ie

d a texture entirely differen

unishment. It was the servants averting their gaze as I wept in the hallway, pretend

It was the organic sound of wind combing through the pine trees

ained in a sling, and the bandage on my head itched with the prickly sign of healing,

a page in an hour,

talian suits; today, he wore a thick cable-knit sweater and dark jeans. He looked less

inking,

ut h

bout who exactly I am when

are Ellie Vance. You are the woman who took a money-laundering front and carved it into a legitimate, award-

se you pulled me

locking onto mine with an intensity that burned. "But

erything Marcus's parents represented. Warm. Open. They didn't look at me like a political

id, offering a gentle smile. "You

g. I wasn't used to kindness that

attering the moment. The screen

k jet, El. The tabloids are

tures. Marcus and Izzy, standing on the tarmac. He was kis

ly remembered to buy me flowers unless hi

he looked over my shoulder at the screen. "The other families are gett

e's untoucha

corrected. "And reckless

vibrating against my palm

ce Thorne. Ma

t go to voicemail, but old habits die hard. The fear

. "Hello,

arp, like shards of breakin

Beatrice. I'm n

the Crofts. It's embarrassing, Eleano

I said, my voice trembling

as a triviality. "And now you are blowing it out of proportion. We are

t comin

rm of yours is audited by the IRS, the FBI, and anyone else I can pay off. I will burn your legacy to the ground before the i

hung

, the silence of the

irm?" Julian asked. H

s truly mine," I said, my voice hollo

n said immediatel

mbling under my weight, but they held. "But if I don't go, they win. They tak

ed at

lion's den," I said. "And I'

He just nodded, a silent und

aid. "I'll wait in the car. If t