was gasping for air, his forehead presse

od cane echoed in the silent ro

oward Adelbert. He grabbed his grandfather's pan

rk of his leg. His cloudy eyes remained loc

et chair, her expressio

ituation was spiraling out of control. If the Meyer heir was perma

raised the cane for a sixth strike, Delmus r

heavy and serious. "Blood has been spilled. The in

looking for a way out of the standoff. He slowly

eding back. "You should thank your father-in-la

She stood up from the velvet chair, smoothi

ed, her voice ringing clear and cold.

stay here and play your fake fami

f her suitcase and walke

the doorway, blocking her pa

ice dropping low. "Look out the window. T

ws. In the distance, past the manicured lawns, she could see th

h a suitcase at 3:00 AM would give the media the exact narra

head butler. "Alistair. Prepare the guest room

rehead. He glanced at Adelbert, who gave a

arply against the hardwood floor as she walked down the long,

inside, slammed the door in Alistair's face, and

the suffocating tension br

n cutting away Coleton's ruined shirt to clean the blo

m with cold eyes. He caught Rocco's attention a

e shadows, leaning do

h whisper. "Once the doctors patch h

widened in

e devoid of any human emotion. "Keep hitting him.

"But the girl left. Th

photo tomorrow, he needs to look like he barely survived. I will build a cage of