Janey Mackay should have known something was wrong when Dayle Mackay, the man who donated the seed for her conception, left the message

on her cell phone that her brother, Natches, was hurt and she needed to come home.

She should have called someone else, but who was there to call ? After al , Dayle had made certain Janey was as isolated from the rest of her family as

possible. Private girls schools until college, and even then, she knew she was being watched. She was always watched.

She should have been suspicious because Dayle hated Natches, his only son. Hated him so much, and feared him to such an extent that Janey knew it

was the only reason she was in college rather than married to one of his fanatical friends. Or dead, because she would have killed herself first.

But she hadn't been. Her only thought had been of Natchez, the brother she had never been able to really get to know, but the one she knew

protected her. She knew, because he'd always managed to get little notes to her through the years. Hed always found ways to contact her, to let

she knew he was there if she needed him.

She had needed him. But it wasn't a life-or-death need, and she knew if she defied Dayle Mackay and publicly chose Natches over him, then it

would end in blood. Possibly her brother's blood.

Her father had her booked on a red-eye flight into Lexington from the college in California that he'd had no choice but to allow her to attend. She

arrived after midnight, and Dayle and her aunt Nadine were waiting on her.

After that, things got a little hazy. But that could have had something to do with the nasty-smelling cloth Nadine had capped over her mouth and nose

after they were on their way to Somerset. Or the pill s Dale had shoved down her throat before she could fight him, as her lashes fluttered open later.

Yeah, she had a pretty good idea that was the reason. And she couldn't seem to clear her mind enough to think. She needed to think. Dayle was a

monster, twisted and evil, and Nadine was his perfect match. His soul mate, Dayle called his sister.

Janey stared up at the ceiling above the bed her body felt weighted to. She wasn't tied down, but they hadn't had to tie her; whatever they had

gave her so sluggish, made her feel so heavy she couldnt move. She could feel the tears that fel from her eyes, though she didn't

I want to cry.

Shame twisted inside her, congealed into a sick ball in the pit of her stomach as her skin crawled with the horror of the past hours.

She hadn't begged.

Shed always imagined what it would be like if her father did something this vile to her and yes, there were times she had expected it and

shed imagined she would beg. Call him Daddy and plead with him to make it stop.

But the words had choked in her throat. She had stared at the ceiling, hating him, hating her aunt. Hating that bitches hands as they touched her.

Her breath hitched on a silent sob. He'd let that old slut touch her. Hed laughed with amused indulgence as Nadine had pleaded like a little girl

to have just a little fun.

As though Janey were a toy. A toy to be used.

Nadine hadn't had time to do much, but even a little sickened Janey. She nearly threw up on the bitch.

She turned her head into the pillow and tried to dry her tears. She didn't want Nadine or Dayle to see her crying. To know they had hurt her. It would

only make them worse. They thrived on pain. It amused them. Empowered them.

And she had to stop crying. She had to fight past the blanketing haze that fogged her brain. She needed to just get up. If she could just make herself get

up, then she could get out of here. She could find help. If she could get out of here, Alex's house wasn't far away. Alex would help her. He would

take her to Natchez and Natches would make it all go away.

She sobbed at the thought. Alex would take care of her. Maybe he'd even put his arms around her. She would like that. Just for a minute. Just long

enough to make her feel safe. There was something about him, something that warmed her in the dead of night when she was alone and cold.

Another sob broke from her. She swore she could hear Natchess' voice now. She was hallucinating. She had to be. Oh God, she had to get out of

here before they gave her more of those damned drugs.

Making her limbs work, making her brain clear enough to force her legs, her arms, to move, had her breaking out in a cold sweat.

If she stayed here, something would happen to Natchez. She heard them talking about it. She couldn't remember what would happen to him,

but she wouldn't let them hurt him. He had protected her. He was her older brother. And he loved her.

Breathing harshly, sweat pouring along her face, she managed to rol to the side of the bed. The floor looked as though it were miles below her.

Hel .

She swallowed tightly and blinked the sweat from her eyes. She could do this. She could. If she could rol to the side of the bed, then she could get up

on her damned feet. She could do this.

She forced herself to believe she could do it. It felt as though it took years, but she managed to sit up, swaying, swallowing back the bile in her stomach

as the room spun on her.

Hell yeah.

She could do this. She could feel her feet on the floor. She struggled to pull her T-shirt down, over her breasts, shuddering at the memory of why it was

up there.

Oh man, she was so gonna puke if she had to think about that now.

Janey shook her head, slowly. The fog eased a little. Bracing herself, she forced herself to her feet and went to her knees.

Shit, that hurt.

She bit back a moan, panted, and dragged herself up the side of the bed. She stumbled; her ankle nearly collapsed. The door looked so far away. But

she knew it wasn't. She just had to get there.

Natchez. She had to think about Natches. The night Dayle had beaten him, nearly senseless, until he was bloodied and almost unconscious, trying to

protect her. He had protected her. She had to protect Natches.

She reached the dresser, hung on tight, and made herself move. She was gripping the corner when the door opened and Nadine stood there.

Surprised. Surprised and amused.

Wel , hello there, baby girl. The sound was a hiss of evil as she smoothed her hand over her dress.

Janey watched her, that bile rising again. Wouldn't Nadine just hate it when Janey puked all over her perfect white carpet?