It took another day before Raina worked up the courage to visit her mother. She'd spent that time turning every tiny detail she knew about Elvira over and over in her mind, until she finally came to the conclusion that she needed to just go see the woman. Decide for herself if Elvira was cold and unapproachable or the caring mother Sotza wanted her to believe she was.
She went to his office and told Sotza she was ready. He'd nodded briefly and sent her upstairs with one of his men. The guy had silently unlocked the door and waved her inside. Raina took a steadying breath and stepped through the door. Her eyes went immediately to the petite blond woman staring out the window. Elvira didn't turn around, giving Raina the advantage of being able to study her for a moment. Elvira's hair was shorter and straighter than Raina's, but otherwise they were probably the same height and weight. Even the way Elvira held her body, stiff, shoulders back, head tilted, was familiar.