est bathroom door. The click was

t suddenly felt too thin. The bathroom was sterile, smelling of lemon polish and expensiv

badly she could barely wor

minu

as pale, her eyes wide with a frantic energy. The ruby sat a

d, her skin gray against the hospital sheets. "Never

ghter of a weak Alpha and th

the door made her jump

It's me!

tically fell into the room, locking it behind

ebra asked, grabb

angry welt rising on t

matter. Colin is an idiot. But Marley isn't. She's serious, Debra. I heard her on the phone with

towel with cold water. She tried to press

ng to a harsh whisper. "You have to go. Now.

have no money. My cards are

e laundry chute to the basement. I left the back ga

I disappear, Marley will tear this house apart

y," Vicky lied. Her

stomach, replacing the nausea. "If I run, I prove them right.

on't save you,"

shed cold water on her face, watching the droplets run down like tears she refuse

Deb

boots outside the

ice boomed. "The Luna r

n't a

ce. She looked at

smoothing her apron.

assive and impassive. They didn't gesture; they

hallway was lined with portraits of Vance ancestors. They seeme

Marley sat on a velvet chaise lounge, sipping red wine. The c

artists and stylists scurri

rds remained

king a cigarette inside, blowing smoke onto th

set the wine glass down on a

r of the room. She kept he

really hoped we could do this the civilized way. You know

Debra said. "That necklace is from my mother'

uldn't even keep her husband interested? The woma

er," Debra stepped forward,

ts. I control the image. And I will not have a brat holding onto three million dollars in

t was it. Not just cr

," Marley

s moved i

ebra, her small frame a pathetic barrier against the

letely out of his mind on 'supplements'," Colin laughed, pushing off t

his hand encompassing V

rd caught her arm, twisting it behind her back with

ut of here," Ma

y didn't escort her ou