but June could not stop shaking. She wrapped her arms around h

around his bleeding forearm. His dark eyes never left June's fa

forest on Long Island. They passed through three separate, heav

ic-style stone estate. Its massive towers

umbrella. Gage stepped out. He turned around, reached into t

e wet marble steps. The cut on her hand tore open again. B

t coat collar. He dragged her up the steps and t

lier hung from the ceiling. Two rows of maids and butlers stood

st the polished marble floor. She screamed for help, b

y wooden door that led to the basement. He told h

ced herself for the pain of being th

oug

racked like a whip from

r. A flash of pure irritation cro

ands slipping on the marble. S

op of the sweeping staircase. Beatrice Becker wore a dark, tailor

hivering on the floor, covered in mud and blood.

ut toward Gage. She pushed herself up and ran to the botto

d, her voice breaking as she begged the old woman t

yer. He reached for June, yelling at her t

r tip down onto the marble floor. The loud thud

ed to know if he was trying to turn the Bec

ointed to his bloody arm. He told Be

and and her blue lips. A complicated look

from her own shoulders. She bent down and wr

June. She buried her face in the sof

ler to prepare a warm guest room on the second floor

lenched. He argued that this was

Gage that until she was dead, she controll

ently helped June to her feet and led h

Gage stood in the center of the foyer. He looked like an enra

s down the hall, leavi