 1711[171] contained corporation]
extended privileges[172] and also provided that the
election of new members of the board of overseers should be the
right of the overseers themselves, thus constituting them a self-
perpetuating corporation.[173] From this the reader might expect that
the school at once became independent of the Friends’ meeting, but
this did not occur, since the original members or overseers were
Friends and continued to appoint Friends as their successors.
Reports on the various details of the business of the school
continued to come into the monthly meeting, but it is not to be
considered that we find there a complete story of its existence.[174]
In 1699 it was found that the affairs of the school took too much time
in meeting and therefore it was decided that Friends in the care of
schools and press should meet on sixth day before monthly meeting,
transact their business and keep a record thereof in books provided
for the purpose.[175]
The affairs of the school continued much the [Sidenote:
same as though no charter had been requested or Mistresses
granted. The records lead one to think that the employed
schools]
in

growth was very rapid. Pastorius and Makin had

become the masters in 1697 and by 1699 the indications are that
“mistresses” were also employed, money being turned over to
Anthony Morris to “pay the schoolmasters’ and the mistresses’
salaries.”[176] This is the first mention made of women as teachers.
Pastorius having severed his connections with the school in 1701
steps were taken to fill the vacancy, it being decided that the
newcomer should show his ability by competing with the one
remaining master, Thomas Makin.[177]
[Sidenote:
Griffith Owen ... recommended John Cadwalader to fill
Cadwalader as a person very fit for an assistant vacancy made by
Pastorius’ leaving]
in the school, and it being proposed a good
method for the better improvement of the scholars that they
be equally divided between them for trial to see which of them
best discharged their duty, there having been great complaint
of former neglect. The meeting approves thereof and desires
the said Griffith to acquaint John Cadwalader thereof, and
that he may have twenty pounds for a half year for a trial, as
the former master had, and Anthony Morris is desired to show
Thomas Makin this minute for his information in the matter.
[178]
 MASTERS AND MISTRESSES FROM 1700 TO
1800
Nothing like a complete or connected story can [Sidenote: Makin
be given with reference to the masters and plans to leave
mistresses of this period, due to a lack of adequate school]
available records. In August, 1701, Thomas Makin [Sidenote:
announced his intention of leaving the school and Cadwalader
requested that his accounts be settled.[179] John becomes
headmaster]
Cadwalader, who had been his assistant since
1700, was interviewed as to his ability to undertake [Sidenote:
the headship of the school; intimating if he thought Salaries
increased]
himself fit, he would be further considered.[180]
There is no direct record of how Mr. Cadwalader rated himself as
teacher, but he was continued in the capacity of master. He found
the limited salary[181] almost too small for the support of his family
and upon his request it was soon raised to fifty pounds per year.[182]
At the same time the salary of a mistress, Olive Songhurst, whom we
meet for the first time and with scant introduction, was increased five
or ten pounds. The prospect of a higher salary does not appear to
have attracted him much for we learn of his intended separation from
the school in May, 1702. It is not clear that he did actually sever his
connection therewith at that time, for in June, 1703, it was desired
that John Cadwalader, schoolmaster, be paid ten pounds that was
left by Robert Jones for the use of the Public School.[183] This sum
may have been for other services such as copying, which he
frequently performed,[184] but it is more probable that he was
convinced of the advantages of remaining at a salary of fifty pounds
per year, with the additional sums paid for the copying work.[185]
John Every’s connection with the school as usher [Sidenote: John
is first announced in April, 1702, when he made Every, usher]
demands for an increase of salary to thirty pounds,
[Sidenote: Makin
which was agreed to.[186] He remained there nearly returns]
two years and then departed, making a place for
Thomas Makin, who returned at his request, [Sidenote: Jacob
agreeing to accept the salary previously paid to Naylor suggested
Every. These two masters, Makin and Cadwalader, for teacher]
appear to have been employed continuously until
1706, when they decided the school could not furnish a competent
living for both of them and Cadwalader accordingly left.[187] There
were further suggestions considered at that time and Friends
appointed to endeavor to secure a qualified master from England. So
far as the meeting’s minutes record, it seems that Thomas Makin
was the only master employed from 1706 to 1708, when it was
suggested that Jacob Naylor be employed as a teacher.[188]
The duties of the schoolmasters were by no [Sidenote: Extra
means limited to the routine of the schoolroom. school room
They were required to be careful of their several duties]
scholars and often had to do police duty among
them during the meetings on first day.[189] The master’s only hope
for any respite from the imposition of such duties was to stand firmly
for his rights, else he might have been given charge of all the
children in the meeting. John Walby, a master, when asked to
perform a similar service, made answer that “he would take care of
his own scholars, but did not care to undertake any further.”[190] His
objection was sustained and another Friend endeavored to perform
the task.
In 1711 William Robbins[191] came to wield the [Sidenote: William
rod in Friends School, having requested permission Robbins]
to keep school in a part of the Friends’ [Sidenote:
schoolhouse, which was “granted for the Richard Warden]
present.”[192] It cannot be determined how long he
remained in that capacity, but the following year it [Sidenote:
Thomas Makin]
was proposed that Richard Warden be allowed to
teach school in one end of the schoolhouse, and it [Sidenote:
is quite probable that he filled the place of Robbins. Richard
Brockden]
[193] On the other hand, if Robbins did leave at that

