tan apartment. She had just stepped out of the shower. She wore a thick w

ed into the room carrying a silver tray. Resting on the v

ornate crest of t

ped its way out of her throat. It was the symbol she us

dstock-an invitation to a private yacht party on the Hudson. The cal

usin" back to New York society. It was a blat

table. She tapped her fingernails against the

onto a boat, trap her on the water, and publicly e

closed environment. A chance to get dang

a coffee mug in hand. He glance

he trash," Jus

ked, not looking

s that boat. You step on board, you're a rat in

nic brightness. "You don't win a war by hiding in a bunker, Justus

ng his head at her reckless

ail, typed in the address for Evelina's social

sive walk-in closet. She didn't need pastel colors or

ent. She pulled it out. It was a floor-length silk slip dress. The

atching her hold the dress up. "Do you

d. "This is family business. If you're there, Eve

s voice dropping an octave. "He is the law in that circ

imson dress and pulled it up. The silk clung to every curve of her

ak his laws," she whisp

a tiny, flesh-colored earpiece. She slid it into her ear canal, tapping it twice to test the encrypted frequency connecting her

militant precision in her posture. He realiz

t a sleek, black canister of military-grade pepper spray.

didn't think she'd need it, but sh

the screen. A text message from an unsaved nu

embarrass

A vicious smile stretched across her face.

tch and looked at Jus

ly against the hardwood. She looked like a woman walking to h