ured toward a small, private sitting room of

d to where he could watch her through the glass-paned doors. He le

at could possibly m

rypted audio recorder from his briefcase and handed it

put in the single earbud and pressed play. Her grandfath

the greed that had consumed his own son. He couldn't trust any of them, he said. Only h

protective shell." Kerr Ward's name and power would keep the vul

this is the last thing your grandpa will ever ask of you

little recorder clenched tight in her fist. Something soft and vuln

ettling back into place like a mask. She remo

e the do

. He quickly produced the inheritanc

ey or the power. It was for the old man's last wish. She uncapped a pen and si

in hall, Arthur, Eleanor, and Can

Arthur snarled. "I'm warning you,

y of the manor," Eleanor added, her voice dripping veno

s burning with a hatred so

nts to Robert Sullivan, then turned to face her

t cut through their bluste

ets are

aze drift over each of th

you can take

It was a declaration of war, delivered with the casual con

e pointed a trembling finger at her, sput

nd her voice. "You b

e back of a chair. "Shut your mouth, you country freak!" he spat, hi

rand staircase, her demeanor suggesting she was merely informing them of a settled fact before

e, appreciative smile. This girl had fire. He was getting more and more curious about the source

He turned to the sputtering Solomon family. "Legally speaking," he stated, hi

elusions. Arlie's reluctant acceptance, followed by her immediat

of power was complete. The battle for