ore her foot hit the bottom step, a stern-faced maid blocked her path. Maeve was a stocky woma

parlor," Maeve ordered. She turned on

parlor smelled of heavy incense and old mahoga

hair perfectly coiffed, her face a map of hard lines and harder judgments. A string of antique

three feet awa

ing the beads and snapped her hawkish gaze o

the fabric of her coat. "I

ch. "Shut your mouth! You sold your own flesh and blood to us three years ag

mouth fell open. The blood drained from her face

. She sneered, picking up a bone-

nce you took our money, your body belongs to the Gates fa

omach heave. A hot, burning anger ignited in her

ward, her body co

Carissa's mere presence. "Move into the es

wed the scream building in her throat. If she fought back now, she would be

ured a look of greedy hesitation. "I need time to co

t. "There it is. The rat shows its tail." She waved her h

r fingernails so hard into her palms that

e front gates, a freezing

ing to offer her an umbrella. Carissa pulled he

pulling out her phone. No Uber driver

. The rear window was rolled halfway down. She

The tires hit a puddle, splashing fre

. She wiped the dirty rain from her face. The last shred of vul

h numb fingers, she managed to hail a premium rideshare. When the sleek black SUV pulled up, she slid onto the pristine leather seat. The driver, a middle-aged man with

city, Carissa made a silent vow. She was goi