s of the Carson Estate. The heavy tires crushed the gr

the air pressure

ed out the tinted window. His profile was carved from ice.

to the opposite corner o

white plastic stick of a strawberry lollipop

ng her eyes dart toward Bryan

glided t

wung his long legs out and stood up.

s the leather. She pushed

he stone step. She let out a

for a fraction of a seco

forward and caught Clara by the el

t into the sprawling

eplace. Both of his hands rested heav

es landed on Clara, the har

s voice was thick with

lara. You are

oe-like eyes. She dropped th

the old man's waist, burying her face in his

he display. His

and yanked his

said, his voice flat and

gold cane and slammed the rubber tip into the floor

"The wedding is next week. You will ma

pointed a long finger at Clara, who was curr

" Bryant's voice shook with suppressed rage.

iot, Clara's s

She pressed her face harder into Cornelius's chest and bega

ive arm around her shoulder

my life!" Cornelius barked. "You will ta

muscles in his neck str

he disgust in his chest was a physic

ish," Bry

him. He marched out of the living room and

She clutched Cornelius's arm, her

y. He gestured to a mai

up to the master be

Clara's hand and led her up

hallway. Sarah pushed open a heavy

iss Clara," S

y metal lock clicked into place. T

gaged, the terror vani

pped. The tre

rfectly straight. The dull, vacant look in her eyes

ver to the v

sed her index finger hard against

omms chip activated wi

tatic hissed in her ear, fol

you get in?

king smirk. Her voice dropped an oct

it. Find a way to get it into my roo

of the vanity. She picked up

n half. A micro-USB drive

. She reached behind the heavy mahogany wood and

ngers flew across the flat keys,

ed down the small holographic s

he Carson Estate's perimeter secur

n the master suite were now under her control. She smirk

red at th

husband," she whisper