Melvin's smile turned icy. He turned to Greta. "Go on in and give your grandfather his gift. Don't miss the auspicious hour. Let me have a word with Victor."
Greta looked at him with concern. "If Victor dares lay a hand on you, tell me. I'll handle it."
She shot me one last warning glare, then disappeared through the gate.
I stepped forward. "Greta, I need to get something from inside."
Guests streamed in and out. I couldn't say outright that I'd come for my grandmother's memorial tablet. Bringing up the dead on the old man's eightieth birthday would be an unforgivable offense.
But Greta didn't spare me so much as a glance. She turned and walked away without a word.
Melvin immediately signaled the bodyguards. They seized me and dragged me around to the backyard. He produced the tablet and held it up.
"This is what you came for, isn't it?"
My eyes burned red. "Give it back!"
Melvin let out a cold laugh.
"It's just a piece of rotting wood. What's the rush?"
I was pinned to the ground, completely unable to move. All I could do was watch as he grabbed my grandmother's memorial tablet and hurled it to the dirt.