lway echoed like a gunsh

's face, instantly replaced

he spun around, her heavy shoes stomping across the floorboards, and ya

rdly on her hands and knees. She had been pressing her ear so hard against the wood that when

her eyes for a split second before she scrambled to her

, her hands desperately smoothing out her skirt. "I was just... I was just wiping

es were as cold as ice. "Cleaning? Since when do you lift a singl

sly, looking past Maria's broad shoulders and land

sele provided all the context she needed. Bettye was lazy, greedy, and thrived

e conversation about Chauncey. Gisele could practically see the gears turning

-pitched, fake tone of concern. She managed to squeeze out two crocodil

word of it. "She needs rest, Bettye. Not your eavesdropping. G

o a thin, angry line. But she didn't dare talk back to Maria. She pushed herself up,

le caught the dark, calculating g

ent she turned back to Gisele, the fierce, intimidating matr

ria's shoulder. "Let the girl rest, Maria. We have plenty of t

fully tucked the edges of the floral quilt around

e thick with emotion. "Nobody is going to force you to

ele leaned back against the pillows. The hou

who blatantly favored her. Her oldest brother, Arthur, was loyal and steady. Her third brother, Donato, was fiercely pro

was only step one. She had to clean house. Bettye's eavesdropping proved she was a

she had dealt with corporate snakes far more vicious than

hoed from Gisele's stomach. A sharp cr

ncey, and then she had nearly died in the woods. Her body was completely run

the door. A gentle knock

lked in. She was carrying a large wooden tray. Susan

rown sugar was melting into a pool of sweetness in the center. Next to it were two

food hit Gisele's nose, maki

offered a shy, warm smile. "Mom told me to make th

he war with Bettye could wait