bel

e words heavy with the realization th

tered by a shriek that could have

k of ugly, raw fury. "Daddy, you can't! Those are *mine*!

ls digging into his suit jacket. "She's a basta

"Jerrold, have you lost your mind? Giving the family he

hing the cheap plastic pearls to my chest as if they were

my voice barely audible over their screeching. "I only want to e

For the family.* In our world,

flushing purple. "Do you want us all dead? Do you want Griffith's men

his eyes cold. "Get t

rro

ow

marched out of the room. Emmalee collapsed onto the sofa, sobbing into her hands, her "tr

polished mahogany box onto the table. With trembling fing

n, she tried

mond tennis bracelet and a pair of pearl s

"Take them and get

, like a frightened animal. I looked int

ng a frown crease my forehead. "But... I read in the society papers that Don Griffith's mistress, Fay

dding day... if Faye Evans sees me in these simple pearls and laughs... won't the Don

en at me. The fear was back in his eyes. He knew Damian Griffit

res," Jerrold comman

! That was y

them t

out the heavy necklace-deep, midnight-blue sapphires set in white gold, surrounded by diamonds. It was

s. The metal was cold, hea

hissed. "And ma

to break through my mask of terror. "Thank you,

ned to leave. The sound of Emmalee's weeping followed

I suffocated on their hypocrisy. I stepped out onto the

to

ce was blotchy, her eyes red, but she had comp

ice trembling with malice. "You have the jewels. Yo

will have a life of peace. But you? You are going to a monster. Damian Griffith will break yo

l with tears again. "I know," I whispered,

a leech. "Good. You should be. I'll

ck inside, slamming the

ed against my ribs. Slowly, I straightened my spine. The

stupid

ineage was stained with the worst sin in our world. She didn't know that once her father stopped paying Coleton's bills

n at the box

yes. But I wasn't walking in as a

quarters, my mind already racing, plann