"There he is," Annalise said as the black sedan eased up the manor drive.
"Stop staring at the car," Melissa Gao whispered with a smile that was all teeth. "You're not invited."
"I'm invited," Annalise said. Her voice was small. She stepped forward anyway.
"Annalise, you made it." Richard Briggs folded her in with a quick, warm clap on the shoulder before anyone could catch the nervous hitch in her step. "Look at you. This is my niece." He winked at the room like a man dropping a coin into a fountain.
Laughter bubbled around the marble hall. Cameras on the private tables angled away and then back as if someone waved a flag.
"Richard," Zane said from the top of the stairs. He was a cutout of control—dark suit, darker patience. He didn't come down, he observed. He didn't smile; he tilted his head.
"Zane," Richard said. "Meet Annalise May. Braved the fog for me."
Annali se bowed her head. "Sir. Mr. Briggs." Her shoes clicked on marble. The staff checked her name against a list. A waiter hovered with champagne like a shield.
"Don't stand on ceremony," Richard said. "You're family tonight."
Melissa's smile slanted into a scan of Annalise's dress, then slid past. "Family by announcement," she said. "How touching."
"My niece has better taste than you," Richard shot back, amused. "Sit. Eat something before you freeze."
"You're exaggerating," Melissa said. Her laugh aimed for the room
