Page 1 of Sweet Poison

Prologue

Cole

“Shall we practice one more time, honey?”

My daughter chewed her bottom lip and nodded solemnly. “Okay.”

“What is your name?”

She folded her little arms in front of her. “Anya Swift.”

“Good. And your father’s name?”

“Cole. Cole Swift.”

“Very good,” I encouraged, with a smile. “And if anybody asks you where you come from?”

“Manhattan,” she said clearly.

“Did you live in a big house with a housekeeper and maids or a small apartment?”

“A small apartment.”

“What floor was the apartment?”

She looked upwards. “Mmm… Fifth floor.”

“Have you ever had a chauffeur?” I threw at her suddenly.

“Nope.”

“What about a gardener or a nanny?”

She shook her head decisively. “Never.”

“Excellent. Why have you and your father moved to Bison Ridge?”

“Because he wanted me to attend the brilliant Shadow Wolf Academy.”

I grinned at the creative addition of brilliant in her answer. “Well done. Where did you go to school in Manhattan?”

“The Avenue Sc-,” she began to say.

But I shook my head slightly, and she immediately covered her mouth with both hands and said, “Oops. Sorry, Daddy.”

“It’s okay,” I reassured gently. “You have enough time to get this right. Try again.”

“I was home-schooled.”

I nodded. “That’s better. What does your father do for a living?”

“He’s an accountant. He files other people’s taxes for them.”

I nodded approvingly. “Next question, where is your mother?”

Her expression remained unchanged, but her voice felt robotic. “My mother abandoned my father and me.”

“And if anybody asks for more information about her, what will you say?”

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