I gave a soft "eep," then slammed my hand over my mouth.

Rafael shot me a questioning look and I mouthed, "Talia" with a head gesture to the door.

"Why?" he mouthed back.

Yeah. Actually. Why was Talia upstairs in the Montefiores' house?

I peeked in...

...and met my mother's eyes. She choked on her drink, standing with Isaac and Jackson in a study.

"Talia?" Jackson said. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," she sputtered.

I ...