Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia jerked her head away, dodging Warren's touch.

His hand froze in midair, then he lowered it with a soft chuckle. "Still mad at me?"

He sounded just like someone soothing a sulking girlfriend.

But Sylvia felt cold sweat prickling down her back.

She struggled, voice tight. "What do you want from me?"

Warren watched her for a few seconds, ignoring her anger, his tone gentle. "You must be starving. Why don't you sit down and eat something first?"

He took his seat with effortless grace, signaling to the flight attendant.

Sylvia refused to sit, but the bodyguard behind her pressed down hard on her shoulders, forcing her into the plush leather seat.

The flight attendant poured them champagne and set down plates of freshly- seared steak, the aroma filling the private jet's cabin.

Warren raised his glass toward Sylvia, inviting her to toast.

Sylvia sat rigid, fists clenched, refusing to play along.

"Sylvia, let's be real. At this point, fighting me is only going to make things worse for you."

Warren's gaze burned through the rim of his champagne flute.

gripped Sylvia. She felt exposed, trapped

But he was right.

air, what could she do?

breath, she forced herself to look him in the eye. "Alright,

his champagne, set the glass down, and began to slice into his steak, a gentle, almost affable smile

bother fishing for information. I've already destroyed every tracker you had on you. And up here, all your

hand went to her shirt

enough, the one with the GPS chip was

She clenched her fists tighter, swallowing her nerves. "When did you start working with

a

Ynet

But since you want to know, let's see... Was it

word felt like a knife twisting deeper in Sylvia's

along. Everything

Her nails dug into her

asked me to go to the hospital with her to make sure I'd find out about Bridget's pregnancy. The more I fought with her, the more I

warned Bridget and Caleb, didn't

throat, pain radiating through

thought Uncle Rupert was taking Bridget's

what

then another memory struck her. "And in Madison, that night—