“Good call if I were vested in her future. But there’s more to the situation. I have duties for you to complete. Aria assures me those will be done according to my specifications.”

“Really? Threatening your daughter’s life to keep me in line?”

“Exactly. When it comes to the welfare of others, you’re weak. I can handle eliminating whoever gets in my way. Goodness knows I’ve wanted to get rid of Aria since the day she was born. Now she’ll repay me for my time and effort. For me to use you effectively in the business means I have to trust you implicitly.”

I huffed. “You need me to kill someone?”

“Count on it. Leadership 101 requires courage in the face of opposition.”

My niece deserved a chance to grow up normally. “All right. I’ll do what you feel is necessary in exchange for Aria’s life.”

“The insurance policy has an indemnity clause. If she turns up missing, you’re dead. If I learn you’re double-crossing me, the same consequences.”

“Fair enough. When will she be here?”

“Tomorrow.”

I needed to talk to Denton. By now he was aware of Aria’s disappearance. “Won’t the authorities be looking for her?”

“She’ll be staying right here, and no one will find her. Besides, I’m her mother. She belongs to me.” Marissa paused. “Unless the whining starts. Then I’ll have Eli get her out of my hair.”

“How?”

“Let’s just say you don’t want to know.”

“What are you going to do with a fifteen-year-old?”

“I can give her whatever she wants—material things, education, and a life beyond her teenage dreams. That is, if she’s loyal and does exactly as she’s told.”

With Aria gone, Dad would be devastated. I hated the thought for him and her. The clothes and disguises in my closet . . . Did Aria face the same detestable future? What if she refused Marissa’s new life? I inwardly shuddered.

“You’re not eating.” Marissa’s cool tone showed no remorse.

I forked a piece of avocado. “Thinking about Aria.”

“I’m sure you despise me.” The smirk on my sister’s face had become commonplace. “You’ll discover I’m always right. And I always get what I want.”

“No, Marissa, I care about you, and you are far more intelligent than I am.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’re loyal.”

“Will you ever trust me?”

She brought the glass of sangria to her lips. I waited. She swirled the liquid in her mouth. I waited. She took another sip. I waited. “For as long as it takes. You have more tests to pass. When I observe enough loyalty to see you’re ready for additional responsibility, I’ll give you a heads-up. Your job is to keep Aria in line. I’m finished discussing the matter. We have an errand this afternoon. Wear the blonde wig, jeans, and sleeveless top. I will do the same.”

“Is this a test or learning?”

She frowned. “Both.”

My mind spun with all Marissa preferred not to say. I wanted to explore all the what-ifs and solutions, but the most critical of her corruption lay in Aria’s future.