nose. It was a small gesture, but it hit harde

and bleeding in the precinct showers. But to Grace Carter, the "scent" wasn't p

and dropping back to her side like a dead weight. "Tha

g coming from a woman who hadn't

ers suggested, lifting his phone. "Fo

Evelyn forward. "Go on

g back as if she were a live wire. Her parents stood rigid, their bodies

officer waved Lucas and Iris over.

oice a frantic whisper. "Lucas,

elyn with a mixture of pity and profound disgust.

utter

stood like statues in a

taking the last shred of "safety" with them. Th

r voice echoing in the vast gard

a hug. She didn

steps. She stopped, her gaze settling o

said. Her voice was too calm, a flat line

tammered, shrinking

in just enough to see the pupils of Iris's

what do y

tly what happe

r breath hitched, and she clutch

Iris whimpered. "Lu

ing in-but only for the daughter who hadn't been sold. "I told

ses about early mornings and forgotten appointment

d the door, casting a fearful look back at Evelyn. "What if

ean, ask for it. Or bring out the child you've be

ough. We've seen the reports. There's n

" Evelyn snapped. "Call them. Or

t a cha

tension. Deep, resonant, a

nce so commanding it seemed to s*ck the air out of the space. This was Lucien-Lucas's uncle,

htened up, his postur

ctor. Could you... could you just check her? For everyo

Iris with a faint, mocking curve of his li

don't you?" Lucas adde

were sharp, analytical, like a scalpel. He didn't look

ur hand," h

, her fingers cu

ied. "She's hi

n in the eye and pl

b pressing against the pulse point in her wrist. He checked the scars on her forearms, his touch p

?" he

N

t swe

N

hands with a handkerchief. T

," Lucien said flatly. "No inf

hat followed

Grace wh

files said-" her

a professional opinion. You have it. Unless you've su

ed his words. "No, of

s watch as if this entire family drama were a minor

hout another word, leaving a trail

triumph, but it died the mo

for a moment. We need to

r slamm

n again. Ten minutes later, the hous

Evelyn," the w

isolated structure in the far corner of the yard. It was a luxury build-cedar woo

ard. "She said this is for the best. To pre

ared at t

voice dangerously low, "to