he curb, a manicured hand clawed

agging Ava through the glass doors of an adjacent vi

ooth, calmly tapping a r

e, pitching her voice so t

om-made in Paris-fifty thousand dollars, pure silk. Meanwhile, did your dirt-poor cousins find a ho

screen. Her eyes were

up," A

ed. "What did you sa

shut yo

rylic nail at Ava's nose. "You think you're tough because you

ped the vintage Edison bulb glowing in the booth's wrought-iron lam

b straight into Megan's wide-open mouth, wedging t

r jaw locked around the bulb. She stumbled backward

r fell into pet

l the bulb free, only for her sweaty fingers to sli

shaking vibration rattle

in-turbo V12 engines shook the street outside. Customers

ng a custom, one-of-one stretched Rolls-Royce Phantom. Within seconds, a perimeter

of the Phanto

roomed, and cloaked in bespoke charcoal-gray suits, the

the diner door, a high-resolut

ront of Ava's booth. Julian looked down from the screen to Ava

eady with emotion. "Little sister... We are

crashing to the floor. Megan leaned against the wall, tears streaming

n, his jaw hardening i

canvas bag. "She w

gest brother, snorted with laughter. Juli

rds stepped forward, shoving Brenda aside and escorting

" Julian said gently to Av

ing over the seven men. "The backgro

the bridge of his nose. "A digital decoy. We seeded the public registr

ntroduce ourselves properly. I am Juli

continued, "Chair of Finance

rd brother smiled

ourth brother

ned, cracking his broad knuckles

offered a refined bow, "P

rother winked, "Profession

ere the men dominating Forbes covers, Bill

unemployed pig farmer named

ughed po

e executive board to act as our senior agricultural consultant. Technically, he is unemployed. And our bio-tech a

hem of her jacket, she slid an emergency hi

mbrace. Ava stiffened for a fraction of a second, feeling the raw

rotective hand on Ava's shoulder. "Mother left home years

"Investigate every transaction, shell company, and asset owned by the Shaw family over the last

od, Mr. K

, racing east toward the Ken

's uncle, stood waiting, his eyes bloodshot with grief and exhaustion.

doors of the mansion were thrown open. A

s vitals crashed ten minutes ag

el bag and bolted up