"Kill me, and you'll never see a cent of it."
His hand released all at once. I slid down the wall and crumpled to the floor, clutching my throat, coughing so hard my vision blurred.
He crouched down and gripped my jaw, forcing my face toward his.
"Jade. You think you can run?"
"Your father's ashes are still at the cemetery. Try me. I'll have someone scatter them by morning."
I couldn't stop the trembling.
In my last life, that was exactly the threat he'd used. My father's ashes, held hostage, to force me into donating bone marrow to Annette.
I lunged forward and slapped him across the face with everything I had.
"Stan Delgado, you're an animal!"
His head snapped to the side. He ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek where I'd struck him.
When he turned back, his face was pure fury.
"Fair enough."
"Since you won't behave, don't blame me for what comes next."
He stood and pulled out his phone.
"Cancel Jade Kaufman's flight. Freeze every bank account under her name."
A pause.
"And send someone to watch the cemetery. Around the clock."
He hung up and looked down at me, towering, absolute.
"Starting today, you don't go anywhere without my permission."