Vanessa’s POV

The voice on the other end trembled, but enough for Vanessa to catch it. Men like this always had a certain flutter in their tone when they were standing too close to danger and too tempted by money. It was the sound of fear brushing shoulders with greed.

Her lips curled slowly as she paced to the far corner of her bedroom, away from the bassinet where Jayson slept. She lowered her voice into a soft, velvety hum—one she used only when she wanted something.

“This is ...