Rising From Exile: The Widow's Comeback

ver of the fairy tal

de contact. A violent, rhythmic thumping tore through the night air. The heavy glass of

ter pooled at her waist. Her small hands clamped onto Ann

voice was a thi

through the window. It swept across the pale pink wallpaper, cast

copt

g of tactical K-9s echoed up the grand staircase. Annetta's stomach dropped, a cold weight settling dir

ry door f

practically fell into the room. She slammed the solid wood door shut behind her

terproof dry-bag into Annetta's hands. The stiff plastic edge of the bag sliced across An

bearer bank draft from a Swiss account and a heavy ant

his?" Annetta aske

's shoulders. Her fing

s scraping against her throat. "Killed in action.

gs forgot how to expand. The blood drained from h

ing in panic. "They are freezing everything. They are ca

e hallway outside. The harsh crackle of radio static bled t

Take Clara through the closet vent.

s paralysis. The maternal instinct to protect overrode the crushing wei

of her left ring finger, rubbing the diamo

ightstand and pulled out a heavy, silver-plated antique letter opener.

over the chair. She folded the waterproof bag, shoved it deep into the lining, and pinned it shut wi

of the Crane family was gone. In her place was a woman

b of the nursery

eep voice roared. The wood groaned a

hoved the heavy walnut wardrobe aside, revealing the square metal

anging echoed from d

The sound was bouncing back. The exterior exhaus

shook her head at Martha.

e center. Wood shards exploded inward. One sharp splinter gra

der the heavy, bullet-r

one hundred," Annetta ordere

ll, encrypted hard drive from a hidden wall socket. Without a second thought, she dro

oom door

ir tactical flashlights pinned Annetta against the wall.

lead agent barked. His lip curled

ow, deliberate motion. Her eyes were dead and cold

by the back of her uniform, shovi

Annetta's voice cut through the room like a whip. "Touch her again, and my lawyers

enough for Martha to catch her balance and

ard. He pulled a pair of st

sneered. "Everyone in this house is

k a slow, d

tes to put a coat

a command laced with the a

the desk. She pulled Clara out and wrapped the heavy winter coat-the on

racking her every move, she walked out of the ruined bedroom with her