Chapter 216

Author's pov At the mansion's rear entrance, Mrs. Dahlia was personally escorting Maggie Locke --and her silent assistant--to their waiting car. "I'm so sorry the plan didn't work," Dahlia whispered, wringing her gloved hands like she was scrubbing guilt from her skin. "I failed you completely." Maggie waved a gloved hand with cool detachment. "There will be other opportunities," she said, as if canceling a lunch reservation. "But I've offended the Black family," Dahlia moaned. "My standing in Denver's social circuit is finished. The local grapevine will devour me by morning. What am I supposed to do now?" "I've arranged a place for you to lie low," Maggie replied, voice smooth as satin--and just as cold. It was the kind of tone that could soothe or slice, depending on how you touched it. "As for Luna Regina," she continued, "she remains my target. I have a thousand ways to reach her. Tonight's failure only sharpens the next attempt. Don't confuse a delay with defeat." Dahlia nodded, t