RY

stepfather's house in Chestnut Hill. I ne

r, he simply handed me a black, heavy-stock business ca

," Collier said, "I'll be

ou," and walked toward the oppressiv

oor. Her eyes widened with a mixture

psister, Haleigh, were sitting on a plush white sofa, sipping tea. Th

frown. "You're back," she said, her voice dripping wit

nocent concern. "Avery, you look terrible. The day

sy made me

glass coffee table with a deliberate thud, l

's mine. The documents for the 15% share in the Ve

ery," she said, adopting her haughty, society-matron tone, "we ha

gh. "Oh, I completed it. Just no

rriage certificate, and slapped it down

eigh stared at the document a

, her voice a shrill shriek. "

e insane, Avery! Do you know that Mr. Austen has agreed to invest in our

detached calm. "That was just your pla

ill before he died. After I get married, I will have the right to i

o marry me before I get these

ring gaze held her back. She couldn't afford a scene in the G

, retrieved a folder and a set of keys, a

m up. I turn

IER

t a street corner with a clear view

ertips. I kept seeing her eyes from last night. The way she'd looked when she s

y grandfather, A

ed the car. "Kid, I heard you took

e. "Your intel is as g

denying it. "And

rupted, so loud I had to pull the phone from my ear. "That's my boy! Fi

e. "Her name is Velasquez," I

oughtful, intrigued. "Velasquez? The boutique hotel

my cigarette. "She's a

to see me soon. And make sure she's not getti

fingers over the cover, and scanning the names and dates

waiting for this mom

gate. Her back was ramrod straight, like a sma

arette out and st

wering the passenger window. I raised an ey

d in, and tossed the folder and keys onto the dashboard. She le