“The girl has key access to the entire house,” Luca said, his voice ringing with false authority. “She is the only one who enters this room unsupervised after dark.”

“That is not true,” Dr. Voss said, stepping forward. “Anyone could have entered while she was downstairs.”

“But she was the one who served the tea tonight,” Luca said, his eyes drilling into mine.

I kept my hands clasped in front of my apron, refusing to let them shake.

“I only bring what the kitchen prepares, sir,” I said, my voice steady despite the terror rising in my throat.

“We will see about that,” Luca said.

He turned to the two guards who had finished searching the closet.

“Take her downstairs,” Luca ordered. “Put her in the cellar. We will ask her questions until we get the truth.”

The two large men stepped toward me, their shadows falling over my face.

One of them reached out, his heavy hand grabbing my upper arm with a grip like iron.

“Wait,” Marcus Hale’s voice cut through the room.

The guard stopped, his grip still tight on my arm.