The Widow's Deception

eparted, their black cars vanishing down the winding drive, their whispers trailing behind like smoke. Only the closes

rder, untouched for years except by her. Adrian had never cared for books. He preferred deals, dinners, and the

tall window startled her, a pale face framed by dark hair, eyes bruised by sleepless nights.

lready it felt less like a

ock broke

ella's voic

, smoothing the ten

Adrian by nearly a decade, gentle in ways the Marquez men had never been. Her grief

bella said softly. Everyone i

ed, gesturing to

before she spoke again. Victor is furious. He thinks Adrian's

rian. Elena's tone was e

ieve that. But you must be careful. He

ut she had learned too well that trust was dangerous in this family. Still, there was k

said quietly. I

She rose and squeezed Elena's hand before slippi

ot fo

ved outside

vealed nothing more than the garden, dark and dripping. She told herself

attention back. Steady, purposeful. Not Isabe

a man's voice

lier. He had shed his coat, his suit pressed and immaculate, his dark hair still damp from rain. He lo

ast the staff? El

w. Detectives h

and was looking

nto the room, letting the door click shut behind him. "I thought it

her expression still. You seem to thi

but close enough that she could smell the faint scent of rain and cologne

ask your questions, Detec

as if weighing not just her words, but her silen

enly. The night before he died.

ou jo

sharper: We argued.

d with interest.

not give Adrian's cruelties to this str

unflinching. You realiz

I could tell you every word, and yo

twitched, not quite a

uths. Elena's chest ached with the effort of holding herself togethe

g to the police. Loudly. Claiming that Adrian intended to alt

ses. The thought of Adrian controlling her even from the g

im? she asked, her v

ed her face, searching. At last, he said, I

l to the man in the ground. She drew herself tall. Then find y

ut as he turned toward the door, he said, The truth ha

ips. He left without another word, his footsteps fadi

mpty room. He unsettled her not just with his questions, but wit

he shadows, wat

enemy, a whisper in her chest betrayed her: he