uldn't look him in the eye anymore. The shame wa

king behind Ga

. As she did, the unpaid invoice from D

ght next to

of the hospital. He saw the bold tex

lunged

e didn't move out of the way either. He simply looked at the paper as if it were

er hand inches

t him. "Please,

so the total was obscured. It was a dismissive gest

th a dark calculation. If she had taken millions, why was she desperate for fifty thousand? The math

r, he might investigate. If he investigated Elena, he might find

ate her. Hate was saf

o a smile. It felt brit

back and stood up, d

e forced a tone of casual greed. "The millions did

d. "You hav

s jaw jumped. He scanned her face, looki

ck for a refi

t cost her every ounce of her strength. "You have

annon seemed to

er with such profound revulsion

isgusting,

slammed

to Aleta.

ride long and angry. Aleta shot Ivana a triumphant gl

an she had loved since she was twenty-tw

til they turn

lid down the wall, clutching t

aper. It was wrin

refully and put

automated text from the h

thin 24 hours to pr

up. She wiped her fac

oom, composing herself b

ake. Her eye

ay?" Elena

an apple from the bedside table. "Yes,

ing so badly she al

hour later. He pulled

out the deposit," he said gently. "I

ive me forty-eigh

. "Forty-eight h

n the hallway. She opene

3

ins, the neighbor she paid to

ula. And I need my

Her sweet, innocent boy who had G

n't let h

red $300 to

nce:

days. Her stomach crampe

e hospital. The midd

uldn't even afford the subway if

d to the

off the sidewalk.

e. Her head felt light. Blac

sw

he curb. It was sleek, sil

ted so dark it loo

tion. She was focusing

dow rol