ocialites held their breath, their teacups forgott

trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. Then,

her voice dangerously soft.

her stepmother, who i

ould hear her clearly. "Let's talk about last week. About the phone call you made, telling me Grandmother Eleanor was on her deathb

he other women exchanged s

er composure shattering. "You're

half a million dollars that was transferred out of Veronica's private account two days before she died. Wher

panic flashed in Lydia's eyes. This w

shrill with desperation. "Get this l

private security, emerged from the hallway. They

but it was useless. They were too strong. Th

r them, her face contorted with rage. "Let her s

He was still standing in the same spot, watching her being dragged away, his face an unreadable mas

t move. He

of the hall. One of them unlocked it and threw it open

kness, lost her footing, and fell

e sound of a key turning in the lock

gasps. The combination of the fever, the hunger, the violent struggle, a

ight or sound. A wave of vertigo washed over her. Her head swam,

bling, and finally, the darkness outside was matched by

cialites had made their hasty, awkward excuse

stood before the locked study door. He pl

g. A profound, u

lence from the boathouse. A cold knot of dread tightened in his

. His knuckles turned white. One turn. That's all

in his mind. The ghost of his certainty, his righteou

, a man at war with himself. The desire to punis

he let his hand fall from the

the front door of the to

th fury and fear, roa

Where i