tasted like as

the center of everything, always. Tonight, she wore a red dress that cost more than m

are shawl and clutch. The unacknowledged daughter, the live-in

s powerful friends I grew up with. Carter Sterling, Blake Ashford, Julian Croft-they were all there, circling

. My heart did a stupid little flip. For ten

wn. Scarlett, drunk and high, stumbled

Scarlett," I said

uld freeze fire. "Stay out of it,

hand and blew a kiss to her

thud echoed from the street just minutes la

one who had been writing articles about our father's dirty

ansion, the air wa

er repeated, his face pale. "It

guilt, but from fear. "I'll go

landed on me. The decision w

unit, their faces grim. Carter Sterling, the

id, his tone leaving no room for argume

dded, "You say you were driving.

n erase the security footage from the gala's

zen. They were goi

. We get Ava out of the country. Tonight. I'll drive her to the

ull of what I thought was concern. "

bloomed in my chest. Noah was

whispered.