a P

ng on the heavy bedroom do

enses razor-sharp, and s

d the d

essed in a charcoal bespoke suit,

two private security guards

his voice entirely devoid of emoti

gainst the doorfram

. Now you're counting second

cility," Diego interjected, stepping up beside him. "Your conti

his towering frame casting a shad

Every black card, luxury gym pass, country club account, and the

reakdown, the panic, the desperate p

m nothing but the cool detachment

ain, the sound of heels

igner dress, holding an empty, vintage velve

out at the Manor at dawn, Nora," Daphne pu

on the parlor table right now, waiting for me. A piece like th

e velvet box, offering neit

g Nora lost was simp

, and the corners of my mouth

are nothing more than an illegitimate

but every word hit t

drained of c

was the deepest insecu

she hissed, her voi

Henry Cole's bed while my mother was dying in the hospital," I

yes flickering toward Daphne

f the Cole family

d, Daphne raised her

digging my thumb hard into he

grip gave way, the empty velvet box slippi

my voice dropping

and I won't just take it back. I w

whose jaw remained tight

't need ten minutes

as duffel bag, and packed only Nora's personal id

ur coats Marcus had purchased r

ed out, Marcus's eyes drifted

ine confusion cro

to his wealth, yet I was wal

stopping, heading straight

I caught a final glimpse of Marcus's ri

by doors into the crisp

clearing away the lingering suf

om my pocket and dialed the only

imes before a deep, m

finally decide

across the street suddenly spot me. "Bring my