A BRU

t urgency. It was ringing. Kassandra, still basking in her triumph, gesture

s, now devoid of tears, were fixed on Kassandra. "You'll want to h

ing her swagger. "Oh, really? And who could p

, my tone brooking no argumen

nd. "Fine. Let's see what pathetic attempt you're making now." She glanced at the caller ID, then

n her lips. "Hello, Mr. Tyler," she purred, her voice

ne. Then, a distinct, shattering sound, like glass breaking, fol

aker. It wasn't senile. It was a voice accustomed to commanding armies,

?" His voice wa

urora's number, since she seems to think she still has some claim on him." She glanced at me, a defiant challenge in her eyes. "I'm afraid your granddaughter has a rather.

ther's voice, colder than the Arctic wind

bit of a meltdown, to be honest. It's rather pathetic. She seems to think s

oice was a low growl, laced with such menace

'Tyler' authority, which was quite amusing, considering she's just a bitter ex-girlfriend. Maybe I scratched her cheek a l

ne, louder this time, like furniture being

rison commanded, his voice trem

t, but a tremor of fear was starting to show. "Why? So she can complain to her dear old grandpa? She's c

her touch. My grandfather's voice, though still seethi

alright? What d

nt, yet now slightly pale, face of Kassandra. "She... destroyed Mom's journal, Grandpa,"

fury, that Kassandra actually stumbled back, her eyes wide with genuine terror. Th

his voice raw with a pain that mirrore

er. Josh Palmer has chosen unwisely. He has discarded his partner, his strategist, and his love. He ha

ies of commands, barked in a language I didn't fully understand,

gly calm, a predator sharpening its claws. "Is there a

hant façade completely shattered. I looked at the bewildered, si

oice a cold, steady blade.

ear. And as for the woman who laid hands on you, and dared to touch your mother' s memory... she will learn what it means to cr

a stared at the phone in my hand as if it

n," I repeated, my gaze chilling