s clicked against the marble w

t and Hettie, her body angling to claim the physical center of the fami

out pitched higher than necessary,

. She withdrew her shoulder

carrying a new steel, "is you

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

what her seated posture had hidden. Taller than Corie by a clear five inches,

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

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

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

ed that belied her years, her body angled to shield Emilie, her e

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

d toward the stairca

hair that might prove everything-or nothing-about the girl who had wal