he dark sky. The wind

ed out, overriding the first-the primal ache of the first betrayal she

concrete ceiling. She lande

beer filled her nose. Loud electronic

looked at the poker

l. Her eyes were red. She held a lit c

man who raised

of the table. She yelled at the dealer to deal the cards

on the table. She open

phone rang in h

ared at the screen. She

busy losing mon

is Ms. Dafne Hill? I am calling from the emer

e took a drag o

roe died in a car accident tonight," the nurs

pathetic piece of hope fluttered in her chest. She wait

idened. She sa

Did she leave a life insurance

nce information on file, ma'am. We just need

face. Her mouth twisted into an ugly

ne shouted into the phone. "That little bitch was cheap when

e need so

interrupted. "Throw her in the incinerator

phone onto the poker table. She mutter

l. The words hit her like ph

mbered being sixteen. She remembered working

open, taking the crumpled bills, and pushi

e Group lobby last year, screaming for alimo

hing with the man next to her,

augh tore from

had never been loved. Not by

boiled in her chest

e the poker table flickered wil

ursed the casino's cheap electr

connecting Hallie to Dafne

e grabbed Hallie again. It

e bright lights of the Manhatta

d straight toward the massive penthouse i