d silent air. She stared at her reflection, a pale-faced woman in a silver d

trange, buoyant lightness spread through her chest. The weight o

hit her as she stepped outside, a bracing shock that cleared

doubt sent by Preston to harass her on his behalf. She ignored them a

t welcome beacon. She slid into a booth and ordered a black

. She would have to quit her job at Vance Ind

a familiar, heavy dread. Sharon Castillo had worshipped Preston Vance and the

flood of notifications poured in. Dozens o

illo! Have you lost your mind? Preston told me everythin

ut a second thought. A storm was

om an unknown number appear

I apologize for the intrusion, but I would like to request a meeting with you at your

hat name was royalty. The Vances were wealthy, but the Marshalls we

t the tone of the message was formal, professional. It included an offi

erful family in the city be contacting

o the first. "If you don't do as I say, I will cut you off

in from her past, threatening to drag her back down. The ot

ward, a source of power her family couldn't touch. This bizarre invi

illion lights, and not one of them felt like it was for her

ly to the unknown number. "Mr. Hayes,

ar will be waiting for you outside your apartment building at 10 a.m.

a shiver of apprehension down her spine, but

would take the meeting. To escape the cage,