the ceiling, and the air hummed with the chatter of Ninverton's elite. Clarissa Barlo

a practiced smile plastered on her face. Her hand was tucked into the

guest asked, her eye

er voice a perfect blend of concern and disappoin

dozen times, each one

Barlowe, the family's matriarch, a formidable old woman with eyes like chips of granite and a

r, his face a mask

and serious. "There's something you

imed he'd seen Connor the night before, checking into a

phone and showed her a blurry, heavily pixelated

elief. "To betray Genevieve is one thing, but to do it on the eve of

to a furious scowl. The story confirmed every one

reddened, playing the part of the heartbroken victim

e was a low growl, cutting through the near

ight-fitting suit. "Find him. Use every resource we have

s still driving that pathetic Ube

voice ringing with cold fury. "He will get on his knees

hed with each telling, painted Connor as a degenerate monster. The m

joined the circle, their faces grim with anger. The full weight of the Barlowe cla

sso. He was reading the file Finchley had sent him, a detailed brea

e news feed from outside the Von Merri. He knew

perfectly into place. He sent a quick text to Brody

're about to

y, my dear," she said, her voice like gravel. "W

fman Group, to make a brief appearance later-a perfect power play to impress the

ddox here. I need

anager for Uber. He was going to pinpoint Con

oked out the window at the bustling s