SOLD FOR FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS

THE PRICE OF A NAME

chapter 4

Ten million dollars.The cop's words echoed through the cathedral like a death sentence. Jessica's smile was a blade. That's the reward for returning Anastasia Carter alive. Dead or alive, actually. My father isn't picky. My father. Richard Hale. The man who ordered the fire that killed my parents. The man who stole my name and sold me for five thousand dollars.Father Michael's hand tightened around mine. She's not going anywhere with you.Watch me. Jessica snapped her fingers. The two cops stepped forward, handcuffs glinting in the candlelight. She's a thief. A fraud. she conned Daniel Carter. She's dangerous.Dangerous? I laughed. The sound was broken. Foreign. it didn't sound like Grace it sounded like Anastasia. You want dangerous? I'll show you dangerous.I stepped out from behind father Michael. My torn dress, my bare feet, my rain soaked hair. I looked like nothing. Like trash. Like a girl worth five thousand dollars. But I wasn't.My name was billion.Check the database again, I told the cops. My voice didn't shake. Search for Chief Richard. Not the uncle. The criminal. The arsonist. The murderer. The younger cop hesitated. His eyes flicked to Jessica, then to me to the crescent moon birthmark on my neck.Father Michael nodded at him. Do it, son. Before you arrest an innocent heiress and become accessory to k********g. The cops fingers flew across his phone. Sweat beaded on his forehead. The cathedral was silent except for the rain and the thunder and Jessica's breathing. Fast. Shallow. Scared. Then the cop looked up. His face was white.Sir, he said to his partner. There are three open warrants for a Chief Richard Eze. Wanted in connection with the Hale-carter fire. Twenty years ago New York. Three counts of murder. One count of attempted murder of a minor. The minor was me.Jessica's mask cracked. That's a lie! My father saved her! He raised her.He raised me to sell me, I said. Each word was ice. He beat me. He starved me. He told me I was worthless. Then he sold me to a sixty year old man for the price of a used car. I took a step toward Jessica. She flinched.But you made one mistake, Jessica. You put a price on my head. Ten million dollars.I smiled. It wasn't Grace's smile. Grace never smiled like that.I'm worth 2.3 billion. You're ten million short. The older cop lowered his gun. Miss Hale, we need you to come with us for questioning. Now.Jessica's perfect face twisted. You can't be serious! She's the criminal! She'sShe's the victim, father Michael cut in. His voice was steel. And unless you want the Catholic church, the NYPD, and the entire Carter legal team on your back, I suggest you cooperate.The Carter legal team.The words hit me. I had a legal team. I had lawyers. I had power.For twenty years I had nothing. Now I had everything.Except Daniel.Where is he? I asked father Michael. Where is Daniel Carter? 26th precinct, the younger cop said. Booked two hours ago. Grand larceny. Fraud. Mental health evaluation pending. Mental health evaluation. They were going to declare him Insane. Lock him away. Steal his life like they stole mine.Not while I breathed.Take me to him, I said to the cops. Now. Miss Carter, you shouldNow I didn't scream. I didn't need to. My voice was cold enough to freeze hell. Or should I call my lawyers first? The ones who own this precinct?The cops exchanged a look. Then they nodded.Father Michael squeezed my hand once. Be smart, Anastasia. Don't let anger make you stupid. Daniel wouldn't want that.

The man who raised me.who beat me who sold me. He didn't save me from the fire.He started it.The truth hit me so hard I couldn't breathe. My parents didn't die in an accident. They were murdered. For money. By the man who called himself my uncle.And now his daughter was here to finish the job. Grace, Father Michael said gently. using the name I knew. Anastasia. You have a choice now. You can run. Or you can fight.I looked at the cops. At Jessica. At the cross above the altar.I thought of Daniel in handcuffs. Protecting me. Believing in me when I was nothing. I was done running. I stood up. My legs were shaking, But I stood. I choose fight, I said. My voice was quite. But it didn't shake. Where is Daniel Carter. Father Michael smiled. Sad and proud. Jail, he said. Said. But not for long. Because you my child... You own the jail. You own the courthouse. You own the whole damn city. He took my hand. His was warm. Safe like Daniel's. Come, he said. It's time to take back your name. Your money. And your man. Outside, thunder cracked. Inside, I was born again.Not Grace. Not the girl sold for five thousand dollars. Anastasia Isabella Carter.Billionaire. heiress.And Jessica Hale's worst nightmare.