er wrist and threw the entire glass of

on the bridge of his nose. The alcohol dripped down h

room gasped. No one moved

alcohol from his eyes. His face turned bright red with

orward. She tilted her chin up, and her

violence in her stare terrified him. He

ulled out her phone. She turned th

illed the quiet room, clearly stating his disgust f

ly, pale white. He lunged forward, tr

et out a dry laugh and told him that ten

so only he could hear. She whispered the exa

. He asked her how much money sh

st. She told him she did not want a s

press himself. He had to announce the end of the engage

said his father would break his legs

r screen, pretending to open an email draft t

ers digging into her skin. He begged her to

ulled a sanitizing wipe from her bag and sl

had exactly seventy-two hours to clea

o the ice bucket on the table. She tur

was still pumping hot and fast. It was far too dangerous to acknowledge her in a room full of hostile witnesses; one wrong look could u

ndary phone, she shielded the screen with her palm and saw a text from an encrypted number: "Job done. Awaiting payment. -S." Ardella's lips curled into a faint, satisfi

e hallway with the conf

muscles locked up. Coming around the c

m was Ethel

walking slightly ahead, whisperin

r legs to keep moving. She stared straight a

scent hit her. It was his custom cologn

straight to her nervous system. Her

o pass each other, and the air between th