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Zoe narrowed her gaze "But…"

"I know you're disappointed and so is Samantha, but it can't be helped My ues will be tied up with urgent cases I hope you understand"

"Sort of" Zoe shot a covert glance at Ryan beneath her lashes

"It's a compliment and a testament to your fa way I know she's safe and in good hands, so I have no proble postponed for a feeeks until I' away to her coraphs on the refrigerator

"My colleagues will need to focus on the more problematic cases in order to cover my absence," Katherine explained

"I understand And I hope things work out for your e to your parents?"

"I certainly will" Zoe hung up the phone and focused on the stranger in her kitchen

Ainside her that had been dorenda

She walked up behind hiestured to the picture of Zoe, Ari and Sa for the ca an old childhood ht herself "Never ?"

"You're wrong, Ryan Baldwin, if that's even your name Since I just spoke to Saet someone to replace her, I'd like to know just who the hell you are And what the hell you're doing snooping around my family and my house"

Chapter Two

RYAN REALIZED THE MOMENT his cover had been blown and his stomach churned with a combination of relief that he could end his deception and anticipation that a confrontation was sure to follow He'd been preparing himself the entire car ride frolanced at Zoe Gone was the solicitous woht to charreen eyes, which only o had flickered armth and interest, and that now held cold conteain

Ryan welcomed the intervention of fate "I'm Sam's uncle"

"Sam has no family" She folded her arh up another lie?"

"It's the truth My sister, Faith, was Sam's mother"

"Sam's mother's name was Sara"

He reached into his pocket for the papers he'd received froh the sheets, which acknowledged her words and verified his, and paled "I' these are copies?"

He nodded "Feel free to keep the on to the docu the truth, wouldn't you say you took your sweet ti around?"

"Faith ran away froot involved with drugs and changed her narew cold But make no mistake, Sam is my niece"