a's

n gave me a rundown o

Vincent, smaller portions held by Victor

to me, I was effectively the largest

s were managing Vincent

volved as well-Vincent's wife and

asing, neither was thrilled

u properly," Harrison said. "He wanted to reac

Syl

caught the flicker. "Mrs. Smith is.

ion: she

tes. Sprawling stone and glass set among manicured la

n. A fountain in the circular dri

the threshold, somethi

y door. "Welcome

ord still f

I couldn't help thinking-maybe this was e

-

lver at his temples, with the easy confidence of a man wh

tened in his eyes. "God, you look

. I'd never met the man w

you in," he offered

wo years in Silver Creek whispered the

ightly, "I'd like a few minutes to myse

d with something like respect

and I let out

-

lready glowing by the

or-length gowns. Waiters glided between them carrying trays of champagne. Conversation hummed low

om, watching. Reading. Trying to w

els clicking ag

o this is the

gantly, her amber eyes fixed on me with undisguised hostility. Beside her walked a

. And

roduction to know ex

g into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "How.

widow," I replied eve

r carefully composed expression,

e was clipped, businesslike. "There are matters concerning the estat

over two years in the Silver Creek Pack

ow what I wa

-

walls, a long marble table gleaming under recess

k security uniforms lined the wall

r agreement. Sign your inheritance over to the estate, we compens

. "You're

about money,

'm not signing anything.

ply lifted

r," Nath

alized from the shadows-massive, stone-faced, moving with

ively calm. "I suggest you cooper

directly in front of me. "If you're u

eart hammered. "My price? You can't afford it. Vinc

ice-cold. "Then we'll hav

able. The other forced me into the chair, pinning my shoulders. I stru

ows, her back to me. Like she

the document and

to h

own onto the paper. I tried to pull aw

re going to force my sig

awed at

"You can't do thi

ted from the window, bored. "D

s. Nathan was seconds away f

lor doors ex

ning-wood splinteri

one f

by half a dozen others in dark tactical gear. The

ur-with broad shoulders and a bu

that could have been carved from granite.

swept across the room with the kind of cold calculation t

nstantly, stumbling back

n wen

ing on me. Something flickered in his eye

t, I couldn

a low, lethal growl that

's M