time he had returned again to the school in 1715.[194] Thomas Makin

had in the meantime severed his connection with the school, but not
permanently. Seven years after the employment of Richard Warden
(1719) a vacancy occurred and a committee was appointed to visit
the overseers requesting them to take action regarding the vacancy.
[195] From this it may be judged that the overseers were at times
remiss in their attention to their trust. The overseers were set in
action, and Thomas Makin was secured to fill the place, provided he
would agree to teach six children of the poor and give up the house
when Friends ordered him to do so.[196] He doubtless filled a minor
position at this time, though he was offered a better one, later in
1722, provided Richard Brockden were willing to leave it, which does
not appear to have met with the said Brockden’s approval.[197] Of
Richard Brockden little is known, save that he had been
schoolmaster at Byberry about 1710 or 1711.[198] In 1724 William
Robbins[199] mentioned above as a teacher some years earlier,
applied for a place as master. It was agreed that he be allowed to
teach on the condition that he would agree to teach at least four
children for the use of the house, if ordered to do so.[200]
It is quite probable that for most of the ten years [Sidenote: J.
preceding 1730 the school was under the charge of Walby]
three or four masters just mentioned, Robbins,
Brockden, Makin and Warden. They shifted quite [Sidenote: Death
of T. Makin]
often, that is certain. In 1730 mention is made of a
John Walby as master; but no further account of him is given.[201]
Thomas Makin’s career as teacher very likely came to an end in that
period, as he was getting aged, though he may have taught up to the
time of his death. An account of his death is given in the Weekly
Mercury of 1733.[202]
From 1730 there is only an occasional mention [Sidenote:
made of the masters employed at the public Anthony Benezet
school, until we come to the period about 1770 employed 1742]
when the names were occasionally given in [Sidenote: Robert
committee reports on the condition of the schools. Willian master in
However, with the fourth decade came a period of 1748]
real greatness, for in 1742[203] began the services
of Anthony Benezet, of whom considerable mention is made
elsewhere, who continued in the public school till 1782.[204] He had
throughout his life been interested in the Negroes and for several
years previous had cherished a desire to work in their schools. His
request, in that regard, was accordingly granted in 1782, after John
Houghton relinquished that position.[205] He continued to teach the
Negro school, until the time of his death two years later.[206] In 1748
Robert Willian came from England for the purpose of keeping
Friends school, and was accordingly accepted into their meeting,
having produced the customary certificate from his home meeting at
Scarborough in Yorkshire.[207] The next mention of a new master in
the ranks is concerned with Josai, who married in 1763.[208]
Encouragement was at all times given to women as teachers,
mention having already been made to their employment as early as
1699.[209] In 1764:
[Sidenote: Ann
The meeting being informed that Ann Brientnall
Brientnall is desirous of keeping a small school establishes small
for the instruction of Friends children only in school]
reading and sewing and not being at present able to hire a
place suitable for the purpose, requests the use of a vacant
lower room in one of the alms-houses, and Friends approving
her proposal, it is agreed that she may make use of one of
these rooms for that purpose until she can accommodate
herself elsewhere, or it may be wanted (for other purposes).
[210]

