Chapter 1 - THE KEY ON THE TABLE
The glass hit Maya’s dress first.
The hotel key hit her marriage thirty seconds later.
“What the hell is that?”
Ethan Brooks stared at the white plastic card in his mother’s hand as if she were holding a loaded gun.
Nobody moved.
Ten people sat frozen around the private dining room of Bellmont House, where Ethan’s parents had arranged what was supposed to be a peaceful family dinner two nights before the wedding.
Maya Collins looked down at herself.
Dark red wine soaked the front of her emerald-green dress, spreading across the silk like blood.
“Oh my God,” Ethan said. “Maya—”
“I’m okay.”
She wasn’t.
The wine had come from a glass beside Victoria Brooks, Ethan’s mother.
Victoria had knocked it over while reaching across the table.
At least, that was what she claimed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Victoria said.
But she didn’t look sorry.
Not even a little.
Before Maya could grab a napkin, Victoria reached for the designer purse hanging from the back of Maya’s chair.
“What are you doing?” Maya snapped.
Victoria pulled it away.
“I’m helping.”
“Give me my bag.”
Instead, Victoria flipped it upside down.
Lipstick.
Keys.
Wallet.
A small perfume bottle.
Receipts.
Mints.
Everything crashed onto the table.
“Mom!” Ethan shouted.
Then Victoria stopped.
Slowly, dramatically, she reached into the pile.
Her fingers closed around a white hotel key card.
The logo was unmistakable.
THE HARBOR GRAND.
Victoria’s mouth curled into a smile.
“Well,” she said quietly. “That’s interesting.”
Maya stared at the card.
She had never seen it before.
Victoria held it up.
“Why don’t you tell Ethan why you had a room at the Harbor Grand last night?”
The air seemed to leave the room.
Ethan looked at Maya.
“Maya?”
“That isn’t mine.”
Victoria laughed.
“It came out of your purse.”
“You dumped my purse out.”
“Exactly.”
Maya’s heartbeat slammed against her ribs.
Across the table, Ethan’s sister, Lauren, whispered, “Oh my God.”
Ethan stood.
His face had gone pale.
“Maya, were you at that hotel last night?”
“No.”
“Then how did this get in your bag?”
“I don’t know.”
Victoria leaned back, satisfaction flashing in her eyes.
“I do.”
Maya looked at her.
Victoria lowered her voice.
“Maybe it’s time everyone knew who you really are.”
Maya felt something colder than fear move through her.
Because Victoria wasn’t surprised by the key.
She had been waiting to find it.
May you like
And suddenly Maya understood one terrifying thing.
The spilled wine hadn’t been an accident.
