na's

estate keys onto the polish

rply against the surfac

and front doors and

my phone buzzed with a notification

opened a new betting poo

ling back in three days. Others

them, slamming down three

in the chat, dripping

last the Gr

oing to coax her this time, s

wing screen, my hea

ity, arriving at a dusty, abandoned safeh

heavy with the scent of

ing the scuffed floors, putting my

message from Lorenzo

ral mansion. Be there at seven. You need to

s, slipped into a simple black dr

omed like a massive ston

ning room and immediately

sitting i

o Lorenzo's right-the seat I had occu

ther, sat at the opposite en

silk blouse and looked at me w

inting a bony, jewel-encrusted finger toward the far e

g the Family. You know the r

y head held high and

d and deliberate

bound book from the table and tosse

aster ledger of allia

g back in his chair with arrogant ease.

ds on the table and gave me a w

kind of gifts does Mother like? And

was enjoying watching me being forced

tioned sharply to

bringing a crystal decan

irst glass and handed

Family ritual meant only for t

glass, her face flushing

ther and Father, ju

k at me. He simply smile

them, but Lorenzo instead pushe

th the etiquette, Serena. Sho

red the dark liquid into his glass without

need to ask

on Lorenzo's lip

lence as your

re, the more it proves you are

nd the entire Family surroun

out large, steam

d in front of me was a ri

ightened in

severe, life-threatening allerg

She was busy cutting her stea

ianna let out a s

il in this risotto. I r

snapped her fin

kitchen. Remake the ent

ed frantically to

, staring down at my

er, the photographer arrived for

front of the massiv

turned her co

, Serena. Let Gianna wear it for a fe

down at

d been given to me on my wedding day. I ha

renzo stepped directly in fro

lled the ban

e, bruising my knuckles and leaving a

ere chipped, then personally slid the

gize. Once this is over, I will

lled for everyone t

d right nex

dging me backward shoulder by shoulder, until I

ing flash

oup chat settings, and silently left the encrypte