I knew she meant it. She and Mia were the only ones who ever visited me in prison. Not Kael. Not Zara. Not Theo. Just them. And for that I would protect them with everything I had. I gave her a small smile. "Okay, I'll listen to you, Carman." Her eyes widened. "Really?" I nodded. "Really." But before I walked away from the Vale estate for good, I needed to make sure they had a way out too. If Kael ever tried to use them against me again-I wouldn't survive it. So I shifted the topic. "How are your classes?" She beamed. "Pretty good. I've been making the Dean's List every semester." I felt a flicker of warmth. "That's my girl. Do you want to study abroad?" She hesitated. The light in her eyes dimmed. I'd love to," she admitted. "But there's no way. Mom's already doing everything she can just to keep me in school here. Studying overseas? That's a luxury we can't afford." I leaned forward. "What if-just what if-you didn't have to worry about money? Would you go?" Carman laughed softly, shaking her head. "In a heartbeat. But dreams don't work like that, Riley. It's just a fantasy." No. Not a fantasy. A plan. Once I got that ten million, they were the first ones I'd send away. Carman would finish her education in another country- far from the Vale Pack. Far from Alaric. Far from Kael. Far from pain. And Mia would go with her. She deserved peace. I would tie up the last of my loose ends. Once they were safe-no one could use them against me. And then? I'd burn the rest down. Let the Vales come for me if they dared. Because this time, I wasn't afraid to take every last one of them with me. Send Gifts 264