Chapter 3 - The Crystal Shards
The lock clicked open.
The warm golden light spilled back out into the snow.
The woman in the red dress was still in the hallway, pouring a drink at the mahogany side table.
The glass slipped from her hand.
It shattered against the floor, amber liquid pooling over the hardwood.
The old man stepped inside.
He kicked the door shut behind him.
He set the shivering boy down gently on a plush, heated Persian rug.
The old man did not look at the broken glass.
He walked toward the woman.
His black leather shoes crunched over the shards.
The woman took a step back, her back hitting the floral wallpaper.
Her mouth opened, but her vocal cords refused to vibrate.
The old man reached out.
His gloved hand clamped down on the collar of her silk red dress.
He shoved her backward.
The heavy thud of her spine against the wall rattled the framed classical paintings.
"You nearly froze my grandson!"
His voice was a low, terrifying rumble.
It did not echo.
It sank heavily into the room, like a stone in water.
The woman’s hands fluttered up, grabbing desperately at his leather glove.
May you like
Her knuckles were white.
She was suffocating in the heat of his absolute fury.
