Chapter 1
My mother held my three-year-old daughter against a garden chair while my sister cut off her braid.
That was how Bella’s birthday ended.
Grace was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.
Sabrina still had one fist twisted around her hair.
The scissors closed.
The thick braid dropped across Grace’s pink dress.
“Hold still. I’ve had plenty of practice grooming dogs.”
I crossed the lawn before Sabrina finished laughing.
I tore the scissors from her hand and pulled Grace against me.
Her body shook.
“Mommy.”
“I’m here.”
Diane adjusted one pearl bracelet.
“She’s being dramatic.”
I looked at the severed braid.
“What did she do?”
Sabrina smiled.
“She refused to answer.”
“What question?”
Before either woman responded, Connor stepped forward.
Ten years old.
Tablet crushed against his chest.
He looked at Diane, not his mother.
“Aunt Natalie… I recorded something worse.”
My mother’s face changed.
Barely.
But I knew fear when I saw it.
Sabrina lunged.
“Give me that.”
I stepped between them.
She swung.
I slipped the strike and hit her once.
She crashed backward into the birthday craft cart as ribbons and paper crowns scattered over the lawn.
Diane raised one hand.
“Get her out of here. Now.”
Six armed Whitfield guards remained still.
My captain answered calmly.
“We take orders from Natalie.”
Diane stared at him.
Then me.
I slapped her before she could issue another command.
She stumbled backward into the lantern rack.
I stood over her.
“Let’s see what you did to my daughter.”
Connor handed me the tablet.
Diane climbed slowly to her feet.
“All this because a spoiled child lost some hair?”
Grace buried her face against me.
Diane smiled at her.
“Stop crying. Nobody cut your throat.”
I felt Grace flinch.
Connor whispered:
“Start with breakfast.”
I unlocked the tablet.
“What am I going to see?”
He swallowed.
“Grandma asking Grace questions about you.”
I looked at Diane.
“What questions?”
She said nothing.
Connor did.
“She wanted to know how you leave the house at night.”
May you like
That was when Grace’s haircut stopped looking like punishment.
It started looking like interrogation.
