a's

smell of panca

normal. Then I heard Clara's laugh drifting up f

ittle domestic fantasy. I could afford to be patient.

, and bacon sat waiting on the counter-the kind of ge

plate clattering against the marble. "No! This

at's not how we treat people. Apologize to Aria." Her word

the doorway. "Marc

me, not meeting my eye

't acc

him against the wall. I took a thin branch from the

st int

Clara stepped forward.

ke. "By what right do you interfere w

e's still young... he didn'

big ones. If I don't discipline him

shut

rd and caught my wr

he branch to the floor. Marcus scrambled behin

ther, you will show me respect. If you can't learn that,

Marcus stopped crying. I w

" Ethan's voi

child with no blood relation to me, I can certainly adopt a second. A

as thunder, I cheerfully picked up my p

-

my car when foo

thless. "I'll drive you to the office. We ca

oing to th

ave the mee

led open the car door.

other

to look a

. In the rearview mirror, he stood in th

-

had promised. Floor-to-ceiling windows, soarin

t needed

shopped before, too expensive for someone like me. Now, walking t

oal leather sat center stage. The tag read "

rf

y phone when a voice

but I'm taki

something unpleasant she'd found on the bottom of her shoe. Dressed head

orry?"

ently. "I saw it first. So you'

that's how sh

. "Do you have a

oul

y father is Alpha Richard Crane of the Riverside

turning back to the sof

Two large men in black suits materialized from behind t

toward me

do that if

A silver-haired man in a perfectly tailored three-piece suit strode in, flanked by six men in dark

ed back instantly. Her

e stammered. "I did

entirely on me. He inclined his head in something close

room wen

rescent Moon Pack. Your uncle

came out strangled. "Smi

you were just threatening my boss's daughter and sole h

o gray. "I didn't-she di

ct. Particularly when you were having he

er arrogance dissolved. "I'

"How nice. Unfortunately, basic decenc

anything I can do t

is enough.

ed, her guards scr

fa. Have it delivered to the Meridian Tower, penth

arrison. "Quit

y. Aria Smith is not to be trifled with. It wi

xit. "The car is waiting

are we

k house." A slight

ith. A billion-dollar inheritance had landed in

t's my home, I should at

to come would c