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I nodded in a daze Everything wastoo fast, and it felt like the et lost in the cavernous space and never be found

She led me into another study on the first floor, where a e book I had no idea what he was doing, but Jacqueline had to clear her throat before he looked up

“Philip, this is your granddaughter, Talia Talia, this is your grandfather”

His gaze lifted slowly, piercing ht blue eyes that had started to dull He had heavy, blunt features, and his hair was e—and then some A frown played over his lips, and as I watched, he picked up a heavy crystal glass and sipped the amber liquid inside Whiskey, probably My dad had preferred beer and vodka, but he’d been willing to drink anything in a pinch

“Hello” The lass down but held onto it, as if he expected to need another sip momentarily “It’s nice to meet you, Talia”

Is it?

I didmy shoulders back “You too… Philip”

The word grandpa just wouldn’t coood idea to call hiut churning

“We should go over the ground rules,” Jacqueline said as she all but floated around the desk to join her husband She was almost a full foot shorter than him, but the power that radiated from her made her seem taller “Rules to keep in mind while you’re here”

I nodded lightly, an

d she continued without a pause

“You’ll start school on Monday You’re only a week late, so you should be fine You’ll wear the Oak Park uniforet you a car and a credit card so you can get soaze flicked down my body—“proper clothes”

My cheeks flaht was a nice top, but my jeans were faded and old—and I’d only drawn attention to their disrepair by picking at them in the car

“And finally, there will be no shenanigans in this house or anywhere else,” Jacqueline continued, her voice hardening “You’ll go to school, get good grades, and keep out of trouble Youunder our roof, but you represent our family at all times, and you have to re in your mother’s footsteps”

I nodded, clenching ainst defensive words