ine Ke

he main chandeliers dimmed, and a b

avy velvet curtains at the edge of the

multi-tiered crystal chandelier, Andrew stood with Alida. They

e vaulted ceiling, a sha

sound. The grinding

own first. They hit the champagne t

sped. Heads

holding the thousand-p

lummeted. It was fallin

d forward, his arms extending with explosive force to shove the person n

ok at who he

er, gently taking my arm to guide me away from the drafty curtains and closer to the warmth of the room's center, insisting

eet. I flew backward, my spine colliding viole

he chandelier hit the floor exa

The floor shook. Thousands of razor-sharp c

air. Several large, jagged pieces sl

s knocked out of me. A searing, blinding pain tore through my legs. Warm blood im

ed into absolute chaos. People trampl

ough the noise. He shoved people a

oor. He had his arms wrapped tightly around Alida,

scream, Andrew's

s dilated. He saw me lying in an expan

d. His arms loosened around Alida as his body ins

ak, pathetic whimper and let her head loll back against

snapped Andrew's attention back.

tight against his chest. He stood up and turned his back on the wreck

k back at me.

d off his expensive tuxedo jacket and pressed it

on," Ethan begged, his

ced the New York night, growing l

y. They shouted orders, lifting my limp body on

h the black edges of my vision. I forced my eyes to stay o

ace wa

y chest sizzled and died. There

The vehicle lurched forward, speed

uninjured left hand. I reached into the pocket of my ruined dress

ed from my weak grip, clattering onto the metal floor of the ambulance. I couldn't do it now. My body was shutting down, the piercing wail of the siren fading into a dull, distan