“Yes, we do,” I said. “And they will be staying with me in the townhome I leased in North Dallas.”

“You are a snake,” Gloria spat, her voice trembling with a rage she could barely contain. “A thieving, low-class snake.”

“You have seven days to vacate the premises,” I said, ignoring her. “After that, the sheriff’s department will remove your belongings.”

Gloria took a step closer to me, her expensive perfume filling the space between us.

Her eyes were wide, the skin around her jaw tight and strained.

“Do you really think you can get away with this?” Gloria whispered, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous register. “In this town?”

“I already have, Gloria,” I said.

“The Ralston name still means something in Dallas,” she said, her hand clenching into a fist. “I can ruin your reputation before the week is out.”

“Your name is tied to three bankrupt corporations and a pending fraud investigation,” I said.

Gloria froze, her eyes darting to Graham and then back to me.

“What investigation?” Graham asked, looking up, his voice cracking.