t of the chandelier, flashing like a tiny

er body naturally coiled, ready to execute a perfect, minimal-effort dodge to the left. She

t her weight, the heavy o

road figure in a black suit cut across the marble f

d directly in

air, intercepting the dart's path. The razor-sharp tip stopped a hair's breadth from his

cold fury between Celina and the boy who had tried to blind her. The image was seared into the minds of everyon

is wrist, Donovan sent

exactly two inches from Dock's right hand, embedding

as if burned, stumbling away from the rai

rp metal tip had scraped across the crystal face of the custom watch strapped t

wly raised

raight across the face of

Donovan's eyes turned pitch-black, ra

umble that vibrated in the chest of everyone in the roo

e turned his wrist slightly, letting the damaged watch catch

he property of

s. He saw the shattered Ming vase on the floor-the vase he had bragged about

d. The blood drained from his fa

in. Still shaking from the dart that had nearly taken his finge

r down at Celina. "You dodged! You made me break dad's vase

d that vase more than he loved her.

vie yelled, her voice shrill with desperation. "We b

ng to cry. "Sister, why would you

ling blame onto a girl who had done nothing but

er spine was straight. Her chin was high. Her eyes swept over the three of them-Dock, Elvie, Ka

silk. "Your son threw a metal dart at my face. A stranger had to shield me because my new family tried to blin

l frozen near the door. "Is this the Hayes family's idea of a w

ysical blow. His mouth opened a

d at Celina with an expression that was

eyes were dead. Empty. The eyes of a man

od. "Your son threw a weapon at a guest. Your wife and daughter blamed the victim. And your prized posse

ilence stretch until War

yes. "I will give you a choice. Your son's throwing hand, or..." He let the word hang in the air. "You get

went de

the trailer park girl he had stuffed into a servant's room

a hand. It was the complete and total anni

r one horrible second, his p

de

h ruthless deals and iron will-dropped to his knees on the shattered porcelain. The sharp edges

oice cracking. "On behalf of my entire famil

t was being dragged out

fe a living hell was on his knees before her, bleeding, beg

im kneel. Let him bleed. Let him f

quite catch that, Mr. Hayes.

e heard his teeth grind. "To you

or?" Celina asked, her voice soft, curi

fe's words. For..." He swallowed hard.

agonizing moment. Then she nodded once.

e said. "You m

was granting him permission. In hi

pants torn, blood staining the fab

gry fascination. This girl-this angry kid from the Rust Belt-had just p

stpan for the vase. And Warren?" He paused at the door. "If I hear of any retaliation a

alked out, Pres

vy door

ing press

ad knelt to his own stepdaughter. And e