Chapter 2

"Please," I choked out, "I'm Evan. Sophia's brother."

Rick laughed, a harsh, ugly sound.

"Brother? That's a new one. Real creative, pretty boy."

He motioned to his goons. "Hold him."

Rough hands hauled me up, pinning my arms. My body screamed in protest.

"Sophia doesn't have a brother who looks like you," Rick spat, his face inches from mine. "She talks about him sometimes. Some charity case she keeps stashed away."

He punched me in the stomach. Hard.

Bile rose in my throat.

"You're just some gold digger she picked up."

Another blow, this time to my jaw. My teeth clacked together.

The door opened again. A new figure stepped in.

Older, with a stern, familiar face. Marcus Cole. Mac.

Sophia's head of security. He'd known me since I was a kid.

"Mac!" I cried, a surge of desperate hope. "It's me, Evan!"

Mac frowned, his eyes scanning my unfamiliar face. "Who the hell are you?"

My hope died. Of course. He didn't recognize me. The surgeries...

"He's a trespasser, Mac," Rick said smoothly. "Claiming to be Sophia's brother. Can you believe the nerve?"

"He says his name is Evan?" Mac's gaze was sharp, confused.

"Lies," Rick snapped. He backhanded me across the mouth.

Blood welled, salty and metallic.

"I told you, I'm..." My words were cut off as Rick's fist smashed into my lips again.

The pain was immense, silencing me.

"The little bastard was trying to break in, probably heard you were coming, Mac," Rick continued, his voice now full of feigned concern. "Good thing I got here."

Mac looked at me, then at Rick. He seemed uncertain.

"The young master... Evan... he was sent away years ago. For treatment."

Rick scoffed. "Treatment? This guy looks like he stepped off a magazine cover, not out of a hospital."

He gestured to my face, or what was left of it after his assault.

"He's an imposter, Mac. Trying to get to Sophia's money."