s of the Greenwich

knot. The sprawling stone mansion loomed ahead, its massive windows glowing with warm light agai

re Hank could even turn off the engin

d neatly in front of her apron. Hank opened the car door. The crisp Connec

" Betty said, her vo

to the gravel. "T

rley's adoptive mother, hurried down the ste

ling her into a tight, desperate embrace

wall of defense she had built up in the car cracked slightly. She hugged Ma

u, Mom," Car

rle

neteen and full of chaotic energy, crashed into them.

ck to look at her younger sister. "It's i

e moment Carley crossed the threshold, the smell of roasted meat and baked

nd a look of absolute authority. He didn't hug her. He simply nodded,

Carley said, keepi

es pressed tightly together. Martha and Pippa fired questions at her about Milan, about her

e hallway. Her ears strained fo

one pers

and patted Carley's knee. "Barron had an emergency

arley's breath hitched. She dug her fingernails in

y brother is a robot. He is never here. He's either a

of her mouth up. "That's

," Betty announce

ahogany table was set with heavy silver and crys

lade touched the roast beef, the heavy thud of the

d drained from her face, leaving her skin icy cold

the hardwood floor.

home," Betty's voice

figure appeared in the ar

topped b

of his youth. His jaw was sharper, his shoulders wider under the dark, impeccably tail

over the table. Th

re completely dead, looking at her as if she were a

voice overly bright. "Come

peak. He walked around the table and pulled

buttoning his suit jacket. The movement was smooth,

the dining room vanished. The a

o, Barron, did you fire someone tod

th twitched in a micro-expression that bar

her fingers trembling so badly the metal clinked against the p

er skin, burning through her clothes, dissecting her. She was