h a violent thud. He marched straight to the edge of the b

r, unadulterated murder in his eyes, her breath hitched. She shrank back a

per. He leaned over her, his hands gripping the edge of the mattress. "You will n

into the room. She didn't hesitate. She swung her silver

spun around, staring at his grandmother in absolute

our head," Madam Sterling order

cheek. He shot one last, venomous glare at Aria befo

. She sat on the edge of the mattress, r

he whispered, her throat still raw. "I don't wa

as gentle, but there was a steel rod running throu

pocket. She pulled out a folded piece of paper

home where her grandmother, Mary Miller, lived. The final balance at th

ow and rapid. A cold sweat broke out on the back

ly. "And Mary will be moved to a private suite in Manhatta

the paper up. But the image of her grandmother's failing hea

t pressing down on Aria's chest. Finally, she closed her eyes. A sing

Aria cho

ppy smile. She patted Aria's knee, s

y the liquor cabinet, aggressively pouring amber liquid into

ity Hall for tomorrow morning," Mada

. The whiskey splashed over the rim, staining the

authority as the matriarch. I will freeze every liquid asse

knew the family bylaws. She wasn't bluffing. She could

. The wood groaned. His knuckles split, a thin line of

dled outside the estate gates. A cold,

aded khaki trench coat. She twisted her fin

ke dark suit. He didn't look at her. He didn't even acknowledge she exist

to the other side of the car, pulled the heavy door open,

. An invisible wall of ice separated them. Victor

asses before stepping out. He walked fast, his long legs eati

They signed the standard forms mechanicall

the thin piece of pa

ound that was half

their names printed side by side

in had stopped, leaving the air heavy and damp. Victor turned his head slowl

to hell."