"She can be a better assistant to you!" Richard added, his voice strained from pain but still strong enough to throw his youngest daughter away like garbage. He wiped blood from his mouth, his eyes burning with rage and humiliation, but none of that stopped him from offering up Dakota's replacement.
Dakota felt her entire body go cold.
Ice spread from her core outward, freezing her blood, crystallizing her tears, turning her heart to something hard and brittle that might shatter at the slightest touch.
Her hands, which had been clutching Kade's shirt like a lifeline, went weak. Numb. Like all the strength had just drained out of her in one devastating rush, leaving her hollow and empty.
They were offering Maya. Right here. Right now. While Dakota stood in Kade's arms with her face burning from her father's handprints and her shirt torn open and her dignity in shreds at her feet.
They were replacing her before she'd even been given a chance.
