The moment they stepped into the mansion, the air shifted.

Allison was waiting at the top of the staircase, arms crossed, her expression thunderous. She descended slowly, her heels echoing ominously across the marble floor.

“Where the hell have you two been?” she demanded, her voice sharp and echoing through the silent house.

Aliyah tensed beside Marion, her hand still in his. She opened her mouth to explain, but Marion gave her a subtle shake of the head.

“We were out,” he said ...