The recommendations of the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia in

1778,[211] produced a very beneficial effect upon the school affairs in
all of its monthly meetings. Thereafter, reports were sent in, bad,
good and indifferent, which were much superior to anything that had
been done previously, though they were still too infrequent and
abbreviated in regard to information contained. A digest of the report
of 1779 follows, which shows the number of teachers in the several
schools at that time:[212]
 1. The Grammar School was presided over [Sidenote:
by John Thompson who also taught writing and Schools reported
arithmetic. in 1779]

2. John Todd taught reading, English, writing, arithmetic

and some branches of mathematics.
3. Another master was Joseph Yerkes, who taught the
same branches as Todd.
4. George Smith taught reading, writing and arithmetic to
the children of Friends and others.
5. Anthony Benezet at this time was employed in teaching
the Girls’ School in which were received also the children of
other denominations besides Friends.
6. Sarah Lancaster taught the younger children of both
sexes the rudiments of learning, and other branches suitable
to girls.
7. Rebecca Jones and Hannah Cathrall taught together in
the same school, which was for girls, a large number of them
poor.
8. A school for younger boys and girls of various societies
was taught in Pine Street by Essex Flower.
9. Spelling and reading were taught the younger children by
Ann Rakestraw.

It appears from the meeting’s records that these masters and

mistresses were all Friends, and that the schools which they taught
were under the direction of the overseers of the public school.[213]
Five years later another report was prepared and presented on the
state of schools. At the later date several new names are found
among the teachers.[214]
[Sidenote:
1. The Latin and Greek Grammar School is Schools and
under the direction of Robert Proud, the teachers reported
in 1784]
 historian.[215]
2. John Todd still continues in his old place.
3. Isaac Weaver teaches boys reading, writing, and
arithmetic.
4. Sarah Lancaster continues in her old position as teacher
of young children.
5. William Brown, engaged in teaching a girls’ school.

The five schools above mentioned were under the direction of the
school corporation of overseers, and poor children were taught there
free of expense. The committee also reported on five other schools,
whose masters and mistresses were either Friends or made the
professions of that religious society.[216]
[Sidenote: Other
1. Mary Harry, teaching in Charters Alley. schools reported]

2. Joseph Clarke, teaching in the girls school.

3. Mrs. Clarke (wife of Joseph).
4. Ann Marsh, teaching about fifty girls.
5. Mary McDonnell, teaching fifteen children.

This report of 1784 is the best during the century [Sidenote:

which gives a clew to the members in the teachers’ Richard
ranks. The growth from a school employing one Hartshorne
superintendent of
teacher to a system employing ten does not seem the new school
great when measured by our present standards of established at
increase, but for that century it is significant of rapid Westtown]
growth. Many of the teachers were people of no
great importance, whose names were probably never known outside
of Quaker circles; others were distinctly well known. In 1799 we find
one other Quaker schoolmaster mentioned, Richard Hartshorne. The
idea of a boarding school for Friends’ children had received quite an
impetus about 1791, due largely to the interest and influence of
Owen Biddle,[217] and by 1799 the school was ready to begin
operations.[218] Richard Hartshorne was chosen to serve as its first
superintendent and with the permission of the Monthly Meeting of
Philadelphia moved to Westtown in 1799.[219]

SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOLS

From the very beginning of the schools in [Sidenote: Three
Philadelphia their primary means of support lay in chief means of
voluntary subscriptions. We have already seen that support]
this was the accepted means of raising money to
maintain the poor and orphans,[220] and also to build their meeting
houses; it was quite the natural way, really about the only way then
familiar to them for maintaining their school system. As the meeting
grew and the schools also increased many members were led to
believe that it was advisable to endow them with legacies. This being
in accordance with the recommendations of the Yearly Meetings of
London and Philadelphia,[221] it became quite a common procedure
in Philadelphia, as also in the other monthly meetings. Their third
means of support was the rate which was paid by all children whose
parents were able to bear the expense of their education.
As has been stated, subscriptions were made [Sidenote:
voluntarily, though they might be rigorously Subscriptions
solicited, enough at least to make some feel urged, but not
compulsory]
uncomfortable who did not contribute when they
were able. There are instances which might be [Sidenote:
considered as mandatory though such cases are Subscription
method not
very rare. One such occurred in 1701 when, Tobias entirely
Dinnock desiring a certificate, the meeting reported satisfactory]
there was nothing to hinder it save that he had not
paid anything toward the school.[222] This does not mean that he had
to subscribe but it was doubtless unpleasant pressure to have
brought to bear on one. Subscriptions were usually made and paid at
the subscriber’s convenience, or on a date which he designated
when making the subscription. Though this was ideally satisfactory it
often failed to work out just at the right time, so it was necessary to
appoint a committee to go out after the subscriber and get that which
he had promised to pay. The first record of a committee appointed
on a service of this kind was in 1691. The work of such committees
was continued throughout the century, and the following extract will
indicate very well their function, without further explanation or
reference.

Whereas several of the subscriptions towards the school

are unpaid, the Meeting being engaged for the same, they
have requested Alexander Beardsley, Anthony Morris, Francis
Rawles, John Delavall and Samuel Richardson to use their
endeavors to get what is unpaid of the said subscriptions, and
they are desired to pay what money they receive unto Robert
Turner and give account thereof to the next Monthly Meeting.
[223]

The rates paid by parents in the earlier years of [Sidenote: Rates

their colony are seen in the establishment of charged]
Flower’s school in 1683.[224] The next references
made to the amounts paid for instruction, under the rate system, are
in the report of the school committee of the Overseers in 1784.[225]
Flower received four shillings per quarter for teaching reading, six
shillings for reading and writing, and eight for reading, writing and
casting accounts; if by the year, then everything was furnished for
ten pounds. In 1784 Isaac Weaver received thirty shillings per
quarter for teaching the same subjects which Flower had taught for
eight.[226] William Brown also received the same amount for the
same subjects which he taught the whole day.[227] Joseph Clarke
was teaching for thirty shillings. For instruction in the three R’s it
appears that the general tendency for the cost in 1784 was about
twenty-two shillings higher than it was in 1683.[228] Small children
were taught generally at about fifteen shillings per quarter, or half the
customary price for older pupils whatever that might be. The general
custom was that in cases where the school corporation sent poor
children to a teacher they were admitted for a lesser rate than the
others; if fifteen shillings were paid by others, then ten shillings might
be paid for the poor children, schooled at the trustees’ expense.
These prices for teaching among the Quaker masters are quite
comparable with those demanded by other private masters in the city
at about the same dates.[229]
As was cited previously in this work,[230] the [Sidenote: Special
practice of making special donations, bequests and bequests and
legacies
legacies was urged by the yearly meeting as a recommended
proper means of support for the schools or other and their probable
institutions. These recommendations of the yearly effect]
meeting which were written in the form of letters,
were transmitted to the quarterly meetings and through them
reached all members of the monthly and preparative meetings in the
compass of the general assembly. It cannot be doubted that they
were a very important means to instill a desire to give to a worthy
cause, and the very similar procedure in all monthly meetings seems
to indicate that they constituted the most effectual means for getting
anything definite done towards establishing any permanent
foundation.
Nothing in the way of a complete survey of [Sidenote: Will of
various legacies and donations given to the John Lineham]
schools in Philadelphia will be attempted here,
[Sidenote:
even granting that it might be interesting enough, Legacies of Wade
but a few of them will be treated briefly. The first and Richards]
example of this individual philanthropy came before
the monthly meeting in 1699, when the will of John Lineham was
read, by which he proposed to leave “twenty pounds for the use of
the public school.”[231] This sum was not to be expended at once for
present needs but was to be kept as a “stock forever for that use.”
Two members, John Kinsey and Ralph Jackson, were ordered to pay
in the said amount that it might be turned over to Edward Shippen
the treasurer. Other legacies were left by Robert Wade[232] and Mary
Richards.[233] In regard to the former there was trouble about getting
it settled, which lasted for many years.[234] The above names are