the rusted metal of

ingers wrapped tightly aroun

ated violently

flashed Benton. Her stomach ch

t?" Hazel asked,

came through the speaker, sickeningly smooth. "Yo

nymore," Hazel said,

r's new prescription is sitting on my desk. It

nd Hazel's throat like

Benton said, and

the phone so hard her joints ached. She ope

Need you at a dinn

The screen

nt of the massive oak doors of the C

wn. I can't leave th

one. She shoved the phone into her bag, took a d

t. The long table was packed with re

low chatter stopped. A collective, ma

back in his chair, loo

ked loudly. "Couldn't afford

gling. "Maybe the poor IT boy saw the fr

laughter bounce

ked to the empty chair at the far end of the

table, slicing a rare steak.

y," Mildred said without looking up

tightened around

her voice cold. "He earns his own money. That m

ne glass tipped, spilling dark red wine acro

"I know people in tech. I can make one phone call and ensure your

The threat was real. Cody had the conne

rning anger in her throat. She lowered her

on her, calling Brennan a loser, a beggar, a mistake. H

, holding a silver teapot fi

he tea, her wrist

splashed directly onto t

ed out, jerking

ed. The burning pain seared through

h said, her tone entirel

opped laughing. No one

one, Hazel. Making a mess. Go up to the guest

. She pushed her chair back, stood up, a

rs finally blurred her vision. She felt a crushing guilt fo

top floor of a towering glass

table. His face was carved from ice as he listened to

uietly up behind his chair and sl

(Hazel) is currently at the Cook estate. Attending alon

at the words

d to drop ten degrees. His jaw clenche

loud thwack made the vice president

ting adjourned," he or

is chair and strode out of the room, leaving