"Get up!" Gianna shouted, her voice sharp with command, utterly tired of hearing Esme's sorrowful sobs claw through the room.
As far as she was concerned, she was still going ahead with her plans, even though things had turned out this way, even though the truth had met her faster than she had calculated, crashing into her without warning.
When Esme resisted, refusing to move, Gianna bent and dragged her up by the sleeve, hauling her roughly to her feet.
"Don't make this hard for me!" she snapped, her fingers biting into fabric.
Then, harsher—"Move!"
She pointed at the door, arm stiff with authority. "You are going to repeat everything you have just said to your uncle and your cousin. And of course, your brother."
Gianna whipped out her phone, fingers flying as she texted Noah to meet her at the office now, not caring whether he was busy or not—capital letters, three exclamation marks punctuating her fury.
