Hazel’s nerves were frayed. For the last two days, she had been living in a state of agonizing uncertainty. Francisco hadn’t come home, nor had he called. Even worse, there had been no word from her father. The silence was unbearable, and it gnawed at her constantly, leaving her restless and anxious.

She wandered through the mansion, her mind swirling with thoughts of what might have gone wrong. Was Francisco suspicious of her? Had he discovered something that she didn’t know ...