“I don’t want to say I’m sorry.”

“Because you don’t think you did anything wrong or because you’re being stubborn and ridiculous like you always are?”

“Can I get a third option?”

“Erin. Sweetie.”

“Uh-oh.”

“You know I love you. Of all the Crows I have mentored over the years, you were definitely one of my favorites. Do you know why?”

“Because of my charm and street smarts?”

“Because you’re like me.”

“Oh, come on, Betty! That’s not fair!”

“Just like me. You fuck with people just to fuck with people. You enjoy making their lives uncomfortable. You’re too smart for your own good. And you’re insanely talented.”

“You do know that at this point, you’re really just complimenting yourself, right?”

Tessa examined the new glass French doors the workers had installed and nodded her head. “Perfect. Thank you, Armand.”

“I love you guys,” the installer told her with a hearty laugh, his grin wide as he handed over paperwork for Tessa to sign. “I’ve never had one place need so many replacement windows and doors. I’ve put both my kids through college because of Giant Strides!”

Signing and initialing where indicated, Tessa could do nothing but laugh along with Armand even though she knew he was serious. The Crows were admittedly harsh on their windows and doors. Mostly due to parties where drunk sisters ended up flying into glass windows and doors that they thought were open but were, in fact, well cleaned.

“Thanks, Armand.”

“And thank you!”

The installer and his team left and Tessa looked over the work. That’s when the morning sunlight happened to catch her eye as it glinted off a camera lens in one of the trees.

“Tee?”

Tessa glanced over her shoulder and saw Annalisa walking toward her. “Hey.”

“So . . . where are we?”

Watching the intruder closely, Tessa asked, “Where are we with what?”

“The new girl and Amsel? Chloe wants me to take over as mentor.”

“They’ll work it out.”

“Are we so sure?”

“I love your use of the royal ‘we.’ ”

“Maybe we should—”

“They’ll work it out, Annalisa. Ya gotta have faith sometimes.”

“Okay.” She stepped closer and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Watching this paparazzi guy in our tree.”

“Again?”

“He’s probably hoping to catch Yardley sunbathing or something.”

“Just a suggestion, but maybe we should re-think having a fully stocked bar in the backyard. Since we aresupposed to be a rehab and all.”

“Eh.”

Annalisa leaned in so she could see. “You know, between these idiots and that bitch next door . . . I’m getting fed up with our place being stalked.”

“I guess I should go deal with him?” Tessa stated.

“Why?” Annalisa asked, gesturing to the trees. “We have sentries for that.”

That’s when the first crow dived at the tree and the man in it, followed by another. Then the crows and ravens, which filled the trees that surrounded their house, took to the air and, as one, dived back in to mob the person trying to take pictures.

Tessa and Annalisa laughed when they heard the man’s screams and watched him hit the ground. Hard. And face-first.

“Call EMS,” Tessa said, still laughing. She walked out of the house and headed toward the man, who wasn’t moving. Of course, that didn’t stop the birds from continuing to dive-bomb his inert form.

As a registered nurse, Tessa would absolutely do what she needed to do to keep the man alive. But she felt no pity for the son of a bitch. From what she’d seen, the paparazzi were nothing but parasites. They weren’t photojournalists or journalists. Just scumbags. But he was still a human being who deserved care.

Besides, he might have a partner who would notice if he did disappear, and the last thing Chloe would want was a full police investigation of Giant Strides and, especially, of the Bird House.

By the time Tessa reached him, he had a small crowd of sister-Crows staring down at him but not trying to help.

“Is he dead?” one sister asked. “He should be dead.”

Tessa checked his pulse. “He’s not dead. Get his phone, camera, and wallet.”

One of the Crows did, but as she opened the man’s wallet, she froze.

“Uh . . . Tessa?”

“Yeah?”

“He’s a private investigator.”

Tessa looked up. “What?”

“He’s a P.I.” She held a card between two fingers and lifted it so Tessa could see.

“Could he be doing the photographing stars thing on the side?” another sister asked.

“Oh God,” one Crow gasped. “You don’t think Alexandersen sent him, do you?”

No. Tessa didn’t think Josef would ever send anyone else to spy on his ex-wife. Not when he could do it himself. They usually liked to torture each other face-to-face except when they were forced to get their lawyers involved.

Tessa stood and took the license from Sophie. She studied it, her anger beginning to simmer.

“Find out who this fucker is and who he’s working for,” she ordered her sister-Crows, handing the card back and tossing the wallet onto the unconscious man.