ored corridor. Her silk gown trailed h

. Stephen Sinclair had bought them at auction, a desperate attem

She held a glass of champagne, laughing lo

on a mask of maternal concern. "Ava, da

nd of the woman who orchestrated her mot

to hear Lydia over the ambient noise of the p

dim lighting provided immediate cover, allowing

ror hanging on the wall. She took a deep, s

ed her cheek, feeling the soft skin. She whispered a solemn p

into the cool evening air of the estate grounds. The s

led with luxury vehicles, meticu

. She picked them up in one hand so she c

sation grounded her in the physical reality of her

gates of the Sinclair estate loomed under t

f an argument carrying over

ribs. Fear gripped her chest-the fear that she might be too late

shing amber lights of a private securi

w Seraphina had wrapped up her conversation with the Hollywood producer quickly after Ava left, slipping out

e head of estate security. She was pointing

e splashing water masked the sound of her breathing. S

he familiar, sleek silhouette of a bla

cane stood outside the car. His po

rguing with the security guards who stood on the o

a mask of cold, corporate rage. He was dialing

ar voice, "Those men are known fraudsters.

wealth of the men outside, the custom tailoring of

ip to look innocent. "My father said no uninvited gue

his forehead and reached for the manual override s

tionally trying to alienate the Carlisles to isolat

ing them behind as her eyes blazed with absolut