glass dome of the estate's sunroom, casting

a simple white knit sweater. She held a s

olled to a stop on the edge of the lawn. Four men in dark, t

room. They stopped a respectful distance

out a thick stack of documents bound in a blue

She slid the heavy stack across the table.

at the bold black letters printed on

roup's non-voting shares to your name,"

ned. One of them sucked in a

er. Five percent. That was billions of dollars. Derek Barne

original pact," Eleonora explained, her eyes soft

rmth in Eleonora's

r head. She reached out, took the heavy gold fountain pen

ly at her absolute lack of hesitation. She signed away

nkles around her eyes crinkle

signed documents, bowed de

the table and covered

oftly. "Sit with him. Talk to him. I know

image of Auguste's perfectly still

rved into a sharp

good care of him,"

om and walked down the long, carpete

two armed guards stepped aside immediately.

The door hissed shut beh

e walked straight to the elect

sequence. The heavy deadbolts inside the door slammed into place

ceiling. She reached up and yanked the power cord out

hand onto the intercom button, grabbing his sidearm with the other, ready to dispatch the tactical team. Before he could shout the order, a sharp, double-burst of static crackled in his earpiece. It was the mattress senso

ands. She turned and wal

nced hearing had picked up the sound of t

s heart gave a violent, he