a's

smell of panca

normal. Then I heard Clara's laugh drifting up f

essed. Let them have thei

t. After all, I was a billi

, and bacon sat waiting on the counter-the kind of ge

plate clattering against the marble. "No! This

at's not how we treat people. Apologize to Aria." Her word

the doorway. "Marc

me, not meeting my eye

't acc

him against the wall. I took a thin branch from the

st int

Clara stepped forward.

"By what right do you interfere with a mo

g into her palms. "He's still young..

nes," I replied. "If I don't discipline

shut

rd and caught my wr

he branch to the floor. Marcus scrambled behin

gue and patted hi

ther, you will show me respect. If you can't learn that,

Marcus stopped crying. I w

" Ethan's voi

I turned to

on to me, I can certainly adopt a second. As long as you

ll dark as thunder, I cheerfully picked up m

-

my car when foo

an's tone was ste

y. "Was there

eveled. "I'll drive you to the office. We ca

oing to th

ave the mee

led open the car door.

other

to look a

. In the rearview mirror, he stood in th

-

promised and more. Floor-to-ceiling windows, soa

t needed

elite-somewhere I'd never shopped bef

leaming showrooms, I felt

hed wood, mentally decorating my new space. Modern but

s when

center stage. The tag read "Russo Co

rf

hone when a voice cut t

but I'm taki

arms crossed, looking at me like I was something unp

toe in labels I recogniz

waves, her makeup flawless. Everything

y?" I sai

ently. "I saw it first. So you'

't think that's h

lips thinned. "Do you

oul

y father is Alpha Richard Crane of the Riverside

ough, but nowhere near Cre

turning back to the sof

Two large men in black suits materialized from behind t

me. I tensed-rea

do that if

ep, cultured, carrying the kind of

tailored three-piece suit strode in

ielded power for decades and ne

ed back instantly. Her

e stammered. "I did

on was fixed entirely on me. He stopped and i

s an honor to fi

room wen

rescent Moon Pack. Your uncle

came out strangled. "Smi

"Miss Crane. I believe you were just threatening my Boss's daughte

o gray. "I didn't-she di

ice could have cut glass. "Particularly when you we

er arrogance dissolved. "I'

"How nice. Unfortunately, basic decenc

e-if there's anything I c

enemies right now would be stupid.

ice. She practically fled, he

e the sofa. Please have it delivered to the Meridian Tower

k to Harrison. "Q

orry. "But it was necessary. Aria Smith is not to be trifled

xit. "The car is waiting

are we

k house." A slight

oment. Vincent was m

my lap. Going to Crescent Moon was inevitab

t's my home, I should at

to come would c