Margaret's voice on the phone had been calm but there was something underneath it. A threat wrapped in politeness.
"Meet me at the manor," she'd said. "Alone. If you bring Damien, I won't talk."
Emma had argued but Margaret hung up. Now Emma stood outside Cross Manor in the darkness, understanding that she was about to walk into something dangerous.
Damien was supposed to be meeting her there in an hour. They'd agreed he would stay back and let Emma talk to Margaret first, then move in if things got bad. Emma had a panic button on her phone. One press and Damien would come running.
She didn't plan on needing it.
The manor was exactly as she remembered. Cold stone. Expensive everything. The kind of place that had seen too many secrets.
Margaret was waiting in the study.
"Thank you fo
