d wasn't a house; it was a fortre

e rotors kicked up a storm of grass clippings. Ge

ldn't hear. "Inside that house are sharks. My father, Christopher. My ste

wimming with sharks since I was born

use they sm

was a cavernous room with a tab

. He didn't stand. He looked like an

ting into his steak. "This

rrected, pulling o

surprised, smiled thinly. "We were just watching your video, dear.

earch, Alida. Engagement is up forty percen

ked on his wine. He looked at Is

ovoked," Isa

ce hung heavy over the table, brok

hristopher said. "A pity. The Faulk

arder to fix. Isn't that right, Christopher? I heard

ched against the china. "

hed over and took Isa's plate. He began cutt

silent. Even the ser

a whispered. "Wh

rdt said, not looking up from h

e plate ba

his ears were slightly red. He was using her to

lena summoned th

e butler, placed a sleek, encrypted tablet on the table. "This is a direct link to the fami

t to work. His family had underestimated her. 'Read-only' was a suggestion, not a barrier. It took her less than ten min

ifacts and blood diamonds. Her

he saw it.

ce with a unique

s wearing the night she died. The one

day after the fire. The sel

ver the screen. They didn't just have it; they ha

t. She couldn't let them k

the balcony, staring

aid, her voice carefully modulated to sound greedy and amb

one eyebr

t. Full access. As the future mother of th

with a flicker of dis

he said, meeting his

would trade every diamond in that vault for tha