The Silent Bride

a's

gilded by the early sun that flowed into the grand dining room. The Crawfords lived in a

f the table, engaged in the morning paper, his presence commanding yet aloof. A beautiful woman I had never

eyed but with a hard edge beneath. "How lovely to fi

e out of my pocket. I typed a message

ce to me

hed her eyes curled her

s and replied, "Yes." He spoke in a clipped, nearly an

opped the topic, though her eyes rem

" pointing to the chair beside him. There was n

to the chair and obeyed. I grabbed the glass

n started, "So, Nadia, how does it f

something, but he was stoically silent

adju

rawfords have a reputation to uphold, and we expect noth

nful her words were. They reminded m

is icy, piercing eyes locked with Evelyn's. "Are you here just

ephew. I'm simply ensuring that your wife understands what's at stake. The Council m

ink," Derick replied curtly. "And

er. I pushed food around on my p

uarters. The sleek, contemporary structure towered over the metropo

the marble floors. The location's icy beauty reflected t

d resolute quiet. The air between us was heavy with unsaid ten

ad his face. He had not spoken since we had left the house, and I f

ted suits packed the room, their eyes evaluating but their faces scrupulously ne

Derick stated politely. "S

ator-not an equal, not a parti

their opinion as strongly as

Every word was loaded with meaning, and the room hummed with power. I tried to follow along, but the term

glances in my direction and

to his colleague, "She

Crawford material?"

d not to hear, concen

I was exhausted. The encounter reminde

into the home and went directly to his study. After a little

pers strewn over his des

hurriedly type

eed to understand wh

is nose with his fingers. "Nadia, all y

l end there, even if it hurt. Wit

er forever. I need to

unreadable. "And what exactly do you thi

rds' challenge. However, I refused to

said, his voice cold. "But don't expect me to coddle you. Thi

to tell anyone about the messages I was getting. Over the previous three days, they had become more frighte

ssage from the same unidentified nu

ey'll destroy you before they let yo

o focused, and the message's timing was too ex

u? What do

came almost

eep you safe. Don't trust a

g. The words seemed to pulse with a dang

erie. The door creaked open before I could respond,

w as he said, "W

n, hastily locking my ph

g his words, "you'll accompany me to a char

y, I t

ind of

gala. The press, politicians, and oth

a test, and I couldn't afford to f

is tone as cold as ever. "This fa

hind him as he turn

he mysterious warning from the

yone, not even

me, I wondered i