Chapter 1 Saved A Man

"Stay right where you are if you want to make it out alive."

A dagger pressed cold and hard against her skin. Caitlin White glanced up and met the gaze of the blood-soaked stranger who had just barged into her car and now held her at knifepoint.

Both froze, tension crackling between them, when shouts echoed from just outside the window.

"Where did that bastard go? Who saw where he ran?"

"He's bleeding bad! There's no way he got far. Check every car in this parking lot!"

Caitlin noticed the stranger's grip falter for a split second, his knuckles whitening around the knife. In that instant, she seized his wrist and twisted her body onto his lap.

Shawn Harris' stare grew colder as he pressed the dagger harder on Caitlin's throat. "Do you have a death wish?"

A thin line appeared on her skin, blood oozing out. Fearless, her eyes flicked down to the blood seeping through his shirt. "Maybe. Or maybe you're not in any shape to threaten me. Who's really about to die here?"

Shawn pressed the dagger even harder, eyes burning with threat. "Try me. See what happens."

As the voices and footsteps outside crept closer, Caitlin shrugged out of her jacket and yanked open her shirt, sending buttons flying across the seats.

Her shirt half down and with bare skin exposed, she straddled Shawn's lap and faced him head-on.

Shawn abruptly loosened his grip on the dagger, his face etched with confusion. What the hell was she trying to pull?

Before he could react, Caitlin closed the gap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him full on the mouth.

This reckless woman actually had the guts to do that... Rage flashed in Shawn's eyes, and he nearly shoved her off his lap until a whisper in his ear made him pause.

"If you want to get out of this in one piece, just go with it."

Having a stranger force a kiss on him had Shawn ready to snap. Despite his injuries, the urge to kill this woman burned in his chest.

Caitlin ducked low and grazed his Adam's apple with her teeth. She slipped open the buttons at his collar, and when her fingers traced over his skin, a tremor ran through Shawn. A sly, satisfied grin crept across her lips.

"Ugh!" A sharp breath escaped Shawn, caught between pain and something far less rational, his chest heaving.

Suddenly, the rear door flew open.

"Ah!" Caitlin reacted instantly, clutching Shawn's neck and spinning around with panic in her eyes. "What are you doing? Who are you people?"

The men outside took one look at Shawn, face hidden in Caitlin's chest, and Caitlin herself, clothes askew and trembling. They rolled their eyes and slammed the door shut.

"Forget it! Just a couple fooling around. Keep looking!"

As their voices faded into the distance, Shawn wasted no time pushing Caitlin off his lap. "Get away from me."

At that moment, the driver's door opened and someone slid inside. Shawn tensed, knife raised and ready.

"Caitlin!" Leland Simpson, who had just jumped into the car, stopped short at the scene in front of him. "What on earth is happening here?"

Caitlin slid off Shawn's lap, shot a sideways glance at him clutching his wound, and flashed a crooked grin. "It's nothing. Just get us moving."

Without wasting time, the car rolled out of the lot. Shawn reached into his jacket, produced a blood-splattered business card, and held it out. "You pulled me out of a tight spot. What do you want for it?"

Wrinkling her nose, Caitlin snatched the card from his hand. She shook a crimson pill from a glass vial and pressed it into his palm. "Take this. Now."

After a moment's hesitation, Shawn swallowed the pill, eyes still locked on Caitlin.

A smirk played at her lips. "Not even a second thought? What if I'd slipped you poison?"

He didn't bother answering, simply slumping back in his seat. Caitlin looked over at Leland, who was gripping the wheel. "Drop him somewhere near a hospital. Make it quick."

"On it, Caitlin."

Once they had ditched Shawn at the nearest clinic, Leland caught Caitlin's eye in the mirror as she started applying makeup. "You sure that guy won't cause us trouble? Remember, you're only in Aleginia to pick up your mom's things and cut ties with the Whites. Don't go making more trouble for yourself."

Studying her own reflection, Caitlin looked pleased. "Don't worry. Nobody's going to recognize me now."

The stunning woman from before had vanished, replaced by someone nearly invisible, thanks to Caitlin's skillful makeup.

A wide brown birthmark covered most of her right cheek, dots of pigment scattered across her skin. Thick black glasses finished the transformation, making her blend in as just another face in the crowd.

Feeling a bit triumphant, Caitlin's hand drifted to her neck out of habit, but she paused, her fingers searching for something that wasn't there.

Her smile faded as she realized her necklace was gone.

When she remembered the man who had nearly strangled her, her expression turned cold. "I save his skin, and he thanks me by lifting my necklace? Unbelievable."

Leland glanced over, concern in his voice. "What happened, Caitlin?"

She brushed her fingers along her empty neck and shook her head. "It's nothing. Take me back to the White family residence."

Soon enough, a maid led Caitlin to the threshold of the living room, where shouting echoed through the halls.

A porcelain vase shattered against the floor as her half-sister, Emma White, let loose, voice rising above the chaos. "I'm not marrying him! Dad, I'd rather disappear than get tied to that wheelchair-bound Harris guy!"

Aydan White, Caitlin's father, retorted with a cold glare, "Enough! The Harris family calls the shots in Aleginia, and Shawn-even if he's stuck in a wheelchair-is still the dream match for half this city!"

Emma's words came out between sobs. "But he's barely hanging on! Why do I have to babysit someone who's not going to last?"

Aydan slammed his fist onto the table. "I don't want to hear another word! This is settled!"

Emma retorted, voice shaking, "Forget it! I'm not volunteering to be his nurse! Pick someone else!"

Eavesdropping just outside, Caitlin realized a perfect opportunity for her to stay in Aleginia had landed in her lap. A sly smile tugged at her lips.

She strode into the room and raised her voice so no one could miss it. "If you're looking for a bride for some wheelchair-bound guy, I'll do it!"