McCa

the summons came. Derek

ne scent of aged parchment, rich leather,

any desk, clasping my trembling

t offer

tton on a remote control

unted on the wall

a liv

om with cold concrete walls. In t

strappe

as a swollen, purple ruin, and his f

a was working on him wit

lurched, an

mmanded, his voic

whispered, the bile

m against the desk, the sou

trembling as I fixed

tone dropping to a dangerous, low rumble. "He touched my wife. He stol

dark eyes bor

receipt for

, the screen

ul. "The law knows you are here. The press knows you wer

, the leather of

iggers even a moment of her trauma, I

voice sounded hollow, like

t o

d to the basem

a small sink. In truth, it wasn't much better

nto a silent

through the shadows, trying

uldn't let m

e afternoon, a chore Dionne had spe

her voice dripping w

ystal vase off

hattered into a millio

rcing the quiet house. "Eliza broke

ing out of her bed

attered across the rug. The

rted, my hands ra

rs, her face crumpling.

t she didn't see a twelve-year-old girl.

eanora shrieked, backing a

mother's back, a cruel, s

t, Mom," Kylie

ils digging in, and dragge

ished," Kylie whisp

lawn, the bright sunlight

e called o

was sharp,

in the shade of the patio. He

me ru

ct too

cal weapon, and

it to the safe

m behind like a

mmed me into the manicured grass

mped ont

cre

ot, blinding, consum

h muscle and scra

rying to kick him off,

eep voice boomed

sn't

tly, whimpering as he lowe

bleeding leg. The pristine green

through a ve

on the patio. The Patria

ght as a steel rod. He leaned slightly o

ked at

lawn, Kylie," he said. His voice was calm

ask if I

at my mangled leg

told a nearby guar

ked up at t

e. She had watche

et my

eding. I

k inside, closing the heavy cu

e last ember of hope i

anesthesia. He was used to tr

I had no tears

t, the house er

tly. Guards shouted

of the stairs, clu

ning past, his us

ppened?"

is face pale

"There was a hit. His car..

was

I arrived, the massive house