Easton always worried the woman was going to have an aneurism when he talked to her.

“Um, she got a call, Mr. Norcross. She said she had to go out for a while.”

Easton fought for some control.

“I think she was meeting with her dad,” Gina said.

Easton met Vander’s gaze.

Fuck.

* * *

Harlow hurried across the street, a little out of breath.

After the quick, panicked call from her dad, she’d power walked from the Norcross building to meet him.

Her father had sounded scared.

Her mouth was dry and her pulse was jittery. She scanned Rincon Park. The waters of the Bay were choppy and gray today. They matched her mood. She barely spared the Bay Bridge a glance.

As she crossed the street, a cold wind tugged at her red coat and tried to tear her hair out of its tie.

She spotted her father at the railing, his shoulders slumped.

Swallowing, she hurried over. “Dad?”

He spun. “Harlow.” His face was drawn, gray. “Princess.” He grabbed her hand. His weren’t steady.

“Did you meet that man?” she asked. “Did you give him the money?”

Her dad nodded. “We met for lunch at Saison.”

Harlow kept her face blank. She’d forked over her life savings, and yet her father was having a fancy lunch with a criminal. “And?”

His eyes met hers. They were miserable. His fingers clenched on hers hard enough to hurt.

“He said it wasn’t enough. He said if I couldn’t pay it all, I’d pay with my life.”

“No,” she breathed.

“Then he got a call. I used the restroom and managed to escape.”

God. God. Her chest was so tight. This couldn’t be happening.

“And he said if I messed around, then my family wouldn’t be safe.”

The words were like a punch to Harlow’s gut. “Mom. Scarlett.”

Her father shoved his hand through his already messy hair. “I sent your mother away yesterday. A week-long yoga and spa retreat in Napa.”

Harlow blew out a breath. “And Scarlett?”

“Antoine’s reach shouldn’t extend to Los Angeles, but I’ll call her. Ask her to go away for a week.”

“Then what, Dad?” Panic felt like bony fingers closing around Harlow’s throat.

“I’m going to fix this,” her father said.

Harlow couldn’t see a solution. She couldn’t find a safe way out for all of them.

Yesterday, her life had been awesome. A job she loved, and plans to buy her own house.

Today, everything had splintered apart.

“Harlow, I need you to lay low for a few days. Let me sort this out—”

“How, Dad?” She grabbed the end of the ponytail, trying to keep the strands from blowing in her face.

His jaw tightened. “I’ll find a way.”

She turned to look at the water, her belly churning.

“Harlow?”