hing from a bag of chips, when a knock on

that could be. Marina went to wor

ed the door and peered

art is

vi

clad in a fitted suit, hi

eaming to hide, but it was a

e again, loud

nell opened the door and

her, lingering on the pa

is voice all low and

htened as Darnell said, "

es were glinting with am

wondering if she

on. He took one stride forward, sen

back with a

ammered again, trying to m

led hers, si

he said in that low,

es flashed w

ot some sort of prized possession, Elvis." You've already

altered and his

ll," he growled. "Yo

d up, there was a f

out a word, and now I am supposed to hurry into your e

e spat venomously. "You still refer to Estrella

nipulat

overworking his face. "I see. She signed your s

owed, and her mind

asked despi

ur beloved sister, Marina." A

beat. "No," she whispere

shone bright

. Your ex

She shook her head, "No, that's a l

was quite persuaded by the prospect of marrying into your family'

ief had shrouded

at. "Marina would neve

But the fact of the matter is, Marina and Daren

lities tumbled in her head. This had to be some kind of play. M

, seeming to find it all very funny

o me, as though expect

stormed out of the door,

the sidewalk, her

r with tinted glasses glinting w

ed whispers escap

She asked, b

Elvis De Luca," said the brimming confidence in

eyes glued to the car. She ha

e finally mad

, and a luxurious in

e said

ated. Should

w what was going on w

e passenger seat and took a

Darnell couldn't help but wonder h

ing?" she tried

pulled to a stop in front of the grand wedding venue; she hadn't t

entrance, a wave of

eaming guests, the merry melody-a

ed her further forward as Da

search of the unimagi

he saw

stood before the

she saw her sister's lips to

lause and whistles, but D

e'd been kicked

ick joke. Marina woul

ething that ran a chill down her spine-a flash of guilt

d: Had Marina been p

med in a quavering tone, b

ered for a while,

arnell. You lost him, a

s gleamed w

for me, Darnell. Marina kn

he tears she heard them utte

this to me, Marina

are me the drama, Darnell.

od beside Marina, said, "You're no longer part

orld crashed around her as

k away; her legs buckled under her, and she fainted in

la just stood the

hushed tone, as if Darnell was a child, and he had hoiste

ward, but Estrell

la warned. "She's no

Darnell away, M

ter off wi

ing. She knew the doctor was talking, but nothing much r

confirm that Ms. Darnell is ap

eyes but lay still,

Elvis anywhere

the tempest brewing inside him. He had lea

he whispe

moved, her hear

clutched on hers before he turned a

or shut behind her tha

a cursing, "You will nev

re, she threw the covers off

loor; she could ta

to be seen. She knew she couldn't go to Joan's; Elvis would be the firs

t. As she reached the middle of the street, a

was t

he ground. Darnell's world seemed to spin

er, cradling her in

ell saw a stranger's fa

whispered, her

ell's eyelids fell as her s

in, she felt the stranger's

.

smile, expecting to see Darnell's

of sheets stretched over a be

eart

lled into the qu

as no r

owed as he dragg

to the receiver.

eting. "I haven't seen her, sir. "I thought she w

the mansion, searching room by room; he look

e was no

, the cool air offering littl

ess. His eyes raked the grounds with an almost silent pr

ne, and Elvis

chil

ansion, his hand alrea

!" he exclaimed, his voice