lise

u could hear the liquor dripping from the e

ce flushing a furious, guilty crimson. "She's

ked into a corner. He didn't look at his son. He was staring at me, his gaze dropping

yank my arm away, but the instant his

ush the bone another quarter-inch into my pleural cavity. Let me drown in my own blood right here on your imp

n iron poker. His chest heaved, his eyes darti

the butler, gesturing violently toward S

tch-" Sean started, but Gregory

sight before I

up the grand staircase. The heavy thud of their retreating footsteps

nor stood frozen beside him, her hands clenched into

bbed my elbow, but this time his grip was terrified, almost de

led library. Gregory slammed the double doors

ressure off my fractured side. The sharp agony was constant now, a hot wire burning

ands trembling as he tried and failed to light a Cuba

ernal authority. "You want an apology? You want Sean to grovel? Fine. He'll do it

t sent a sharp spasm through my side. "You think

d facade completely gone. "We took you in! We clothed you! We gave you a roo

" I said, looking Eleanor dead in the eye until she snapped her jaw shut. "You didn't raise me. You k

attention ba

er. "First. Five million dollars. Direct wire transfe

. "Are you insane? The club is already extorting us for three mi

nd Cayman. Don't play poor with me, Father. I know about the unregistered shipping containers moving through Terminal 4. I know why the Ir

d from his face, leaving behind a grayish, hollow mask o

ing, irrevocable Declaration of Severance. Total termination of familial ties. You will sign over full emancipation documents, r