black guest room echoed with the sound of a

er silk pajama top was soaked through,

dy order issued by the family court and ripped Leo and Maya straight out of her arms. Aloys's grandmother, Golda Montgom

ckles ached. She would never let the Montgomerys turn her children into bargai

ng bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the cold water

ssed in a sharp white pantsuit, her makeup imm

hall toward the dining area, stopping short when th

lver ladle in his hand. Hearing her heels on the floor, he turned his head, his gaze lingering

d stiffly. "Eat someth

when severe stomach ulcers had landed her in the hospital, he had clumsily learned to cook oatmeal

ly, and picked up the glass carafe beside the espresso

e morning," she said, lifting the glass

y. Looking at her pale cheeks,

handle iced coffee

liquid and raised her eyes to mee

eal last night not to interfere i

ory of that late-night phone call from "Baby" poisoning the air between them again. He le

e dropping to sub-zero. "We are going to the Long Island es

g Island estate was the seat of Montgomery power, whic

er voice shifting back to

driver will pick y

d headed down the hall toward the

expression, she picked up the bowl, walked over to the trash bin, and dumped the entire contents straight insi

m, Aloys watched her dump the oatmeal into the trash.

s pocket and dialed his chi

t with recently," Aloys ordered coldly. "Find out w