She was just halfway down the stairs when the doorbell rang, and the sound echoed a little too loudly in the quiet house, pulling her out of her thoughts. For a second, she paused, unsure whether to ignore it. But the ringing came again, impatient this time.

She opened the door — and nearly rolled her eyes into another lifetime.

What the fuck was Bianca doing here?

The woman looked exactly like someone whose life had been dipped in gold and soaked in blood. She wore a silk blouse tucked ...