a's

papers at Mr. Castellano's o

perfect family portrait. Ethan laughed at something Clara said, his hand resting on the back of her chair. Marcus sat between

tic b

ts he called "Pack business." The way Marcus flinched whenever I tried to hold him. Cl

e. Not yet. Not here. I n

o careful neutrality. The laughter

tween himself and Clara, as if that erased what

a glass of water, more to occupy my hands

His voice was

ly. "About yo

staying here as Marcus's nanny. He needs consi

ning this Pack for you, Ethan. Every meeting, ever

ned. "That's n

what

ds to be ta

my home. I didn't agr

s helped raise Marcus since h

ause she was h

ou want Clara housed, buy her an apart

asured-managing me, like my opinion was a tantrum

nothing t

wom

all face twisted with rage. "You'r

's enough-" E

force. I stumbled back, my hip colliding with the corner of the side table-exactly where I'd hi

im by the shoulders. "Wha

e dry-nothing but calculated defiance. "She's

me. "Aria, I'm sor

way. "Don'

mming in my vision. My tailbone throbbed

, stroking his hair while he buried his face in

urmured, kissing his tem

otion," I said. "I'm starting to wonde

ned-clearly she wasn't su

iend, I'm very di

s, each step sending fresh

I could stand. My hip had already darkened to purple, matching the brui

ajamas, the house had gone

me

oor carefully. He looked tired. Wor

e you f

our son has q

's been disciplined. I

last dozen time

ay has been difficult. But Clara needs to stay here. Mar

re. Hard to bond with a child who's

about you and Clara. This is about what's best for Marcus. He's

who'd convinced me I was broken. This man who'd built his entire Pack's

lying. Still

him thin

conditio

ed across his fa

fore. So this year, I want a proper gift." I kept my voice light

That's a fifteen mill

it's fair-as a birthday gift, and as

nt I thought he might finally drop the p

it an early bi

I added. "For Aria's ho

th every second, then turned the phone toward me

hday," he s

the endearment drip with a

his phone. "

tays," I

ded an

d shut, then pulled out my pho

: $15,1

n. My card had never seen a single paycheck, not a penny of Pack money. The only

ecause she was the leverage that finally

path