pte

'S POIN

echoed against concrete, each click bouncing off empty cars and shado

the cold satisfaction of finally seeing behind her mask. I fumbled with my ke

med somewhere i

t the hum of fluorescent lights

mber. I declined it, but not before no

rf

ehind me. M

hotel's elevator was just around the corner, pa

where, Mrs.

ad-shouldered, dressed in black. Professional. Tw

ndom att

d steady despite my racing heart. "And I have

sn't a nice smile. "I'm afr

spray I'd started carrying after signing the divorc

nonymous." He stepped closer. "No

The pepper spray caught

my heels as I sprinted for the elevator. The other t

re. Just a

my hair, yanking me backward. My purse went f

first man's voice was rough w

ht, kicking, scratching, but they we

t." The first man wiped his streaming ey

t. Her parting shot, making sure I und

" I spat, "at least have the

message. A reminder of what happens to

ving the air from my lungs. I doubled over, g

role in life." Another blow, this one to

shooting through my body. But I wouldn't

's en

e garage like a whip cra

rk figures emerging from the shadows. Men in suits,

s quality about her. She wore a black designer suit that probably

aught me. Sharp, intellige

attackers started

d day." The woman's voice w

eared. I slumped forward, p

ent her men moving. My attackers did

g on concrete. Designer shoes. Prob

a question. She kne

n some dignity despite my split l

tly. Like she was seeing some

t. "But I knew someone very much like you, once. Someone wh

ges. Blood dripped onto my ruined dress,

darkness creeping

s close, I could smell her perfume, something expensive,

lle." Her voice seemed to come from far away. "Someone who'

But before it took me comple

ou look just li

thing b