ella

ealing us in. For a heartbeat, the silence in my

ame shook with a fury that usually preceded a bloodbath. The shattered crystal on the rug crunched b

My mother, Elizabeth, caught me instantly, pulling me i

cold, lethal light as she glared at the door. "We will make them pay. I

ing my body to tremble. "Papa," I whis

ruthless, softened as he looked at his only daughter. "

own my cheek. "What if the hit at the speakeasy wasn't just the Marinos? I keep hav

skey and cigar smoke. My father's expression shifted from blind rage

other. "Before we strike Burnett Marino, I need to know my own house is clea

ll send someone to the Marino estate to return every single engagem

the dark satisfaction bloo

private suite locked behind me. I stripped off the white dress-a symbol of

he wasn't just my driver or assistant; she was a Wolfe-train

tight with suppressed anger ove

he mirror as I wiped away the ruined makeu

prised but unwaveri

nto this house. Every person she's spoken to, every gift she's received. I want to know ex

bowing her head with absol

ring my eyes looked red and puffy, befor

roses hit me. She looked pale, her doe eyes

." she

tting my voice crack. "I t

ve to believe me, I never wanted this! Daniel... he wouldn't stop pursuing me. I told him no, over and ove

of her lie. If I hadn't died on that speakeasy floor,

part. "I understand," I whispered brokenly

standing in her room, loo

rs stopped. I wiped my cheek, my expression hardeni

headed straight back t