Chapter 3 - THE ORDER
Veronica stood her ground, smoothing the gold fabric over her hip with a smirk.
Marcus cradled his daughter against his ribs, his breath steadying as he stroked her soft hair.
Lily pulled her face back from his neck, her swollen blue eyes welling up with fresh tears.
She lifted a trembling, tiny index finger, pointing past Veronica toward the head table.
"Grandpa told her to do it?" Lily whimpered softly.
Marcus's body turned to iron.
At the head of the table, the old man slowly set his wine glass down with a heavy clink.
He stood up from his velvet chair, adjusting the lapels of his classic tuxedo with slow, arrogant precision.
May you like
He looked down his nose at his son kneeling on the floor with the child.
"Just teaching the family pet its place," the old man declared softly, his sharp voice ringing out across the quieted ballroom.
