ella

anor's sharp nod, the two Carson sol

as a grotesque tableau. Caitlin was sprawled on the floor, her emerald dress torn and bunched a

gh the Outfit wives. The silenc

er bloodshot eyes found me standing calmly among the crowd. Th

, guttural sound. She scrambled up and lunged at

caught her wrist mid-air. My grip was like a steel vice, locking her in place. I stared into

ush to cover her daughter's exposed skin; instead, she dragged Caitlin dow

em of Eleanor's dark skirt. "Isabella, she... she was always jealous of Cait

whispers among the wives started instantly,

wolf-headed cane and struck the floor once. *Clack.* The corridor fe

curtsy. "Nonna" (Grandmother),

panic. "You pushed me in with that man and l

sted attendant who had been standing right beside the soldiers, spoke up. Her

ked, my Lady. It open

. The first crack in Caitlin's li

. "Even if it wasn't locked, you held it shut! I was pulling on

d-the very hand she had pinned to a mattress with a stiletto just hours a

locked ont

aping wound. The skin was pale, sm

lawless hand, her voice dropping to a horrified, tremblin

dark abyss of Damien Moretti's eyes, and the surprisingly gentle touch of his fingers as he applied that unknown, mi

ely into her own madness. I met my grandmother's calculating gaze, stepp

rds hang in the air as Gina and Caitlin turned ashen. "I admit, I woke up shortly after I lay down. I w