Chapter 4

I took one last look at the broken shards of the wine jar scattered across the floor. I picked up a single piece, wrapped it in paper, and took it with me.

Out the door, the streetlight stretched my shadow long, long across the ground.

For the first time, the weight I'd carried seemed to fall away completely.

I got into the car, and my phone rang.

I didn't answer.

But someone new had walked into the livestream.

Mom was about to start yelling when she saw who it was, and the words died in her throat.

"Mr. Cox. Are you here to talk business with Beryl's father?"

"He isn't in right now—"

Bertram Cox didn't even look at her. He signaled his bodyguard, who dragged the man straight into frame.

"Sending a pack of thugs to rob your own sister. Doesn't that strike you as pretty low?"

"If I'd been a step later, your sister would've been strangled to death."

The older brother froze, then blurted out on reflex,

"I only told them to scare her a little, just enough to get the recipe—"

"No. Beryl, how did you word that message?"

He whipped around toward Beryl and charged straight at her.

"What exactly did you write?"

Snapped at one time too many, Beryl's temper wouldn't hold.

"So what if I told them to teach her a lesson?"

"Mom already said I could keep Tessa like a dog. It's her fault for not listening to me."

"So when I sent the message, I added a couple of lines. If she won't cooperate, just strangle her, done."

"My dad's got money anyway. We'll pay for the life."

Ervin Dickerson looked like he'd been struck by lightning. He slapped Beryl across the face.

"Someone like you has any right to promote our cultural heritage?"

Mom shrieked and lunged at him, trying to hit him.

He threw her straight to the floor.

Beryl clutched her cheek, her eyes all but spitting fire, and lost the last of her restraint.

"If I don't deserve it, does Tessa? Please."

"What, you look like you're ready to go running after Tessa? Dream on."

"On that call just now she heard your voice, clear as day. She knows you didn't come save her. Tessa's a proud one. Her heart's already dead, well and truly dead."

Ervin's eyes looked like they'd caught fire. Both hands closed around Beryl's throat.

"That call. What exactly did she say?"