chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS

The Blackwood mansion appeared through the rain like a fortress rising from the earth.

Mara watched it through the tinted window of the armored Mercedes, her reflection faintly visible in the glass.

The wedding dress was still on her.

White silk.

Long veil.

Diamond earrings.

A beautiful bride.

A terrible mistake.

She looked down at the wedding ring on her finger.

The diamond was enormous.

Cold.

Heavy.

Almost like a chain.

Her mother had sold her for a debt.

Her younger sister had been spared.

And the Mafia Lord she had supposedly married hadn't even shown up.

Mara should have been crying.

Instead, she was studying the security around the mansion.

Four armed guards at the main gate.

Two cameras covering the eastern entrance.

Three vehicles parked beneath the portico.

Another guard on the roof.

She counted automatically.

Military training never really left the body.

The car stopped.

Mara opened the door before the driver could reach it.

Her wedding gown brushed the wet ground as she stepped out.

The mansion stood before her, enormous and silent.

Then the front doors opened.

A woman appeared.

Tall.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

And smiling like a snake.

Vivienne Blackwood.

Dante's sister.

She descended the marble stairs slowly, her heels clicking against the stone.

Her eyes traveled over Mara's wedding dress.

Then over the empty road behind her.

Then back to Mara.

A cruel smile appeared.

Mara didn't react.

She picked up the edge of her gown and walked toward the entrance.

Vivienne moved directly into her path.

"You're late."

Mara stopped.

She looked at the enormous clock above the entrance.

Then at Vivienne.

"My wedding started without the groom."

Vivienne's smile disappeared.

Mara walked past her.

Inside, the mansion was even larger.

Marble floors.

Golden chandeliers.

Massive paintings.

Dark wooden walls.

Everything screamed wealth.

But something was wrong.

The servants moved like frightened shadows.

Nobody laughed.

Nobody spoke loudly.

Nobody looked directly at Vivienne.

Mara noticed.

She noticed everything.

A maid hurried past carrying a tray.

Her hands were trembling.

A glass fell.

CRASH!

The sound exploded through the hallway.

Everyone froze.

The maid dropped to her knees.

"I'm sorry."

Vivienne turned.

The maid's face went white.

Mara watched silently.

Vivienne walked toward the girl.

The maid lowered her head, bracing herself.

Mara stepped between them.

Vivienne stopped.

For several seconds, neither woman moved.

Mara bent down and picked up a piece of broken glass.

"Accidents happen."

She handed the larger pieces to the maid.

"Clean it carefully."

The maid stared at her.

Then nodded.

Vivienne's eyes hardened.

Mara walked away.

Behind her, she heard Vivienne's heels following.

"You've been here five minutes."

Mara continued walking.

"And you've already decided to challenge me."

Mara stopped.

She turned.

"I've decided nothing."

Her gaze moved around the mansion.

"I've only started observing."

That answer unsettled Vivienne more than an insult would have.

Mara continued down the corridor.

Then she heard it.

A sound beneath the silence.

A child's cry.

She stopped.

Vivienne didn't.

Mara turned toward the sound.

Another cry.

Small.

Muffled.

Afraid.

She followed it.

Vivienne's voice snapped behind her.

"Mara."

Mara kept walking.

The sound came from underneath the staircase.

She pushed open a narrow door.

A little girl was sitting on the floor.

Five years old.

Bare feet.

Messy hair.

A torn dress.

Her arms wrapped tightly around a stuffed rabbit.

When she saw Mara, she immediately moved backward.

Mara crouched.

The child's eyes were swollen from crying.

Then Mara saw the bruise on her wrist.

Her expression changed.

"What happened?"

The little girl said nothing.

Mara reached toward her slowly.

The child flinched.

Mara stopped.

She knew that reaction.

She had seen it on battlefields.

People didn't flinch like that because of words.

They flinched because they had learned that hands could hurt.

Mara looked at Vivienne.

Vivienne shrugged.

"She's always dramatic."

Mara's eyes returned to the child.

"What's your name?"

"Lia."

A second child appeared behind the doorway.

Older.

Nine years old.

Sofia.

She immediately grabbed Lia's hand and pulled her behind her.

Mara noticed another bruise.

This one on Sofia's arm.

Her jaw tightened.

Something cold settled behind her eyes.

She stood.

"Who did this?"

Neither child answered.

Vivienne stepped forward.

"Enough."

She reached for Lia.

Mara caught her wrist.

The movement was so fast that Vivienne barely saw it.

Mara's fingers locked around her arm.

Vivienne's face changed.

Mara didn't squeeze.

She didn't need to.

Her grip was enough.

"Don't."

One word.

Quiet.

Dangerous.

Vivienne tried pulling free.

She couldn't.

Mara released her.

Vivienne stumbled backward.

The corridor went silent.

Mara turned to the children.

"Come."

Sofia hesitated.

Mara held out her hand.

After a moment, Sofia took it.

Lia followed.

They walked into the dining room.

The table was enormous.

But there was no food prepared for the children.

Mara looked at the servants.

"Food."

Nobody moved.

Vivienne appeared behind her.

"They've eaten."

Mara looked at the empty plates.

Then at the children.

Lia's stomach growled.

The sound was quiet.

But everyone heard it.

Mara's face became expressionless.

"Food."

This time, a servant moved.

Vivienne stepped forward.

"I said they have eaten."

Mara turned.

"And I said they haven't."

The room froze.

Vivienne's eyes burned with hatred.

Mara didn't care.

She pulled out a chair and helped Lia into it.

Sofia sat beside her sister.

A few minutes later, food arrived.

Lia stared at the plate as if she had never seen one before.

Then she began eating.

Quickly.

Too quickly.

Mara gently slowed her down.

"Eat slowly."

Lia nodded.

Mara noticed Sofia wasn't eating.

The older girl kept watching the doorway.

"What are you waiting for?"

Sofia whispered:

"Aunt Vivienne."

Mara looked toward the doorway.

Vivienne was gone.

That worried her more.

---

An hour later, Mara stood inside her new bedroom.

She had changed out of the wedding dress.

Her military instincts had returned completely.

She opened her luggage.

Inside were neatly folded clothes, personal documents and one small black case.