s clicked against the marble w

ngling to claim the physical center of the family unit. Her hand found Burnett's arm, fingers c

tched higher than necessary, breathy with m

movement so subtle it might have been accidental-except Emilie caught the micro-expressi

carrying a new steel, "is you

g in the air

f shock, and her eyes-those wide, guileless eyes-immediately filled with tears.

ered to matte perfection. "I've prayed for this every single day. You must have suffered so much, growing up

limited edition Chanel release that cost five thousand dollars an ounce. Corie's arms continued th

didn'

ded. When Corie entered her personal space-close enough that the perfume beca

es. Just

bled. The heel of her left shoe skidded on marble. Her hand shot out, grabbing for the sofa a

miliation flushing her che

a child who'd learned early that male protection could be weaponized. "I

cut through the performanc

t her seated posture had hidden-she was tall. Taller than Corie by a clear five inc

orward. Corie

. "Interesting. You smell like money. Lots of it. But underneath?" She leaned in, close enough

er makeup. "I-I don't know what y

lower, intimate, deadly. "I care about the soul weari

roat. "Emilie. That's

hild. Me. So unless there's some immaculate conception I'm unaware of, this one came fro

hat followed

r sides, the manicured nails digging crescents into her palms. The mask had

merged strangled.

ised h

ld who'd never been denied. Emilie saw it coming in slow motion

dn't b

thing she'd survived-every mountain she'd climbed, every enemy she'd buried, ev

ped six inches fr

d terrified-recognized what she was facing. Not a rival. Not an obstacle. A p

, her spine hitting the curved banister of

ie m

lied her years, her body angled to shield Emilie, her eyes bl

ter again. Do you understand me? You have lived in my house, worn my clothes, stolen my love for

he looked to Burnett, to Kristy

nty-one years of affection and the sudde

room. And she did what she'd alway

d receding upward, followed by the slam of

nds reaching out, checking for

gently, surprised by the fragility of the bo

the sofa. "Hettie. That was... we don't know for certain abo

ave cut glass. "Can't just protect our re

's quiet word st

that might have been curiosity-head tilted, eyes narrowed,

lie said. It wa

face we

oser, her voice dropping to a register that wouldn't carry beyond th

up. "What? Hettie, what

ter-this stranger with the predator's eyes and the surgeon's hands-and

ie whispered. "U

raight, her pace measured. A woman going to her executi

e fol

amilies, holding a strand of hair that might prove everything-or nothing-about the gi