Bryan, and Diana had left hours ago for their social o

ocatingly quiet. Only Broo

A massive, heavy art book on classical paintings rested

arrying a silver tray with a steaming porcelain teapot and t

ping with honey. "All alone? I brewed

the painting of a stormy sea. She loo

yn said, her

coffee table and took a seat opposite Brooklyn. She poured th

wrapping her manicured fingers around the warm porcelain. "H

The thick paper made a sharp swish i

ly, everyone is just worried about you. The country must have been so hard. You probably

choed off the walls. She locked her eyes onto Kr

Brookly

htly against the saucer. She quickly recov

you feel uncomfortable around Harmony and Grandma, maybe you could move into the guest hous

illing smile spread across her lips. The sheer

repeated, tasting the words. "Is th

nd. "No! I didn't mean it like that! I just thought, if you

over Kristen, casting a long

per. "Your tea is good. Your manipulation is better. But I don't

avy art book and tur

yn threw over her shoulder, "t

s. She stared at Brooklyn's retreating back, a fl

en muttered under her breath, her fingers grippi

ossed the book onto the bed. Her ph

g exhausted and thin. "I have a charity gala tonight. I'll

oklyn said,

arden, Harmony had just returned with three other girls. They

the second-floor windows. "Ha

ough the glass. "Don't even mention her. She

ainst the wooden window frame. Tap. Tap. Tap. The rhythm match

m the window and di

ed, her voice crisp and commanding.

oss, in person? Won'

. "I'll enter as an anonymous bu

d pulled out her battered duffel bag. She unzipped a

small velvet pouch. She pulled

. No name. Just a string of deeply engraved, encrypted numbers.

group. Kristen leaned in and whispered something. Harmony threw her hea

are. The cold smile

orrow," she whispere

yn's room was dark, save for a single desk lamp. She sat in the pool o

d antique emerald. Her eyes locked onto the green stone, h