Chapter 2

The next afternoon, I was watering my grandmother's roses in the small bed I'd set aside for them. The anise scent of wild fennel drifted in from the cliffside, just like it did on the hillsides of Sicily.

Then the doorbell rang.

I set down my watering can, went to the gate, and looked out through the iron bars.

It was John, the property manager who'd sucked up to Evelyn in the group chat the day before.

Two security guards in navy uniforms stood stiffly behind him, their sharp eyes sweeping the area.

They didn't look friendly.

But I couldn't start a fight.

The moment I opened the gate, John pushed his way in. He looked over my rose garden as if he were appraising it. Unease crept over me.

"Ms. Mancuso," he said, clearing his throat theatrically as he took a document from his black briefcase. "On behalf of the community, I'm formally notifying you that, effective immediately, you must make the rose garden available for campaign events for the next three months, as tradition requires."

"Make the rose garden available?"

I looked at the paper and scoffed.

They were stealing my property without a shred of legal authority, and they'd even made it look official.

John tipped his chin up so far I could see straight into his nostrils.

"Those are the community rules! To keep the peace here, Ms. Mancuso, hand over the key to the side gate onto the community walkway."

John looked so pleased with himself that I almost laughed.

"One line about community rules, and you think you can take over my private property?"

He pointed to the signature in the lower right corner of the document, beaming with pride. "The HOA president, Mrs. Langford, has signed it. It's official. Our first fundraising party will be held in the rose garden tomorrow afternoon."

I understood now.

They meant to take it by force!

With the reelection campaign about to begin, they clearly couldn't wait.

"I'm not handing over any keys." I looked at John calmly. "This document has no legal force at all. If you think there's a problem, you can contact my lawyer."

John's expression soured.

"Ms. Mancuso, I'd advise you to cooperate! Supervisor Langford has connections all over Los Angeles, on both sides of the law. A woman like you can't stand up to him."

The two guards behind him suddenly took a step forward, blocking my way with their hulking bodies.

John went on. "To be frank, a single woman like you living on an estate this big... it's bound to get the neighbors talking.

"If you want to avoid ugly rumors, keep a lower profile."

Is he implying I have something to hide?

Does he have a death wish?

"What exactly are you trying to say?" I'd run out of patience.

John shrugged. "Nothing. I just hope you'll fit in with our community soon and not make enemies of your neighbors because you're selfish."

I clenched my fist at my side and fought down the urge to reach for a gun.

My grandmother's roses had only just taken root. I couldn't let this ruin all that work.

They mistook my restraint for weakness and pushed harder. "Whether you like it or not, you're handing over the key to the rose garden today!"

With that, John suddenly lowered his voice and gave me a sinister look.

"If you really won't, then we'll just have to take enforcement measures."

I was so furious it was almost funny. "Oh? Enforcement measures?"

"Under the community's right-of-way, we can change the lock on the rose garden's street-side gate." John gave an arrogant laugh and lifted his chin again. "And of course, it's all perfectly legal."

The guards behind him raised their eyebrows at me and tapped the tool bags at their waists. Metal clanked inside.

The message was clear.

My gaze hardened as I studied the three men in front of me.

John raised his voice. "Ms. Mancuso, I know you must think this isn't fair, but powerful people always get special treatment, don't they?

"Everyone else in this community admires Supervisor Langford. He's done so much for us, and we'd only be borrowing the garden for the spring. I'm sure you won't mind, will you, Ms. Mancuso?"

John glanced at his watch and chuckled. "Of course, you're entitled to refuse, in which case we'll have no choice but to change the lock right now."

As he said it, the two guards behind him took another step forward, as if they really meant to do it by force.

The three of them were puffed up like peacocks. Rage boiled in my chest.

I never thought anyone would actually take me for a pushover.

I lowered my voice, my gaze dangerously calm. "Go ahead and try. If you so much as touch that fucking lock, you'll answer for what happens next!"

With that, I slammed the gate shut.